Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition
2018/19
| Lower School | $42,372 (includes hot lunch and textbooks) |
| Middle and Upper Schools | $42,372 (includes hot lunch) |
Additional annual fees
| Middle School textbooks and laptop fee (grades 5–8) | $560 |
| Upper School textbooks | $500–$700 |
| Daily shuttle bus transportation between DC and Bethesda campuses (optional) |
$1,000 one way, |
| Lower School Early Risers (optional) | $225–$1,000 |
| Lower School After Care (optional) 1–5 days per week | $1,500–$5,900 |
| Middle School After Care (optional) |
$2,800 |
Payment Schedule
The School’s payment schedule allows various payment options. The tuition payment may be paid in full by June 15 or divided into two payments of 70 percent by June15 and 30 percent by November 15. The School also offers an interest-free,10-month payment plan, which requires payment from May to February. A monthly tuition loan program is available.
Financial Aid
Sidwell Friends has a strong commitment to financial aid, which is based on our belief that a community of students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds enhances the educational experience of all students and prepares them to succeed in the wider world.
The dual objectives of the School’s Financial Aid Committee are to ensure the economic diversity of the student population and to ensure that the full rewards of a Sidwell Friends education are accessible to families of all income levels. Our financial aid process is guided by our Philosophy and Diversity Statements, and we abide by the National Association of Independent Schools Principles of Good Practice.
Applying for Financial Aid
Sidwell Friends uses School and Student Services (SSS) to process our financial aid applications. The application opens each year on November 1. Applications from prospective students are due February 1.
Assistance for Other Expenses
Families at Sidwell Friends will encounter expenses beyond the cost of tuition. Generally, families who receive financial aid also receive a discount on these additional costs at the same percentage as their financial aid awards. Additional expenses vary by division and may include the following items:
Lower School
- Early Risers and After Care
- Homework Club
- School-approved testing or tutoring
- Special Programs After Regular Classes (SPARC)
- SFS Shuttle
Middle School
- Books
- After Care
- 1:1 laptop program fee
- Minimester travel
- School-approved testing or tutoring
- Metrorail or bus fare
- SFS Shuttle
Upper School
- Books
- Trips for athletics, service learning, or summer academic courses
- School-approved testing or tutoring
- Metrorail or bus fare
- Yearbook
- SFS Shuttle
Financial Aid Scenarios
The following examples, based on a tuition of $40,000, are intended to show the kinds of requests the Financial Aid Committee considers for awards. Every family is different, and these scenarios do not represent a full description of any family’s financial situation or aid award. Anyone who feels challenged by the cost of tuition should apply for financial aid and allow the committee to make a confidential recommendation about funding.
Scenario 1
A family of three has a household income is $211,000. They rent an apartment and have little savings aside from a small retirement fund and a 529 plan they recently opened. Their debt is currently about $7,000. With an adjusted effective income of $130,000, the parents would be expected to contribute $39,000 toward tuition.
Scenario 2
A single parent with two children in independent schools has an income of $112,000, or $75,000 after adjustments. The parent purchased a home in 1999 for $130,000, and it is now valued at $200,000. With $5,000 in the bank and $30,000 in outstanding debt in addition to the mortgage, this parent would be expected to contribute a little more than $5,000 per child for tuition. The children would also be eligible to receive a discount for books, technology fees, travel opportunities, and other options available through Auxiliary Programs.
Scenario 3
A single parent has three children, two of whom attend independent school; the third attends the local public school. The family’s income is $325,000; the adjusted household income is $217,753. The parent owes $420,000 on their home and $25,000 on a boat. The children have $100,000 in assets as the result of a trust from grandparents. The family’s tuition contribution for each child would be about $38,000.
Scenario 4
A married couple with one child has a combined income of $132,000, or $74,000 after adjustments. They owe $183,000 on the home they purchased in 2010 and have $2,500 in other debt. They are also assisting in the care of an aging parent, which costs about $12,000 each year. The family would be expected to contribute just under $20,000 toward tuition.