Understanding Episcopal High School Baton Rouge Tuition and Financial Aid

Episcopal High School of Baton Rouge stands as a leading independent school in the region, offering a private, Christian, college-preparatory education for students from Prekindergarten through 12th grade. Situated on a beautiful 55-acre campus in the southeastern section of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the school was established in 1965 and has grown to serve approximately 900 students from East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding areas. This article delves into the costs associated with attending Episcopal High School, as well as the financial aid opportunities available to families.

An Overview of Episcopal High School

Episcopal High School is owned and operated by the Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Louisiana. The school prides itself on nurturing and developing the whole child - spiritually, intellectually, morally, physically, and artistically. This is achieved through challenging academic and co-curricular programs designed to prepare graduates for college and for purposeful lives.

The school boasts a low student/teacher ratio, around 9:1 or 11:1, which fosters a close relationship between students and teachers. This allows for personalized attention and recognition of each student's individual needs and achievement levels. Episcopal works within a fully accredited college entrance curriculum, emphasizing facts, principles, and methods while remaining flexible to accommodate individual capabilities and interests.

Tuition Costs at Episcopal High School

As a private institution, Episcopal High School relies on funds generated from tuition, fees, capital giving, and the Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is a yearly fundraising program where all donations are invested in school plans and facilities.

The yearly tuition at Episcopal High School is approximately $21,000. However, it’s important to note that tuition and fees may vary depending on the grade level and may be subject to change each school year. Beyond the stated tuition, families should also consider the hidden costs of private school, including fees, uniforms, and other extras that may be required.

Financial Aid Opportunities

Recognizing that the cost of private education can be a barrier for some families, Episcopal High School has an established tuition assistance program. This program aims to make an Episcopal education accessible to talented students who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Last year, Episcopal awarded over $2.6 million in assistance to 33% of its students.

Need-Based Awards

Tuition assistance awards are need-based and vary in range depending upon each family’s financial resources. These awards are allocated to students in PreK-4 through 12th grade, balancing the distribution across grades and gender.

Application Process

The tuition assistance application process opens in early October each year. It's important to note that awards are made only after a student has been granted admission to Episcopal.

Episcopal utilizes ISM's FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) program to process tuition assistance applications. All applications are completed online through the FAST Application portal, which requires a $60 fee per family, payable to FAST via credit card.

Determining Financial Need

Financial need is evaluated by the FAST system, which provides the school with a general assessment of a family’s ability to pay for education. This is defined as the difference between the cost to attend Episcopal and a family’s ability to pay.

Read also: Kensington Healthcare Advancements

Major factors considered in determining financial need include, but are not limited to:

Income
Assets (including home equity, college funds, investment accounts, and trust funds)
Family size
The number of children attending tuition-charging institutions

It's important to note that there is no preset income figure that automatically qualifies a family for assistance. Each application is reviewed individually, taking into account the unique circumstances of the family.

Important Considerations for Applicants

Families should apply concurrently for Episcopal admission and Tuition Assistance to receive financial awards at the time of admission offers. Episcopal requires families receiving Tuition Assistance to reapply each year. However, as long as the student remains at Episcopal, Tuition Assistance is typically renewed every year according to demonstrated need.

Changes in income, family status, and the number of children attending private institutions may result in adjustments to the award amount, depending on the availability of funds.

Confidentiality

Episcopal maintains strict confidentiality regarding a family’s interest in tuition assistance and any award granted. The school’s Director of Tuition Assistance is available to counsel privately with interested families regarding the program.

Read also: Affording VES: A Guide

Academics and College Preparation

Episcopal High School offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum. The school offers 20 AP courses. Some graduates have gone on to attend prestigious universities such as Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Stanford University, and the University of Chicago.

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Episcopal High School provides a wide array of athletic opportunities for its students. The school offers 20 interscholastic sports, including:

Ballet
Baseball
Basketball
Cheering
Cross Country
Dance
E-sports
Flag Football
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Weightlifting
Winter Track
Wrestling

The school's athletic facilities include the Episcopal Stadium (football, soccer, and track), the main gym (basketball), the Annslee Laura Phillips Gym (wrestling and volleyball), tennis courts, and baseball and softball fields.

Notably, the boys' cross-country team has a strong legacy, winning 25 state AA titles in a row from 1996 to 2020, and boasting a total of 34 state championships.

tags: #Episcopal #High #School #Baton #Rouge #tuition