Tuition Policy 2008-09 (New 1/15/08)

In-Parish Tuition

St. Madeleine Sophie School tuition rates are set to be reflective of the amount the parish will expend to educate each child.

The maximum requested tuition amount for registered parishioners is

 $7,170 annually per student Grades K-8. 

Parish members in good standing are offered the option of a reduced tuition payment in the form of a Sliding Scale based on their income and number of their children enrolled in St. Madeleine Sophie School.

It is our intent to ensure that every parish child has the opportunity to attend our Catholic elementary school.  At the same time, it is the responsibility of parish leadership to make sure that resources remain available to continue offering quality programs to meet the needs of others in the community as well.  In that vein, we ask that each family with the means, pledge the maximum commitment.  For those who find that impossible yet are still desirous of the program we offer, we have established a Sliding Scale matrix that allows for a reduction in tuition based upon family income and family size.  In those cases where the matrix would still require an over-extension of family resources, we provide the opportunity to meet with the Principal and/or a Tuition Review Committee* to explore additional assistance.  If you are a registered parish household, we want you to know that we'll work with you to make this school a reality for your children.

A St. Madeleine Sophie Parish Family is defined as having at least one parent or guardian baptized Catholic.  In addition, the family actively participates in the life of the parish.  The family must be registered in the parish office, participate in Eucharistic celebrations, and maintain an annual Stewardship Card on file, making regular contributions to the financial support of the parish.

Families receive the in-parish tuition rate provided they meet the above criteria.  If the criteria are not met, the billing status will be changed to the out-of-parish tuition rate.  Records will be monitored quarterly.  Parishioners will be notified of any delinquencies.

Each family that uses the Sliding Scale or requests Tuition Review* is asked to notify the Principal should their income change during the school year.  Tuition may be increased or decreased in relation to the change in your family's financial situation.  Please see the Sliding Scale chart at the bottom of this page.

*Tuition Review is for parishioners who are unable to pay the Sliding Scale tuition. The purpose of the Tuition Review Committee is to ensure a system of fairness in relation to adjusted tuition. The Tuition Review Committee is made up of parishioners who do not have children or grandchildren in the school and who serve at the request of the Pastor and Principal.  Members of the Committee are characterized by honesty, unquestioned integrity, impartiality, trustworthiness and honoring of the confidentiality of information shared with them. A uniform and established process will be utilized to document income, establish a rate of tuition, develop a payment plan, and devise a contract for tuition payment.

Out-of-Parish Tuition

Tuition for out-of-parish families reflects the full cost of educating a child at St. Madeleine Sophie School. The tuition differential offsets what a Parish family contributes in the Sunday collection, which is given to the school through Parish subsidy. 

The cost of tuition for non-parishioners is $ 7,750 annually per student Grades K-8.

PK Tuition

The PK program is offered five days a week from 8:30am until 12:15pm.  The goal is to have any fees collected match the expenses we incur in its operation.  It is not considered to be part of the Sliding Scale option.

The cost of tuition for both parish and non-parishioners is $4,350 annually per student.

Registration - Foundation Fee

As a planned funding strategy for the program, the School Commission has chosen a tuition structure that tries to reflect all associated costs of operation.  Thus, we have decided against requiring the usual array of additional fees and charges.  The cost of processing student registrations and additional paperwork is included in your tuition.  Still, the reality of hiring staff and materials necessitates that we secure a financial commitment to the program in advance of the first tuition payment. 

The Family Registration – Foundation Fee is collected each year during registration to meet that need.  This payment will allow us to ensure a strong FOUNDATION for our future.  First, it will help offset the start-up costs of outfitting our classrooms with the basics (texts, desks, technology, etc.).  This year, it will also allow us to set aside an amount per classroom for auction projects and some minor class activities.  Field trip charges and middle school technology insurance is requested separately. 

In the future, after these needs are met, the plan is to use the funds collected to establish an operating reserve and the beginnings of a corpus for our endowment.  The Foundation Fee for Grades K-8 in 2007-08 is $300 per family.  It is set at $150 per family in PK.  A PK sibling of a child in K-8 is considered part of that assessment.  No additional amount is collected.

Payment Plans

There are two tuition payment options.  You may pay the entire amount NO LATER than Monday, June 6, 2008 and receive a 5% discount.  You may also select a monthly plan (10 or twelve months) that can be established as either an automatic transfer or billed statement.  The SMART Tuition paperwork for the monthly plans is available in the application packet.

Sliding Scale Matrix 2008-09