St. Michael's announces substantial increase in financial aid
February 12, 2010: The Board of Trustees at St. Michael’s Country Day School announced last week that it is raising tuition for the 2010-11 academic year a cost-conscious one percent, and that at the same time it is doubling the school’s financial aid budget from where it was two years ago.
Tuition for the 2010-2011 year has been set at $10,050 for the Early Childhood grades (preschool for three-year-olds and prekindergarten for four-year-olds), $17,415 for kindergarten through grade four, and $19,685 for grades five through eight. Financial aid will become need-based. It was also announced that the school has established two merit-based $10,000 scholarships for new students entering grades grade four through six.
At a town-meeting style forum for parents on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 3, Head of School Whitney Slade told the parents that the determination to make St. Michael’s education accessible to a broader range of families has long been a focus at the Board level. In the past two years, he said the Board has clearly made a commitment to making it happen. “Increasing financial aid also allows us to be sensitive to the economy of our region," Slade said. "We are a school that welcomes diversity at all levels, and we are now going to be able to welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds, regardless of ability to pay.” Board President David Howe added, “we are a healthy, vibrant school, and we are excited at the prospects of being able to make a St. Michael’s education accessible to a broader range of students.” Parents were also told that a more public marketing campaign, intended to place the financial aid decision out in the community, was imminent.
“I am extremely excited about all of this,” said Mr. Slade. “Such a move can only strengthen the fabric of what is already a wonderful school. I wouldn’t be a good head of school if I wasn’t convinced that we offer the best education around,” he added, “and I get a charge out of predicting what the face of St. Michael’s will look like in five years.”