Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences: Tuition, Affordability, and Educational Philosophy

Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, situated in Santa Monica, California, stands as a co-educational, private day school serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Founded in 1971, Crossroads distinguishes itself through its commitment to a diverse and dynamic community, a comprehensive arts program, and a unique approach to advanced studies, all while striving to make its education accessible to families across various income levels.

The Cost of a Crossroads Education: Tuition and Included Expenses

The tuition at Crossroads School encompasses a wide array of expenses, aiming to provide a transparent and inclusive educational experience. This includes costs associated with field trips, Experiential and Outdoor Education (EOE) trips, athletic team fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. By bundling these costs, Crossroads aims to simplify the financial aspect for families and ensure that students can participate fully in the school's offerings without additional financial burden.

Commitment to Affordability: Making Crossroads Accessible

Recognizing the importance of socio-economic diversity, Crossroads School is dedicated to making its education accessible to families across all income levels. The school demonstrates this commitment through its Affordability Program, allocating over $11 million to support one in four students. This program underscores the school's belief that a Crossroads education should be within reach for families from various financial backgrounds. The average family who receives Affordability Awards starting in kindergarten would receive around $320,000 during their child’s Crossroads journey.

Understanding the Affordability Program

Families interested in the Affordability Program are required to complete an application and upload the necessary documents. Crossroads considers various factors, including family size, cost of living, income, and assets, to determine a family's ability to contribute to educational expenses. Families should also schedule a time to meet with our Director of Affordability. The school expects to have a cooperative and communicative relationship with all parents or guardians of each of our students and requires the active participation of a student’s entire family in funding this educational opportunity. The School recognizes, in rare cases, there may be an unusual circumstance that makes it difficult to obtain certain information. Each student’s need is recalculated annually.

Beyond Tuition: Additional Programs and Fees

In addition to the standard tuition, Crossroads School offers supplementary programs such as the "Hang Out" program for elementary school students. This after-school care and enrichment program is available five days a week and includes two enrichment classes per semester, with costs ranging from $3,000 to $3,400.

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A Holistic Approach to Admissions

Crossroads employs a holistic admission process, evaluating applicants based on intellectual curiosity, creativity, character, and growth, alongside academic preparedness. The school values the full story of each applicant, recognizing that students are more than just their transcripts or test scores.

Standardized Testing: Middle and Upper School

For middle school (grades 6-8) admission for the 2025-26 admission cycle, Crossroads strongly encourages submission of ISEE or SSAT scores if the student is taking either of these tests in order to apply to any other school. If the student is not planning to take the ISEE or SSAT, then submission of test scores is optional. There is no penalty for not submitting test scores nor will priority be given to those who do submit ISEE or SSAT scores. For upper school (grades 9-12) admission for the 2025-26 admission cycle, ISEE or SSAT scores are now a REQUIRED piece of a 9th grade application. Test scores continue to be optional for 10-12th grade applications. There are no minimum test scores required to be admitted to Crossroads, and no score guarantees admission. Rather the test is one of several tools that will help us make informed and thoughtful decisions.

Legacy Considerations

While Crossroads gives preference to sibling, alumni, and employee families, admission is not guaranteed. The school assesses each child individually, considering their unique needs, strengths, and learning styles. Legacy applicants are defined as either 1) the adopted or biological children of a parent who attended Crossroads School, or 2) the biological or adopted siblings of Crossroads graduates. Step-children, foster children or other children living in the home will not automatically qualify for legacy status, but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Diversity and Inclusion: Core Values at Crossroads

Crossroads School embraces diversity as a fundamental aspect of its identity. The school strives to cultivate a student population that reflects social, economic, and racial diversity. A significant portion of the student body identifies as students of color, and a substantial number of faculty members also represent diverse backgrounds. The school's commitment extends beyond demographics, actively promoting equity and inclusion in all aspects of its community.

Academics and Arts: A Balanced Approach

While not solely an arts school, Crossroads places equal emphasis on the arts and traditional academic subjects. The arts curriculum is viewed as an integral component of the school's program, fostering problem-solving, risk-taking, and critical analysis skills.

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Crossroads Advanced Studies (CAS)

In lieu of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, Crossroads offers its own internally designed Crossroads Advanced Studies (CAS) courses. This decision reflects the school's belief that the AP program did not align with its educational philosophy and compromised its ability to fulfill its commitments.

Athletics: Promoting Character and Teamwork

Crossroads provides a comprehensive and competitive athletics program for students in grades six through 12, along with developmental teams for fifth graders. The athletics program encourages students to participate in team sports, fostering friendships, building character, and instilling school pride.

Notable Alumni and the "Nepo Baby" Phenomenon

Crossroads School has gained attention for its notable alumni, including children of celebrities. While the school has been mentioned in discussions surrounding "nepo babies," it remains a popular choice among families seeking a strong academic and arts-focused education. Famous graduates include Maude Apatow, Zosia Mamet, Kate Hudson, Jack Quaid, Jonah Hill, Charlie Hall, Maya Rudolph, Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow and the two Deschanel sisters.

A Commitment to Social Justice and Activism

Crossroads School strives to prepare students to think critically, express themselves openly, and commit themselves to lives that value community, justice, and activism. The school fosters an environment where curiosity is cultivated, systems of oppression are challenged, and civic engagement is expected.

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