Understanding the Financial Landscape of Rise Academy: A Comprehensive Guide to Tuition and Fees

Rise Academy is a unique educational institution dedicated to fostering individual growth and academic excellence within a close-knit community. Recognizing that financial transparency is crucial for prospective families, this article provides a detailed overview of Rise Academy's tuition structure, enrollment fees, available discounts, and financial policies. By understanding these components, families can make informed decisions about investing in their child's education at Rise Academy.

The Rise Academy Philosophy and Its Financial Implications

At its core, Rise Academy is intentionally small, a deliberate choice that ensures each student’s unique identity is celebrated and their abilities are recognized. This personalized approach to education, while highly beneficial, can influence the cost structure of the institution. The academy’s commitment extends beyond academic rigor; it strives to nurture character, resilience, and a lifelong dedication to personal growth and learning in every student. This holistic development is a cornerstone of the Rise Academy experience.

The cost of a Rise Academy education is approximately $27,000, a figure that reflects the comprehensive services and individualized attention provided. However, the academy actively works to make its education accessible. Families are primarily responsible for a nominal $200 student fee, with the significant portion of the educational cost being subsidized. This accessibility is a direct result of the generosity of donors who believe that all families should have access to affordable after-school care for their children. These contributions are instrumental in keeping the cost to families low.

Enrollment Fees: Securing Your Child's Place

Prospective families must navigate a clear process for enrollment, which includes several key fees. A New Student Application Fee of $75 is required upon submission of the admissions application. This fee is non-refundable and is a standard part of the application process for new students.

For the 2026-2027 School Year Enrollment Fees, all students are required to pay a non-refundable enrollment fee prior to the start of the academic year. This fee is automatically charged using the payment method on file once a student's enrollment is confirmed. Importantly, once a student is enrolled, this enrollment fee will be automatically charged for the following year unless the family formally indicates their intention to discontinue enrollment, adhering to the "Save-Your-Spot" policy.

The enrollment fees vary based on the enrollment period and the grade level of the student:

Toddler & Pre-K:
- Early Enrollment (Through March 15, 2026): $510
- Regular Enrollment (March 15 through June 15, 2026): $600
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2026): $600 (subject to a $100 late fee if packets submitted after June 16, 2025)
K-8:
- Early Enrollment (Through March 15, 2026): $850
- Regular Enrollment (March 15 through June 15, 2026): $1,000
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2026): $1,100 (subject to a $100 late fee if packets submitted after June 16, 2025)
High School:
- Early Enrollment (Through March 15, 2026): $1,275
- Regular Enrollment (March 15 through June 15, 2026): $1,500
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2026): $1,600 (subject to a $100 late fee if packets submitted after June 16, 2025)

It is crucial to note that the Early Enrollment discounts for returning students are contingent on the registration packet being submitted by March 15, 2026.

Read also: High Rise 5 Overview

For the 2024-2025 School Year Enrollment Fees, the structure was as follows:

Toddler & Pre-K:
- Early Enrollment (Through January 31, 2024): $510
- Early NEW Enrollment (Through May 1, 2024): $540 (Discount applies to new students only)
- Regular Enrollment (February 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024): $600
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2024): $600 (subject to a $100 late fee)
K-8:
- Early Enrollment (Through January 31, 2024): $850
- Early NEW Enrollment (Through May 1, 2024): $900 (Discount applies to new students only)
- Regular Enrollment (February 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024): $1,000
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2024): $1,100 (subject to a $100 late fee)
High School:
- Early Enrollment (Through January 31, 2024): $1,275
- Early NEW Enrollment (Through May 1, 2024): $1,350 (Discount applies to new students only)
- Regular Enrollment (February 1, 2024 to June 15, 2024): $1,500
- Late Enrollment (After June 15, 2024): $1,600 (subject to a $100 late fee)

Annual Tuition for the 2026-2027 School Year

The annual tuition for the 2026-2027 school year is structured to accommodate different age groups and educational levels. Tuition is generally due in full at the start of the school year. However, as a convenience to families, it can also be paid in 10 equal monthly installments, running from August 1, 2026, to May 1, 2027.

Read also: Understanding the Rise Scholarship

The annual tuition rates are as follows:

Toddler:
- Annual Fee: $17,600 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,760 per month
- Upfront Payment (by August 15): $16,720
Pre-K:
- Annual Fee: $16,250 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,625 per month
- Upfront Payment (by August 15): $15,438
K-8:
- Annual Fee: $12,075 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,207.50 per month
- Upfront Payment (by August 15): $11,471
9-11 (High School):
- Annual Fee: $15,000 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,500 per month
- Upfront Payment (by August 15): $14,250
12 (High School Senior Year):
- Annual Fee: $13,375 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,337.50 per month
- Upfront Payment (by August 15): $12,706

Annual Tuition for the 2024-2025 School Year

For the 2024-2025 school year, the tuition rates were as follows:

Toddler:
- Annual Cost: $14,000 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,400 per month
- If Paid by August 15: $13,300 upfront
Pre-K:
- Annual Cost: $13,000 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,300 per month
- If Paid by August 15: $12,350 upfront
K-8:
- Annual Cost: $10,500 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,050 per month
- If Paid by August 15: $9,975 upfront
High School:
- Annual Cost: $12,000 per year
- Monthly Installment: $1,200 per month
- If Paid by August 15: $11,400 upfront

Understanding the "Serve the Mission Fund" and Subsidized Tuition

Rise Academy is deeply committed to its mission of providing accessible education. The approximate standard annual cost for a K-8 student is $16,000, and for a high school student, it is $18,250. To facilitate enrollment and keep costs manageable for families, Rise Academy subsidizes tuition for K-12 education.

