Understanding the Cost of a Putney School Education

The Putney School, situated on a 500-acre working Vermont dairy farm, distinguishes itself as a co-educational private boarding school committed to progressive education. Designed for independent, motivated, and capable students seeking intellectual freedom, responsibility, and opportunities for competence in a variety of fields, the school's rich curriculum emphasizes sustainability. This article delves into the costs associated with attending The Putney School, financial aid opportunities, and the overall value proposition of a Putney education.

The Cost of Attendance

As of now, the yearly tuition for boarding students at The Putney School is $80,200, while day students pay $50,100 annually. It is important to note that these figures represent the base tuition and do not encompass additional expenses.

Additional Costs to Consider

Beyond the base tuition, families should budget for several additional costs, including:

Transportation: At certain times of the year, Putney offers transportation shuttles for an additional fee.
Health Insurance: Students are required to have health insurance that is accepted in Vermont.
Activities: Horseback riding is offered as an afternoon activity on a trimester basis. Downhill skiing is offered twice per week during the winter trimester; the fee includes lift tickets and transportation to and from the mountain.
Equipment: Appropriate sports and physical activity equipment should be anticipated (cleats, shin guards, dance shoes, etc.).

Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities

The Putney School recognizes that a private education represents a significant investment for families. The school is committed to making a Putney education possible for everyone and offers various financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Nearly half of Putney students receive financial aid, with the school dedicating a substantial portion of its tuition revenue (24%) to financial assistance. The average financial aid grant is $23,000.

Clarity Application

The Putney School uses Clarity to streamline the financial aid application process. Clarity determines a family’s level of financial need based on the information provided in the application. The application process involves the following steps:

Creating an account with Clarity.
Submitting family information.
Uploading tax forms (1040 and W-2 documents from the previous tax year are automatically transferred from the IRS when completing the verification step).

A $60 fee is required to submit the application, which can be shared with additional schools that accept the Clarity application at no extra charge.

The Putney Open Door Fund

The Putney Open Door Fund (PODF) is a nonprofit foundation that aims to eliminate barriers for young people seeking educational summer experiences. The Fund’s Board of Directors is committed to making transformative travel available to all students, regardless of their economic status.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a scholarship from the Putney Open Door Fund, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria:

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (i.e., students living abroad are not eligible to apply).
The combined household income (adjusted gross income) must not exceed the following income caps based on household size:

Read also: Job Skills for Students
- Household size of 2: $60,000
- Household size of 3: $75,000
- Household size of 4: $90,000
- For each additional person in the household over 4, the income cap increases by $15,000.
The applicant’s household will be expected to maintain few assets, which will be assessed at the discretion of the PODF board.

To verify income eligibility, a recent copy of a parent or guardian’s tax return Form 1040, line 11, showing adjusted gross income, is required. If this is not available, other financial documentation must be provided.

Application Process

A complete scholarship application consists of the following:

Completed Scholarship Application
Two Teacher References (submitted digitally through a Google Form provided by the PODF)
Financial Documents (copy of parents’ or guardians’ most recent federal tax returns (fiscal year 2024 or 2025) and/or verification of non-taxable income)

Application deposits are waived for all Putney Open Door Fund applicants. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scholarship Coverage

The Putney Open Door Fund offers full scholarships, covering 100% of the program tuition and associated fees, including any required travel visas and the program destination. Scholarships do not cover passport application fees.

Read also: Tuition at UARK Law

Prior Recipients

Students who have already received funding from the PODF to participate in a Putney Student Travel program are not eligible to receive a second scholarship.

The Value of a Putney School Education

While the cost of attending The Putney School is considerable, the school provides a unique and valuable educational experience. The Putney School is designed for independent, motivated, and capable students seeking intellectual freedom, responsibility, and opportunities for competence in a variety of fields. A Putney education aims to cultivate adaptable, resilient, and prepared individuals. The school emphasizes experiential learning, encouraging students to learn by doing rather than passively receiving information. This approach fosters confidence, deeper understanding, and resolve.

Progressive Education

The Putney School was founded in 1935 on the principles of the Progressive education movement. The school's core curriculum makes it a leader in progressive education. Putney is a vibrant community where teachers and students are actual friends. It’s conducive to personal growth and a place where I and other students found our passions. Everyone is excited and working on something. The school values the idea that education is something to be actively pursued rather than passively received.

Work Program

One of the unique aspects of Putney is the work program, where students work in the kitchen, on the farm, and in other areas of the school. The school's 500-acre campus is situated on a working Vermont dairy farm that supports a rich curriculum in sustainability.

Arts Program

Putney has a fantastic arts program. Students can embrace their creativity on a campus constantly making, leading, and becoming active community members through our work program. The school continues to invest substantial resources in Putney’s pillars, including the farm and the arts. These are the two areas in which Putney rightly invests the largest amount of money compared to other departments, and this will continue.

College Preparation

The Putney School is a college-preparatory school. The school works to set up students for their own success. The result of a Putney education is a person who is adaptable, resilient, and prepared. They met the superficial 'prep school' goal of helping me get into a top college.

Diversity and Inclusion

The school prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts.

Putney School: An Overview

The Putney School is an independent 9-12 private boarding and day school situated in southeastern Vermont that has spent 90 years on the forefront of progressive education.

Key Statistics

Grades: 9-12, PG
Enrollment: 220 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $80,200
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $50,100
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average Class Size: 12 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 15 / rolling
Student-Teacher Ratio: 3:1
Campus Size: 600 acres

Campus and Facilities

The Putney School is located 12 miles (19 km) outside Brattleboro, Vermont, on a 500-acre hilltop campus with classrooms, dormitories, and a dairy farm where students are expected to work. There are ten active dormitories on campus. The Currier Center is a departure from Putney's customary white, colonial-style architecture, instead using stone and concrete walls in an angular design.

Notable Alumni

The Putney School has produced a number of notable alumni, including:

Wally Shawn (Writer, actor, director)
Jonathan Schell (Author, The Fate of the Earth)
Errol Morris (Documentary filmmaker)
Kerry Kennedy Cuomo (Director, Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Hum.)

Additional Considerations Regarding Private School Costs

It's important to understand the broader context of private school costs and financial aid.

Vermont's Voucher Program

Vermont has a voucher program, the nation’s oldest, that allows families in towns without a public high school to use taxpayer dollars to attend private schools. Since a voucher covers less than half of the typical prep school tuition, low-income Vermonters still can’t afford the likes of Exeter or Deerfield, unless they receive financial aid from the school. Vermont’s voucher program is spurring controversy there, including proposals to tighten regulation of private schools that accept vouchers, or to ban using vouchers for out-of-state schools.

National Trends in School Choice

The national debate over vouchers is starting to resonate in Vermont. Over her career, DeVos has primarily championed vouchers for students who are poor or attend failing schools. Some critics say that school-choice proponents attach income ceilings to voucher proposals out of political expediency.

tags: #putney #school #tuition #cost