The Ethel Walker School: Tuition, Financial Aid, and Affordability

The Ethel Walker School is an independent, college preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades 7 through 12, including a postgraduate year. Since 1911, the school has focused on preparing students to make a difference in the world, emphasizing scholarship, arts, athletics, wellness, and service. Understanding the financial aspects of education at Ethel Walker, including tuition costs and financial aid opportunities, is crucial for families considering this institution.

Understanding Tuition Costs

The tuition at Ethel Walker School varies depending on whether a student is a day student or a boarding student. As an elite institution, costs are on the higher side.

Day Student Tuition

For the 2024-2025 academic year, the full tuition for day students is approximately $52,000. This figure covers the core educational expenses. For the academic year Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $55,300.

Boarding Student Tuition

Boarding student tuition, which includes room and board, is around $74,300 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Considering additional expenses such as books and personal needs, the total boarding costs can reach around $78,000. Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $76,900

Additional Fees

In addition to the base tuition, there are other incidental costs to consider. These may include travel expenses for school trips or personal items. There is also an annual fee. The annual fee includes a technology fee, on-campus meals, student activities fee, use of the Health Center, and class trips for the Middle School, as well as membership in The Ethel Walker School Parents Association (EWSPA). Riding lessons, private music lessons, some field trips, and private tutoring services come at additional cost.

For Upper School students, there is an annual fee of $1,400, while for Middle School students, it is $1,500. This annual fee covers a range of services and activities, including:

Technology fee
On-campus meals
Student activities
Use of the Health Center
Class trips for Middle School students
Membership in The Ethel Walker School Parents Association (EWSPA)

It’s important to note that certain activities and services are not included in the annual fee and incur additional costs:

Riding lessons
Private music lessons
Some field trips
Private tutoring services

Financial Aid Opportunities

Ethel Walker School is committed to creating a diverse school community that includes students from a variety of economic backgrounds. The school offers significant financial aid to support qualified students.

Financial Aid Program

Walker’s Financial Assistance Program provides qualified girls with the opportunity for a premier independent school education, while also fostering a well-balanced, richly diverse student body. Walker’s awards over $5 million in financial aid each year, with an average need-based grant of $33,000. The average Financial Aid Grant is $35,000. Awards range from 5% to 50% of tuition for Primary and Lower School and 5% to 90% of tuition for Middle and Upper School. All financial aid is need-based.

Streamlined Application Process

The Ethel Walker School partners with Clarity Tuition for a streamlined financial aid process. Clarity Tuition offers a user-friendly interface, allowing for quick completion (under 30 minutes), mobile optimization, and automatic IRS data transfer. Families must complete the application for tuition assistance through Clarity and upload all required forms by January 15 for new families and January 1 for returning families. Each family must apply annually for financial aid, and the tax documents will be reviewed annually. Families do not need to request or apply for a fee waiver from the school. When a family submits their financial aid application, Clarity automatically evaluates eligibility and applies fee waivers for qualifying families.

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Key Considerations for Financial Aid Applicants

Application Deadline: Submit the completed Clarity application by January 15 for new families and January 1 for returning families.
Required Documents: Include W2s, 1040s, and all schedules with the application.
Confidentiality: The Walker School carefully guards the confidentiality of financial assistance decisions.
Annual Application: Families must complete the financial assistance application process annually.
Parental Responsibility: In keeping with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid, the school considers tuition the responsibility of both the custodial and non-custodial parents (regardless of legal settlements) who are divorced, separated, or never married. Accordingly, both parents must complete a Financial Assistance Application and provide the required supporting documents. Please be assured that no financial information between parents will be shared, and each parent’s financial details will be treated as strictly confidential.

Financial Aid and Enrollment

Financial Aid grants are delivered as part of the enrollment contract. Walker’s admission committees have no knowledge of applicants’ financial situation. We consider your child’s application without regard for financial assistance. A separate financial assistance committee reviews the needs of those who are admitted and request assistance. Once a financial aid grant is given to a family, the School commits to providing the same percentage of assistance in the future as long as demonstrated need remains the same. It is also important to know that when tuition increases from year to year, families are asked to assume some percentage of this increase.

Additional Support

The Walker School has secured funds specific to students of Latin American or Hispanic background as part of our overall financial assistance budget.

The Georgia Private School Tax Credit Program allows Georgia residents and C-Corporations to redirect a portion of their Georgia tax liability to a Student Scholarship Organization in support of the financial assistance program at a private school of their choice such as The Walker School.

Tuition Payment Plans

Walker’s partners with FACTS Tuition Management, an online system which offers flexible tuition payments for our families. FACTS works with schools across the country to provide tuition management services that make education more affordable. Through their programs, parents can pay tuition and fees over time, using a variety of payment methods, making it easier to afford a quality education for their children.

Payment Options

FACTS Tuition Management offers several payment options to accommodate different family needs:

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First Payment: Due on or before May 31.
Second Payment: Due on or before November 30.
Ten-Month Installment Plan: Begins May 31 and ends with the last payment on February 28.
Tuition Refund Plan (TRP): Required with the 10-month payment plan, with a one-time sign-up fee of $55. The Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) at The Ethel Walker School affords recovery of some or all tuition payments in accordance with the TRP provisions in the event the student does not complete the academic school year. The TRP fee is due in full at the same time as the first tuition installment on or before September 2. The TRP is 3.1% of the net tuition.

Other Financial Considerations

Annual Fund for Walker’s

The Annual Fund for Walker’s is an annual campaign that plays a vital role in the financial strength of our School by providing for expenses not covered by tuition or interest from our endowment. The operating budget of the School is supported in large part by gifts made to the Fund. As tuition dollars meet only part, or about 55%, of the actual cost of educating a student, we need to raise additional funds each year to support the gap between tuition and other income and the actual operating cost of the School. Tax-deductible donations to the Fund for Walker’s keep tuition costs more affordable and provide financial aid and scholarships to deserving students. All of the money raised through the Annual Fund for Walker’s goes toward the School’s operating budget for that year.

What the Annual Fund Covers

Exceptional faculty salaries and professional development
Bus trips for student events and activities
Staging for theater productions
Sporting equipment
Campus maintenance
Utilities (light bulbs, hot water, heating fuel)

Importance of Participation

The participation level of our alumnae, employees, parents and students in fundraising efforts shows other potential donors our willingness to invest in the School’s overall success. Corporations, foundations and other friends of Walker’s look at voluntary support levels before deciding to make a gift to our School. Every gift makes a difference, no matter the amount.

Additional Expenses

Tuition covers the majority of your child’s Walker experience, including lunch and all school supplies in PK3-Grade 5. However, there may be times when additional fees are required, which may include books and supplies in Grades 6-12, fine arts trips, international travel, and extra athletic apparel (not including uniforms). Tuition does not include: books for grades 6-12 (books are purchased online); field trips, such as international trips; some athletic equipment; optional sports fees; and riding lesson fees.

Technology Requirements

All students are required to have a device for their academic work. As an Apple school, we strongly recommend Apple laptops (MacBooks) for their versatility and functionality. Families are responsible for purchasing the student’s device, and students are expected to bring their device, fully charged, and in good repair, to school each day.

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