The Taft School: Understanding Tuition Costs and Financial Aid Opportunities

The Taft School, a coeducational boarding school in Watertown, Connecticut, is renowned for its rigorous academics and commitment to fostering personal responsibility and service. Founded in 1890, Taft serves students in grades nine through post-graduate, drawing individuals from 34 states and 51 countries. Understanding the costs associated with attending Taft and the financial aid options available is crucial for prospective students and their families.

Tuition and Associated Costs

The Taft School's tuition covers a comprehensive educational experience, but it's essential to understand the breakdown of these costs.

Yearly Tuition

Boarding Students: The yearly tuition for boarding students is $75,250.
Day Students: The yearly tuition for day students is $55,500.

Additional Expenses

Beyond the base tuition, families should budget for additional expenses. While the provided text focuses primarily on tuition, it's understood that boarding schools often have additional fees for activities, supplies, and personal expenses.

Financial Aid at The Taft School

The Taft School is committed to making its education accessible to talented students, regardless of their financial background. The school's financial aid program is designed to meet the demonstrated financial need of admitted students.

Commitment to Financial Need

If you are admitted to Taft, the school commits to making it work financially. The goal is to maintain a dynamic, diverse, and global community by enrolling outstanding applicants with promise, commitment, motivation, and talent.

Read also: More on Taft Freshman Academy

Financial Aid Statistics

Percentage of Students Receiving Aid: 35% of Taft students receive financial aid.
Financial Aid Budget: The school has an $11 million financial aid budget.
Named and Endowed Scholarships: The budget includes nearly 225 named and endowed scholarships.
Average Financial Aid Grant: The average financial aid grant is $56,500.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Clarity Application: To apply for financial aid, families should complete the Clarity Application.
Create an Account: Go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application is mobile-friendly.
Complete the Application: The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. You can save your progress and return at any time.
Application Fee: There is a $60 fee to submit the application. You can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge.
Deadline: The deadline to apply for financial assistance is April 1.

Special Circumstances

Current Students: Current students who have not received assistance in the past should notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible if they plan to apply.
Demonstrating Need: Current families who were not awarded aid at the time of enrollment must demonstrate a significant change in financial need after enrollment. They may be asked to submit multiple years of past tax documents as well as brokerage and investment account statements.

Additional Financial Aid Information

SSAT Testing Fee Waiver: Domestic candidates experiencing financial hardship can request a SSAT testing fee waiver by completing the SSAT Testing Fee Waiver Request Form on their Admission Portal.
International Students: While Taft takes pride in meeting the full financial need of all admitted students (including international students), they typically do not offer fee waivers for international students.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Taft School admits students of any sex, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

Other Programs and Associated Costs

The Taft School offers a variety of summer and enrichment programs for middle and high school students. These programs come with their own tuition and financial aid considerations.

Summer Program Costs

Summer Program Cost: $8,700
Day Student Tuition: Day student tuition for the summer program is $4,600.
Two-Week Residential Programs: Two-week residential programs are available at $4,200.

Young Scholars and Liberal Studies Programs

Financial Aid: Limited need-based financial aid is available to full-time day students in the Young Scholars or Liberal Studies programs.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The scholarship application deadline is April 1.
Application Fee: A nonrefundable application fee of $175, payable by check or credit card, is due with each application.
Deposit: Within two weeks of official notification of acceptance to the program, a nonrefundable deposit of $1,000 is required to hold a student's place in the program ($500 in some cases).
Spending Account: A minimum deposit of $50 is required to set up a personal spending account.
Inclusions: This fee covers tuition, lunch, sports, textbooks, and lab fees as well as extracurricular activities and school trips on Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4:30 pm.
Weekend Trips: Weekend trips are not included in this amount.
Participation: Based on space availability and other factors to consider, participation may be possible, but only with special permission from a Director (additional charges will apply).

Program Descriptions

Young Scholars Program: Designed for talented middle school students who intend to attend rigorous public and private secondary schools.
Liberal Studies Program: Designed for high school students in grades 9 to 11, this program offers participants the opportunity to study a variety of liberal arts courses in an independent school environment.
Reading and Writing Skills Course: Intended for middle school students, this two-week residential course focuses on building fundamental reading, writing, and organizational skills.
Golf Program: Utilizing the facilities at the nearby Watertown Golf Club (Taft's home course), this program is designed for the competitive golfer pursuing a high school or collegiate level program.

The Taft School Experience

Taft is known for its rigorous academic environment, dedicated faculty, and a strong sense of community. The school's motto, "Not to be served but to serve," permeates all aspects of student life.

Academics

Taft is one of the most rigorous and well-respected educational communities in the world. The school is known for academic rigor and close faculty-student relationships. Taft fosters personal responsibility, honor, and an achievement ethic in all areas of school life: intellectual, artistic, athletic, and extracurricular.

Campus and Facilities

Taft has an incredible campus, with beautiful brick architecture and landscaping. The 220-acre campus features:

Read also: Applying for Emergency Aid

59,500-volume library
Lady Ivy Kwok Wu Science and Math Center
Sony Virtuoso Language Lab
Mark W. Potter Art Gallery
2 theaters
18-hole golf course
2 ice hockey arenas
16 tennis courts (4 indoor)
8 squash courts
Six-lane, all-weather track
11 playing fields
200-course curriculum

Student Life

Taft's 609 students, who hail from 34 states and 51 countries, love their experience not simply because they are challenged by the academic rigor they experience daily, but because they develop life-long friendships with faculty members and students alike. Taft is a perfect fit for the "all-in" student-someone who wants to be a scholar-athlete-artist simultaneously.

Key Statistics

Enrollment: 609 students
Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average Class Size: 11 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 5:1
Faculty with Advanced Degrees: 77%

Programs and Activities

Taft offers a wide range of programs and activities, including:

Arts and Music: All-School Play, Individual Music Lessons, Individual Vocal Lessons, Instrumental Lessons
Recreational Athletics: Wall and Rock Climbing, Yoga
Clubs and Organizations: Literary Magazine (Red Rhino), Republican Club, S.H.O.U.T., School Monitors, Service Work, Student Tutoring at Taft, The Annual (Yearbook), United Cultures at Taft, Volunteer Council, Winter Hiking, Writing Tutors
Independent Study Program: There is an Independent Study Program, through which you can do whatever you want - academic research, community project, arts, or sports. It helps you to make your independent work more systematic.

College Matriculation

The Taft School prepares students for success in college and beyond. Some of the most popular college choices for Taft graduates include:

University of Pennsylvania
Colgate University
Cornell University
Southern Methodist University
Wake Forest University
Northeastern University
Tufts University
Yale University
Middlebury College
Tulane University
University of Miami
University of St. Andrews
University of Virginia

Read also: Career Paths in Dental Hygiene

tags: #the #taft #school #tuition #costs #financial