The Ithaca Waldorf School recognizes that some families who seek Waldorf education need help. We follow a model used by many Waldorf schools, in which a percentage of total tuition income is given as assistance to qualifying families. In order to qualify for financial assistance, the child must have completed the application and enrollment processes.

Awards are based on financial need; however, we believe the financial responsibility of a student’s education rests primarily with the family. If other sources of financial support are available (such as from a non-custodial parent or grandparents), it is critical that this information be disclosed in the Additional Comments section of the online application.

Important Financial Assistance Information

• Generally, the average FA award ranges from an 8-25% reduction in tuition (not including fees).

  • Awards for Early Childhood applicants (ages 3-5) are capped at 8% of tuition. We strongly recommend that families who many be eligible for federal CCAP funds to apply for that assistance as well.

  • Awards for Kindergarteners (age 6) and Grades 1-8 range on average from 8-25%.

• Awards are first-come, first-serve, as the budget of each year allows. The FA application season starts in January with enrollment season, and ends when the budget is depleted.

  • Returning students: FA applications for the 26-27 school year must be received by February 22nd, 2026. Any funds still available after February 22nd will roll over into our new student FA budget.

  • New students: a separate FA budget is available for new families on a rolling, first-come, first-serve basis. In addition, any FA budget leftover from our returning student budget rolls over into the new student FA budget.

• FA applications must be made anew each year.

  • For planning purposes, as a general rule, IWS seeks to allocate similar FA awards from one year to the next, except when there may have been significant changes to a family’s financial situation.

• We award Financial Assistance for all our school day programs, but we prioritize Financial Assistance for full time (5-day) students.

• The FA award does not cover other school fees (After School Program, Supply or Bookkeeping fees).

• We don’t offer an automatic sibling discount—however, we do consider siblings when processing a FA application.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Financial Assistance

How to Apply

In order to assess a family’s ability to pay tuition, we use TADS to get an accurate and impartial analysis of each family's financial need.

An FA application is considered complete once the following are submitted:

1. A completed enrollment application process and enrollment contract via TADS (application, acceptance, and enrollment).

2. A copy of the most recently-completed tax return and other supporting documents as requested, uploaded to our Financial Assistance portal.

3. The tuition deposit of $100 + the supply fee ($340 for EC-5th or $515 for 6-8th) paid.

4. If there is anything further you would like the committee to consider, please submit a letter (IWS c/o FA Committee, 20 Nelson Road, Ithaca, NY 14850) or via email (financialassistance@ithacawaldorf.org) explaining your situation.  

   Without submission of items 1 - 3 (above), the application is considered incomplete, and an award will not be made.

Once an award is made, the family must acknowledge acceptance within two (2) weeks. After that deadline, the funds will be returned to the FA pool for other applicants.

If an award has been made, and the family is still unable to afford the revised tuition, please send a written appeal to the Chair of the Financial Aid Committee within two weeks of receiving notification of the award.

The partner code (school code) is 200492.

Financial Assistance Timeline for 2026-27:

• January 5, 2026: FA application process begins. A student must have completed the enrollment or re-enrollment process in order for us to process their FA application.

  • Returning families: must apply for Financial Assistance by February 22, 2026.

  • New families: a separate FA budget is available for new families on a rolling first-come, first-serve basis, no deadline..

• WITHIN two weeks of receiving your FA award notification: to secure your child(ren)’s place for Fall 2026, and your FA award, the IWS office will need to receive:

1. An email indicating FA award acceptance, intent to appeal, or .

2. A signed Tuition Agreement on TADS for each child.

• AFTER two weeks of receiving your FA award notification: if you have NOT submitted acceptance or intent to appeal or withdraw, your FA award is returned to the budget for other families.

Please contact the Financial Aid Committee with any additional questions you may have about the Financial Aid program: business@ithacawaldorf.org

We are happy to discuss the process with you. For more information, please call our office at (607) 256-2020.