Understanding Holy Spirit School Tuition Costs and Reduction Programs

Navigating the financial landscape of private education can be challenging. This article provides a comprehensive overview of tuition costs at Holy Spirit School, along with available tuition reduction programs and additional fees to consider. Understanding these aspects can help families plan and manage the expenses associated with sending their children to Holy Spirit School.

Holy Spirit School: An Overview

Holy Spirit School is a top-ranked school in Michigan, offering education from Prekindergarten through 8th grade. The school is located in the Westside Connection neighborhood of Grand Rapids, MI. With an enrollment of 348 students and an average class size of 19, Holy Spirit School strives to create a Christian atmosphere rooted in the gospel message of Jesus. The school is committed to preparing students for lifelong success by instilling a solid foundation of faith, academics, and self-discipline.

The school's mission is to promote the message and teachings of Jesus Christ, fostering a Catholic family of faith among students, parents, and faculty. Together, they challenge students to achieve their fullest spiritual, academic, and social potential. Holy Spirit School also offers a variety of interscholastic sports, including Baseball, Basketball, Cheering, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball.

Tuition Rates for 2025-2026

For the 2025-2026 school year, Holy Spirit School has different tuition rates for parishioners and non-parishioners:

Number of Children	Parishioner Rate*	Non-Parishioner Rate**
1	$6,834	$8,268
2	$12,487	$15,386
3	$17,607	$21,903
4	$21,280	$27,023

*Parishioner: Involved, practicing, registered, contributing member of Holy Spirit or Our Lady of Mt. School.

There is also a non-refundable registration fee of $475 per student.

Additional Fees

In addition to tuition, families should be aware of several other fees:

Registration Fees: These fees are based on the number of participation hours a family completes each year. The fees are $480 for the first student and $430 for each additional student, per year. These amounts include fees that were previously separate, such as the supply fee, technology fee, and class party fee.
Field Trip Fee: Assessed during the school year as needed.
Yearbook Fee (Optional): $40.00 per student.
Milk Fee (Optional): $80.00 per student.
Graduation Fee: $200.00 per student (8th Grade Only).

Volunteer and Fundraising Agreement

Every registered family at Holy Spirit School is responsible for completing 40 service hours (20 hours for single-parent households) and contributing $450 via school fundraising ($225 for single-parent households).

Volunteer hours can be earned through various activities, including:

Participation in any fundraiser
Being a room parent
Being a library assistant
Coaching an athletic team
Participating in the Advisory Commission
Being a member of a fundraising committee
SCRIP
Participating in work parties
Hospitality roles
Publicity and Technology

Of the 40 hours, every family is asked to support the Auction or Crab Feed for a minimum of 10 hours.

Read also: A History of Holy Cross Football

Fundraising dollars can be contributed through:

SCRIP
RaiseRight
Other fundraising events: Auction, Crab Feed, Cookie Dough Drive, See’s Candy, Jog-a-Thon, etc.

Families who are unable or unwilling to volunteer or participate in fundraising have the option to buy out of those commitments.

Tuition Reduction Program: SCRIP

Holy Spirit School offers a voluntary tuition reduction program called SCRIP, which allows families to reduce their tuition costs through everyday shopping and dining. SCRIP is essentially substitute money in the form of gift certificates or gift cards from national and local retailers.

The advantage of SCRIP is that your regular household shopping dollars earn rebates from area merchants, which are credited to your family’s tuition account on a quarterly basis without any extra cost to you. Anyone can participate in the SCRIP program and designate their earnings to be applied to your tuition. SCRIP rebates may be banked prior to your child/ren entering Holy Spirit School.

Understanding School Day Hours

It's also important to understand the school day hours:

Read also: A Comprehensive Look at Holy Cross

All students must be in their classrooms by 8:00 am.
Dismissal time for K1 is 1:00 pm Monday- Friday.
Dismissal time for K2 - 8th grade is 3:00 pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday is Mass day with early dismissal at 2:00 pm.
Occasionally, there is a “minimum day” with dismissal at 11:30 am for K1 and 12:00 pm for K2 - 8th grade.
No students are allowed on campus prior to 7:45 am.

Additional Considerations for Affording Private School

The average private school tuition in Grand Rapids, MI, is $8,888 for elementary schools and $11,075 for high schools. It's important to consider the hidden costs of private school, including fees, uniforms, and other extras.

Some tuition assistance is available at Spiritus Sanctus Academies based on need and other criteria. The Spiritus Sanctus Academy financial aid program enables the schools to enroll qualified students whose families cannot pay full tuition fees. Their goal is to enroll a diverse and exciting student body whose interaction is crucial in achieving the mission of Spiritus Sanctus Academy.

Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid at Spiritus Sanctus Academy, families should:

Write a formal letter of request addressed to the Principal requesting financial aid.
Complete the online FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment.

Requests for financial aid will be reviewed by FACTS Management, an independent third party which will provide an impartial recommendation on the level of financial aid for which a family qualifies. All applications sent to FACTS require a small fee as well as copies of federal tax returns, so consider completing tax paper work as soon as possible. Decisions for scholarships are expected to be made by early June.

Alternative Tuition Model

Spiritus Sanctus Academy also offers an alternative tuition model. The non-participating rate is $10,350 per child. The participating parish family rate is lower. A 2% discount is available for those who pay in full by the first payment date. Yearly tuition includes ALL school fees including technology and book fees, PTO membership, and local field trips. Some middle school field trips that extend outside of the local area may incur an additional cost to participating students.

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