Tuition and Financial Aid - Charles River School

Affording a CRS Education

Parents recognize the importance of the early childhood, elementary, and middle school years in creating an intellectual and social-emotional foundation that will enable children to achieve success throughout their lives. CRS families appreciate the value of the small classes, individual attention, academic excellence, and emphasis on joy and discovery that Charles River School offers. A CRS education is an investment in a child’s future.

Nonetheless, there is no question that independent school education is costly. CRS is committed to making its education affordable to families from a wide economic range. Enrolling a talented and diverse student body – bright children with a variety of experiences and backgrounds – is central to our mission. We allocate funds to help qualified families defray some of the cost of a CRS education; currently, approximately 20% of our students receive financial aid.

Charles River School uses the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to process financial aid forms. To apply, parents or guardians should complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online and submit it to SSS by February 1. You will be asked to upload tax documentation; if your most current income tax return is not available, please submit the previous year’s and update your application when it is complete.

Please contact Kat Whitten in the Admissions Office (508-785-8213) for more information.

Tuition 2024-2025

PreKindergarten	$36,220
Kindergarten	$36,220
Grade 1	$41,890
Grade 2	$41,890
Grade 3	$43,990
Grade 4	$46,100
Grade 5	$48,550
Grade 6	$52,320
Grade 7	$52,320
Grade 8	$52,320

Families with a wide range of incomes qualify for financial aid. The amount of aid offered depends on such factors as:

Family financial circumstances
Number of dependents
Number of children attending tuition-charging schools and colleges
Available financial aid funds

It is assumed that each family should be able to maintain a basic standard of living as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in order to provide the necessary food, clothing, and shelter for a household. As income goes up above this basic level, families have funds that permit discretionary purchases beyond necessary expenditures. As this so-called discretionary income increases, parents are expected to make progressively higher financial commitments to education.

Charles River School uses the services of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to help assess a family’s financial needs. This service processes all financial aid applications and provides a report to the school as to how much each family should be able to contribute toward education. Charles River School then allocates its resources as fairly as possible. The School and Student Service for Financial Aid does not award financial aid; Charles River School makes all awards.

These two documents from SSS may be helpful:

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Guiding Principles for Families

Financial aid applications must be submitted to SSS by February 1. You will be notified regarding financial aid when you are notified of your child’s acceptance. Typically, the school exhausts its financial aid budget during the first round of admissions decisions. Late applications are considered on a rolling basis, provided that money remains in the budget.

All families complete a financial aid application each year. Charles River School usually continues to grant financial aid each year provided that the family’s financial situation does not change significantly. It is our policy to provide funding for currently enrolled students first and then for new students.