Investing in a Washington Montessori education is investing in your child’s future.
Washington Montessori School is an engaging and substantive academic environment supported by a deeply rooted and diverse community of families and educators. Our students learn to recognize their individual and collective potential, develop thoughtful approaches to learning, and choose paths to responsible and fulfilling lives.
*25-26 Tuition will be posted in late January 2025.
2024-25 Tuition | |
|---|---|
| Young Children’s Community & Lower School Half Days | $19,425* |
| Young Children's Community Full Days | $27,825* |
| Lower School Full Days | $29,925* |
| Lower & Upper Elementary | $29,925 |
| Middle School | $35,750 |
*Full tuition for YCC and LS students enrolled in five days of school. A four-day (Monday–Thursday) schedule is also available to YCC students. If you are interested in a 4-day week or a combination of half days and full days, for your YCC or LS children, please review the YCC and LS Tuition Charts below.
2024-25 YCC Tuition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mornings Only | + M/T/Th Afternoons | + M/T/Th/F Afternoons | |
| MON-THU | $15,750 | $22,050 | NA |
| MON-FRI | $19,425 | $25,725 | $27,825 |
2024-25 LS Tuition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mornings Only | +M/T/Th Afternoons | +M/T/W/Th/F Afternoons | |
| MON-FRI | $19,425 | $25,725 | $29,925 |
Variable Tuition
Variable Tuition enables WMS families to educate their children as equal members of an economically diverse community. The WMS Variable Tuition Program allows families to pay tuition that is commensurate with their financial situation. WMS strives to award variable tuition rates to as many families as possible. Currently, close to 30% of our families receive a variable tuition rate. Despite our generous variable tuition budget, we cannot guarantee an adjusted tuition rate to everyone who applies.
The Variable Tuition deadline for 2025-2026 is January 15, 2025. If there are funds remaining after that date, we will consider late applications. Please contact Laura Martin at lmartin@washingtonmontessori.org if you’d like to apply for variable tuition after January 15.
Step 1: Indicate on the Washington Montessori School application that you plan to apply for variable tuition.
Step 2: Submit the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at Clarity by January 15, 2025.
Step 3: Return to the Clarity dashboard to receive instructions about the required documents. Please do not submit any documents to Washington Montessori School. If you need support in filling out the application, please contact Clarity at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish.
How Does Variable Tuition Work?
All families who would like to be considered for variable tuition must apply directly to Clarity by January 15. The process includes a detailed application outlining the family’s financial situation, including among other things: assets, debts, property owned, cars, vacations, loans, and savings. Additionally, the family gives Clarity access to current and past-year tax documents. In turn, Clarity reports a “Suggested Tuition” to WMS. The Suggested Tuition is what Clarity indicates the family can afford to pay for their child’s education. Once it is determined that the child and family are a good fit for Washington Montessori School, the variable tuition committee reviews the family’s application and determines – based on family need and WMS’s current budget – what tuition rate the family will pay.
WMS will make its decisions based strictly on the recommendation of Clarity. If a family does not qualify for variable tuition through Clarity’s calculations, they may not receive adjusted tuition. In addition, due to budgetary constraints, WMS may not be able to award variable tuition to every family who qualifies.
Will Every Applicant Receive an Adjusted Tuition Rate?
WMS will make its decisions based strictly on the recommendation of Clarity. If a family does not qualify for variable tuition through Clarity’s calculations, they may not receive adjusted tuition. As well, due to budgetary constraints, WMS may not be able to award variable tuition to every family who qualifies.
What If Parents are Separated or Divorced?
Parents/Guardians living in separate households must each submit separate Clarity applications. It is expected that both parents contribute to the cost of a child’s education. Clarity considers all households’ resources, regardless of legal documents, when determining their ability to pay. If extenuating circumstances make it impossible for all households to submit a PFS to Clarity, please contact Laura Martin at lmartin@washingtonmontessori.org.
How long will Variable Tuition Continue?
WMS asks that families resubmit their application to Clarity every year to ensure that variable tuition rates continue to be commensurate with a family’s ability to pay. Assuming a family’s financial situation stays relatively consistent, WMS aims to increase grants as students move up to new levels. However, it is common for a family’s tuition rate to increase over the years as children get older.
What is a Typical Variable Tuition Rate?
On average WMS families with variable tuition levels pay close to 70% of the full tuition (or roughly $24,000), but there is a range. Variable tuition adjustments range anywhere between 20% and 80% of full tuition.
When are Variable Tuition rates announced?
Admissions decision letters & tuition notification will be mailed in late February for all those meeting the January 15 Clarity and January 30 WMS application deadline. After that, notification will happen on a rolling basis.
Clarity Application Support
Family Application Guide:
https://clarityschools.com/library/family-application-guide/
Application Quick Reference Guide:
https://clarityschools.com/library/quick-reference-guide/
SPANISH Family App Guide:
https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-family-application-guide/
SPANISH App Quick Ref Guide:
https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-quick-reference-guide/
