Understanding Casady School Tuition and Financial Aid

Casady School, located in Oklahoma City, OK, is a private, co-educational, college preparatory Episcopal day school serving students from Pre-K through 12th grade. With a student population of 998 and a student-teacher ratio of 9:1, Casady aims to provide a high-quality education. This article delves into the tuition structure, financial aid opportunities, and the role of the Annual Fund in supporting the school's mission.

Tuition and Fees

As with most private institutions, tuition and fees at Casady School are a significant consideration for prospective families. While the exact amount may vary depending on the grade level and can change from year to year, Casady's tuition is competitive with other local independent schools, reflecting the quality of education it provides. It's important to note that tuition and fees do not cover the full cost of a Casady education.

The Casady Annual Fund: Bridging the Gap

The Casady Annual Fund plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between tuition revenue and the actual cost of educating each student. With a funding gap of $5,000 per student, representing 4% of the school's budget, the Annual Fund is critically important to funding Casady School’s operating costs every year. It serves as the school's highest giving priority and the first gift asked of the community.

What the Annual Fund Supports

The Annual Fund provides flexible, immediate support for the school’s most pressing needs. Specifically, it supports:

Academic Programs: Enhancing the curriculum and providing resources for innovative teaching.
Faculty Development: Investing in professional growth opportunities for teachers.
Financial Aid: Enabling talented students from diverse backgrounds to attend Casady, regardless of their family's income.
Arts: Supporting visual and performing arts programs.
Athletics: Funding athletic programs and facilities.
Campus Improvements: Maintaining and upgrading the school's facilities.

Gifts to the Annual Fund benefit every student, every day, by enhancing programs and opportunities beyond what tuition alone can provide.

Why Contribute to the Annual Fund?

Contributing to the Annual Fund is an investment in Casady’s future. Annual giving by alumni, parents, faculty, and friends provides unrestricted funds that make up 4% of gross revenue. Every gift matters, regardless of size, and inspires more people to give. These donations are a vote of confidence in the school and its mission. Moreover, donations to the Annual Fund are fully tax-deductible, while tuition is not.

Casady’s Annual Fund donors include trustees, faculty/staff, parents, alumni, grandparents, parents of alumni, friends, and corporate matching programs.

Leadership Circle

The Leadership Circle represents donors who give $1,000 or more to the Casady Annual Fund. These are some of the most active and dedicated supporters. During the last fiscal year, Leadership Circle support made up 90% of the total given to the Annual Fund.

Why Not Just Raise Tuition?

The Board of Trustees tries to keep tuition as low as possible so as many families as possible will be able to afford a Casady education. Raising tuition would restrict even further the number of families who could attend the school. At the same time, the school endeavors to maintain the excellence of its academic programs and a diverse community. Charitable contributions help achieve both goals.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Casady School offers financial aid to students in Grades 5-12. Awards are based on a family’s demonstrated financial need and can meet up to 80 percent of the difference between what a family can afford and the cost of tuition.

Read also: Job Skills for Students

Application Process

The financial aid process is separate from the admission process. The application process for all decisions relating to the award of financial aid occur after a student has been admitted to the School. Financial aid awards are determined by a Financial Aid Committee. Need-based financial aid awards are determined through a computation provided by FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment, based on figures submitted by the family. All financial information is held strictly confidential. The job of the Financial Aid Committee is to review the demonstrated-need determined by FACTS, and review the funds the School has available to meet the demonstrated need.

Key Dates

October 15: Open Enrollment for Financial Aid
November 30: Current Families - Applications Complete

Important Considerations

Financial aid is not available for students in Grades PreK-4.
If only one parent works outside the home, the Financial Aid Committee calculates an income for the second parent at the level of minimum wage minus taxes.
The Financial Aid Committee strives to provide an award within the two-week enrollment contract deadline. This provides the family with all the information they need to make an informed decision before signing a contract. This timeline is entirely dependent on the family applying for financial aid by the listed deadline.
A family’s financial circumstances can change from year to year, so each family needs to apply for financial aid each year if they wish to receive an award.

International Students

Casady School issues I-20s to international students and complies with all practices as recommended by SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The school currently has a Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) and a Designated School Official (DSO). The school is required to maintain documentation verifying the student’s status at the school. As members of the Department of Homeland Security, the PDSO and DSO must register each student upon the start of each semester and transfer them out upon either graduation or withdrawal.

Admission and Enrollment

International students must adhere to the same admission process as all other candidates. Upon acceptance, full tuition, lunch fees, and a deposit are required upon enrollment and prior to the I-20 being issued. The deposit is in place to cover incidental fees accrued throughout the year. At this time, financial assistance is not available to international students.

Support for International Students

Once an international student is enrolled and has arrived in the United States, the Office of Admission will schedule a meeting with both the international student and their Host Family (in some cases, the Host Family may be the natural family). The purpose of the meeting is to outline timelines and expectations for the coming year and to meet all the needs of the I-20 process. In an effort to provide support to international students, a member of the Student Wellness and Learning Services team will conduct two check-in meetings for each year that an international student is enrolled. They will also make themselves available throughout the year and will assist in identifying other campus personnel who may serve as additional support if and when needed.

Homestay Policy

Casady School’s Homestay Policy allows for both international and domestics students to participate. A domestic student would participate in the homestay program if they are living with anyone other than their natural family or guardian. Currently, the School does not allow for any child under the 9th grade to participate in the Homestay Policy, however exceptions can be made based on the circumstances of the student and the family. Casady School does not currently provide boarding or matching services for host families. All parents/guardians of homestay students must complete a Homestay Consent Form, which will be retained in the student’s file. The host family must then submit information and consent for a criminal background check for each adult living in the home to be performed by the school. This enables students to obtain an F-1 visa.

Read also: Tuition at UARK Law

Applying to Casady School

The admission cycle begins September 1 of the year prior to that for which you are applying.

Click to create your online inquiry or call the Admission Office at 405.749.3200.
Once an inquiry has been submitted, an Admission Director will call you to discuss next steps. Campus tours and events are a great place to begin.

Shadow Visits

Lower Division
- Grade 1: All applicants are required to fulfill a shadow day visit in Kindergarten which includes a developmental assessment.
- Grades 2-4: All applicants are required to fulfill a shadow visit in Casady’s Lower Division.
Middle & Upper Divisions
- Grade 5: All applicants are required to fulfill a shadow day visit in Casady’s Lower Division.
- Grades 6-12: All applicants are required to fulfill a shadow day visit in Casady’s Middle or Upper Divisions. Students are typically matched with a Student Ambassador in their same grade level. For rising 9th graders, students are matched with a current 9th grade Student Ambassador.

Deadlines

September 1: Applications Open
December 1: Early Decision Deadline
January 15: Regular Decision Deadline

tags: #Casady #School #tuition #fees