AFFORDING GARDEN
Garden School is an independent, non-profit institution whose operating expenses are covered solely through tuition, contributions, and our auxiliary programs.
The school is committed to offering an excellent academic choice while remaining a realistic option for New York families. Consequently, our annual tuition remains one of the lowest among New York independent schools.
In addition, our lunch, transportation and extended day programs, offered as extras, address the practical concerns of many families.
Tuition for the 2024-2025 Academic Year
| Nursery – Grade 10 | $27,715 |
| Grade 11 | $27,915* |
| Grade 12 | $28,115** |
Note: There is a $500 discount per sibling after the first child.
*Includes Junior Fee
**Includes Senior Fee
Tuition for the 2024-25 will be set in January 2024.
Deposit & Payment Plans
A $1,000.00 deposit is paid with all signed Enrollment Agreements in order to secure a student’s place at Garden School. This deposit is deducted from the tuition balance.
There are three payment plans offered to pay annual tuition:
Single Payment
One lump sum due July 1 ($150 discount).
Four Equal Payments
Due on or before July 1, September 1, November 1, and February 1 of the school year.
Eleven Monthly Payments
Due on the 1st of each month beginning July 1 with all payments completed by May 1.
A 5% service charge, computed on the balance after the deposit, will be applied.
All payments can be made with cash, check and online via PayPal. MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted with a 3% convenience fee. See our Credit Card Fee Policy and Accounts Receivable Policy.
In addition to keeping tuition low, Garden offers two types of tuition assistance: need-based financial aid and the Merit Scholarship Program.
Financial Aid
Garden School offers a limited amount of financial aid to families who demonstrate need. To be considered for need-based financial aid, a family must:
- Complete both a Parent/Guardian Enrollment Application and a Financial Aid Request Form (via Blackbaud Portal)
- Submit completed applications to the School along with the $75 Application Fee
- Include all supporting paperwork including up-to-date tax documents
Applications are reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee and awards are granted based on both the school’s current budget and the amount of financial aid requested. Families must reapply for this type of financial aid annually in order to demonstrate continued need.
Applications should be completed and returned to the Business Office by January 7, 2022, with a copy of your 2020 tax return and a completed IRS Form 4506 allowing Garden School to access an “official” copy of your return, for possible clarifications. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Families should file their 2021 taxes as soon as possible in order to have accurate and current information available. All applications and financial information will be kept confidential.
Returning families receive Enrollment Agreements in January. If you intend to apply or reapply for tuition assistance, it is not necessary to sign the full tuition Enrollment Agreement. However, financial aid decisions will be made on an ongoing basis. Therefore, if unable to apply by the “Return By” date on the Enrollment Agreement, it is critically important that those returning families intending to re-enroll and to apply or reapply for tuition assistance inform the school in writing of your intention by the “Return By” date on the Enrollment Agreement at the latest.
Returning families seeking tuition assistance must return their completed applications by January 7, 2022. The later your application is received, the less tuition assistance is available. Awards cannot be guaranteed on Enrollment Agreements that are returned after the “Return by” date or without a deposit, or if there is no notification on your intention to apply for financial aid.
For new families, an enrollment agreement will be sent reflecting the amount of the award and the adjusted tuition. Families are required to sign and return one copy of the agreement by the “Return by” date along with the non-refundable $1,000 deposit as stated on the Enrollment Agreement in order to retain their award. Only Enrollment Agreements accompanied by the deposit will be accepted.
Merit Scholarship Program
In addition to applying to financial aid, families with students applying for grades 6-10, are also encouraged to register for the annual Merit Scholarship Exam, typically scheduled for the first Saturday in December. The Merit Scholarship Program was started over twenty years ago in order to attract high-performing and well-rounded students to the school.
Families must register for this Exam through Blackbaud. A Merit Scholarship, typically ranging from 25% to 50% of tuition, is awarded for a student’s entire time at Garden. However, Merit Scholars must maintain specific academic and social criteria in order to maintain Merit Scholarship awards.
New and current families who are taking the Exam and who have not received a Merit Scholarship in the past may apply for need-based tuition assistance at any time. If a Scholarship is awarded and accepted, their tuition assistance application will no longer be considered. Typically, Merit Scholars are not also eligible for need-based financial assistance. If they are not awarded a Scholarship, then their tuition assistance applications will be considered. Families are encouraged not to wait for scholarship decisions and to apply for tuition assistance as soon as possible with up-to-date tax documents.
Bond Endowment Fund
The Fund is used for programs not supported by tuition, including capital improvements. Other independent schools increase tuition to the levels needed to meet the budget demands. The Bond Endowment Fund helps Garden School keep tuition reasonable.
All Garden School families in Kindergarten and above are required to participate in the Bond Endowment Fund Program by making a one-time contribution of $2,000.00 to the School. These monies are held by Garden School in a non-interest bearing account and are refundable upon graduation or separation from the school under certain conditions.
Meal Plan
Garden School offers a breakfast and a lunch program payable on a daily basis, by the semester or by the year.
Private Bus Transportation
For the past several years, Garden School has owned and operated a fleet of 19-passenger GMAC school buses to transport students to and from school.
Garden School buses are equipped with car seats, seat belts, video cameras, and heating and air conditioning. Our certified licensed drivers drive the same routes all year and are reachable by cell phone in cases of an unexpected change of plans.
The buses leave after school at approximately 3:00pm. The 5:00pm Late Bus allows students to participate in sports, music, afterschool enrichment classes or the general afterschool care program.
Our price structure is based on zones and the distance from the school. Both one way and round trips are often available. Fewer than 5 days a week is also available. The exact charge can only be determined as routes are set up. The fee for transportation is included on tuition statements and paid in accordance with your current payment plan.
There are a limited number of seats and a significant number of families that express interest in bus transportation. Please contact Mary Maisano as soon as possible in the Business Office to secure seat(s).
