This is the first academic year for Academy High, a new independent high school in Champaign. While some need and merit based scholarships were available for this year, the school’s board of directors has now voted to revamp the overall tuition structure in an attempt to make the school more accessible to more families in the community. Beginning in 2018, each student’s tuition will be “indexed” individually determined based on the family’s financial resources. Tuition is currently set at $15,800 per year. No details yet about how much that number could potentially decrease. Here’s the full press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Champaign, IL
October 31, 2017Academy High Revamps Tuition Structure to Indexed Tuition
Academy High’s Board of Directors has voted to redesign its tuition structure. Beginning with the 2018 academic year, Academy High will implement an Indexed Tuition program, allowing the school to personalize tuition based on a family’s ability to pay. Each student’s tuition will be individually determined, or “indexed,” based on the family’s financial resources. This innovative tuition approach advances the school’s mission. “Academy High is dedicated to diversity in all forms. Indexed Tuition fosters economic diversity by making an Academy High education accessible to people regardless of their financial situation,” said Academy High Head of School, Dr. Darren Pascavage. “Academy High believes in a personalized approach to education. We focus on the individual needs and interests of each student. This philosophy now extends to a personalized tuition rate for each family, based on their unique financial situation.”
Academy High is among the first schools in Illinois to implement Indexed Tuition, and is proud to introduce the concept to our community. They join the ranks of coastal schools that have adopted this tuition structure, including the Duke School in North Carolina and The San Francisco School in California. “Our vision is to foster our students’ development of adventurous minds, bold spirits, and compassionate hearts,” Pacavage said. “The Board’s approval of Indexed Tuition is consistent with the forward looking culture we are cultivating at Academy High.”
Every Academy High family is expected to contribute to the cost of tuition, thereby supporting the school community to the extent that family’s circumstances permit. Indexed Tuition is determined using information confidentially submitted by families to School and Student Services, a program managed by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). When setting a family’ indexed tuition, several factors will be considered in addition to income, including family size, number of children
attending tuition-charging schools (including college), medical expenses, and assets and liabilities not reflected in household income. “Tuition will be as unique as each family’s situation,” Pascavage explains.Academy High will be hosting Open Houses at its location at 2302 Fox Drive, Champaign, on Thursday, November 16th and Tuesday, November 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, December 3rd from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The school will also be hosting a public informational session,
including details on its admissions process, at the Champaign Public Library on Tuesday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m. The school’s website can be found at www.academyhigh.org.For additional information, please contact Head of School, Dr. Darren Pascavage: 217-239-6000. His email address is [email protected].