Understanding Athens Academy Tuition and Financial Aid Opportunities

Navigating the financial landscape of private education can feel overwhelming. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tuition costs at Athens Academy and the various financial aid programs available to prospective and current families. Athens Academy recognizes that private Christian schooling is a financial sacrifice, but considers it an investment made by the family.

Tuition Structure at Athens Academy

Athens Christian School tries to keep tuition to a minimum. Tuition payments begin in June and are computed on an annual basis. Students who enroll after June will have the option of a monthly payment plan and tuition will be calculated based on the months remaining.

During the tour and application process families will be provided with detailed information, including a full listing of incidental/activitiy fees.

Tuition varies depending on the grade level:

K3 & K4: \$10,995
Pre-First: \$15,995
Grade 1: \$20,100
Grade 2: \$21,155
Grades 3-4: \$21,255
Grades 5-6: \$23,055
Grades 7-8: \$23,895
Grades 9-10: \$24,475
Grades 11-12: \$24,575

It's important to note that class trips, field trips, and technology fees are already included in tuition. School supplies and textbooks are included for K3 through Grade 8.

Read also: Athens State University Careers

Financial Aid at Athens Academy

Financial aid is available on a need basis to assist qualified applicants. The current outstanding student body comes from a variety of geographic, ethnic, cultural, and financial backgrounds. Diversity at Athens Academy has a positive influence on all aspects of the school’s programs. All financial aid matters are strictly confidential.

Application Process and Deadlines

To ensure full consideration, applications for financial aid must be made by the admissions application deadline. Financial aid is considered and extended after the applicant is invited to attend Athens Academy.

For returning families: To ensure full consideration, application for financial aid must be made by January 21.
For new families: Financial aid application may be submitted at the same time you submit the application for admission.

Since resources are limited timely submission is essential. Admission is not based on financial need.

Funding Sources for Financial Aid

The financial aid budget comes from the Annual Excellence Fund, Georgia Tuition Tax Credit funds, and restricted funds.

Factors Considered in Financial Aid Decisions

Blackbaud Financial Aid provides information to the school regarding the family’s ability to pay based on available assets, income and family expenses. As all families provide the same type of information to the service, Athens Academy can use Blackbaud Financial Aid’s recommendations for making financial aid awards based on relative need.

Read also: Unlock Athens State Scholarships

Athens Academy also considers the total financial aid budget available and the amount of financial aid at each grade level. Resources are limited and the school cannot always provide the amount of aid that a family needs.

Financial aid recipients are evaluated and updated each year, so that aid is truly offered on a need basis. Awards may be renewed annually upon satisfactory progress in all areas of school life and after the annual application and evaluation of the family’s financial need.

Financial aid can bridge the gap for a family with limited income. We encourage families with financial questions to pursue the process rather than make an assumption that might prevent a qualified student from receiving an Athens Academy education.

The admissions process is completed before the Financial Aid Committee evaluates the Blackbaud Financial Aid recommendations. It is also important to note that the names of financial aid applicants and recipients are held in the strictest confidence.

Each situation is determined on its own merits.

Specific Financial Aid Programs

Athens Academy offers several programs that provide support for families that could not otherwise fund educational opportunities at the school. Although some include additional considerations, each of the following programs is primarily based on demonstrated financial need.

The Academy Support Fund: Awards financial support to invited students of any grade who have demonstrated financial need.
The Hampton L. Daughtry Fund: Awards financial support to entering ninth graders who have not previously attended Athens Academy. The aid is based on financial need with special consideration given to academic promise.
The Michael Houser Music Fund: Awards financial support based on financial need with special consideration given to musical talent and interest. The student shall be entering the sixth grade or higher and has not previously attended Athens Academy.
The Hispanic Scholars Program: Offers need-based financial support for families of Hispanic heritage.

Applying for Specific Programs

Log on to Blackbaud Financial Aid and complete the online application form. Click here for Blackbaud Financial Aid Parent Instructions.

After completing the application, please upload your most recent tax information to Blackbaud Financial Aid. You can also deliver your tax information to Athens Academy, Attn: Joseph Whitaker.

For the Hampton L. Daughtry, Michael Houser, or Hispanic Scholars Programs, submit the Smart Aid online application and tax returns as above. Then complete the nomination application and send directly to the school at Attn: Financial Aid, Athens Academy, 1281 Spartan Lane, Athens, GA 30606.

Additional Financial Considerations

Impact of Divorce or Separation

Each situation is determined on its own merits.

Planned Giving

Planned giving is of interest to anyone who wishes to decrease tax liability on earned income, passive income, capital gains, or an estate while supporting Athens Academy. Charitable lead trusts or charitable remainder trusts in the form of unitrusts or annuity trusts can be of enormous benefit to both the donor and the charity.

Bequests and planned gifts can be a great source of funding for Athens Academy’s endowment. unrestricted or designated, i.e. A gift made through a will and given to Athens Academy after death. Charitable bequests may be included when a new will is drawn or added to an existing will through a codicil.

A donor commits to giving Athens Academy the amount of money an endowment would have generated every year until they’ve fully funded the endowment principal. In other words, if one wants to create a flexible endowment for a $250,000 faculty chair and Athens Academy pays out 4 percent on each endowment annually, one agrees to give $10,000 each year until one makes a gift of $250,000 to fund the endowment.

Creates a trust in which the income is paid annually to the School for a term of years after which the principal reverts to the donor or non-charitable beneficiaries, usually family.

Provides income to the donor based upon annual valuation of the trust’s assets. The donor specifies a fixed percentage of not less than 5% to be paid to income beneficiaries for life or an expressed number of years. Give assets to Athens Academy and still receive income from assets for the rest of your life. Gifts of appreciated securities or stock can be one of the most advantageous ways of giving. Athens Academy is a non-profit, charitable corporation which has been granted tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Athens Academy accepts charitable donations that are fully deductible for federal and Georgia income, gift, and estate tax purposes.

International Student Fees

An international student is defined as a student who is not a citizen of the United and is in this country on one of several visa possibilities. The most common forms are the F-1 and the J-type visas.

All international students wishing to graduate from Athens Academy would be best suited by beginning no later than 10th grade. International students will pay a $5,000 non-refundable annual fee in addition to the normal tuition.

Admission Procedures for an International Student

Online Application, to include a student essay.
Submission of a translated (English) transcript with the Athens Academy option of using the Joseph Silny Company verification/interpretation of the transcript. Where possible, a grading scale should be included.
Translated (English) copies of the Teacher Evaluations
A personal or Skype interview with an Athens Academy employee, where language ability is validated.
A TOEFL score of at least 95, preferably 100 or higher.
An international student must establish with Athens Academy who the host family is, and that family will meet with the Division Director and the Admission Director as part of the family interview. Students must reside with the host family. It is desirable, but not mandatory, that the actual parents and the applicant meet in person with Athens Academy personnel.
Proof of approved health insurance.

Georgia Tuition Tax Credit Program

Athens Academy is pleased to participate in the Georgia Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Athens Academy partners with Apogee, a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) to help Georgia taxpayers redirect a portion of their State tax liability to Athens Academy and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit. Funds received from the program are made available for qualified applicants in the school's existing financial aid program. Since 2009, more than $10 million has been raised for our financial aid program.

Click here to apply for 2026! Please contact Neville Anderson with any questions. Your Georgia tax liability is typically 6% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

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