The "Serve the Mission Fund" is a critical initiative that supports this mission. It offers families several ways to contribute:

Full Tuition Contribution: Families with the financial capacity are encouraged to pay the full tuition amount, which is $16,000 for K-8 students or $18,250 for 9-11 grade students / $16,500 for 12th grade students per year.
Minimum Monthly Donation: Each family is required to contribute a minimum monthly donation of $25, totaling $250 annually.

These contributions are vital for supporting various school initiatives, including the sponsorship of other students, the development of future programs, and the funding of classrooms. It is important to note that any amount contributed to this fund is considered a donation and is separate from the school tuition. As RISE Education System is a federally registered nonprofit organization, these donations are tax-deductible, and official receipts are available upon request. Rise Academy expresses its sincere gratitude for the ongoing support from its students and families.

Tuition Discounts: Making Education More Attainable

Rise Academy offers several tuition discount programs designed to assist families:

Sibling Discounts:
- For families enrolling multiple children, a 10% tuition discount is applied to the second child and any subsequent children.
- For families with multiple students enrolled, a 10% sibling discount is automatically applied to the K-8 students only. ECE (Early Childhood Education) and High School students will pay the full tuition.
- If a family has only K-8 students, the 10% sibling discount is automatically applied to the younger K-8 students. The oldest K-8 student will pay the full tuition.
- In cases with multiple students enrolled in ECE or high school, the student with the higher tuition will pay the full amount.
- For the 2024-2025 school year, the sibling discount was automatically applied to K-8 students, while ECE and High School students paid full tuition. If a family had only K-8 students, the discount applied to the younger students, with the oldest paying full tuition.
Upfront Payment Incentive:
- Families that pay the full amount of tuition due by August 15, 2026, receive a 5% upfront payment incentive.
- For the 2024-2025 school year, this incentive was also 5% for full tuition payments made by August 15, 2024.
Staff Discount:
- RISE Academy staff members are eligible for a discount of up to 50% on their child’s tuition, with the exact percentage depending on their employment status and contract.
- For the 2024-2025 school year, staff discounts were also up to 50% based on employment status.

Important Note on Discounts: Discounts generally cannot be combined with other discounts or financial assistance, with the exception of the Upfront Payment Incentive. For ECE (Toddler and Pre-K) students, discounts are limited to the Upfront Payment Incentive and the Early Enrollment Fee Discount.

Financial Aid and Assistance

Financial aid is available for K-12 students. Applications for financial aid are required annually. For the 2026-2027 school year, the application deadline is June 15, with a priority early enrollment deadline of March 10, 2026. For the 2024-2025 school year, the financial aid application deadline was June 15.

Family Volunteer Hours and Fees

Rise Academy encourages family involvement in its community. School families are required to fulfill 30 hours of volunteer service during the school year. This service is integral to supporting the school’s programs, events, and daily activities. Volunteer fees are assessed at a rate of $15 per hour for any required volunteer hours not completed. These hours are tracked per term, with 15 hours required per term. The maximum volunteer fee is structured as follows:

$225 if 15 hours aren’t fulfilled by January 15th, 2027.
An additional $225 if the subsequent 15 hours aren’t fulfilled by April 30th, 2027.

Financial Agreement and Policies

A comprehensive financial agreement outlines the terms and conditions of tuition payment. Full payment of yearly tuition is due at the time of enrollment. While the option of paying in installments is provided as a convenience, the full tuition amount remains due, irrespective of whether school is in session for the entire month. Failure to adhere to payment schedules may result in the dismissal of students from Rise Academy.

Students who begin their enrollment at Rise Academy after September 30 will have their tuition calculated at a prorated cost based on their first day of school. Their initial tuition payment is due before they commence attending classes.

Both the application fee and the enrollment fee are non-refundable.

Withdrawal Policies:

In the event of early withdrawal, tuition is not refunded for the period the student was enrolled.
Parents must provide at least 30 days' written notice prior to withdrawing a student to avoid being charged for the subsequent month.
Students withdrawn on or after May 1, 2027, will not receive a credit for days not attended.
Tuition remains due even in cases of student absences to maintain enrollment status.
If a student has paid upfront tuition and withdraws, they will be refunded for the days the student will not be attending, provided 30 days' notice is given. If 30 days' notice is not provided, tuition for 30 days following the date of notice will still be due.
For the 2024-2025 school year, parents were required to give at least 15 days' notice prior to withdrawing to avoid being charged for the month, and students withdrawn on or after May 1, 2025, would not receive a credit for days not enrolled. Similar prorated refund policies applied if 15 days' notice was not given.

Payment Methods and Fees:

Tuition can be paid via Credit/Debit Card or ACH/Bank Transfer. Transactions made with a Credit/Debit Card will incur a 3% processing fee. This processing fee is non-refundable in the event of refunds or withdrawals. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that the payment method on file is up-to-date.

Beyond Academics: Community and Enrichment

Rise Academy's commitment to its students extends to creating a vibrant community. The academy frequently engages in enriching activities and community events. For instance, after-school students receive homework help, participate in enriching activities, and are provided with dinner. The academy has hosted events such as SGA-led assemblies with special guests like Steve Harvey, and participated in community festivals like The Robinson Theater's Annual Fall Festival and The Life Church RVA's Trunk Fest. These events, held "Together with families, neighbors, and community partners," underscore Rise Academy's dedication to "creating a Richmond where all students can bring their big dreams to life."

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