Enrolling in The Clearwater School

The Clearwater School has an open admissions policy that reflects our aim to respect individual differences and learn from diversity. New students may join the school at anytime during the school year. We require families to make a commitment to attend the school for one year, as it can take time for new students to learn how to best utilize school resources. The Clearwater School welcomes racial, cultural and religious diversity, and families of every composition.

Enrollment Information

Preliminary Information

New students wishing to enroll should first gain information about the school through reading, talking to staff members, and attending family information nights. After gaining a preliminary understanding of the school and the Sudbury model, families are encouraged to schedule a visiting day.

Visiting Day

During the visiting day, students and their parents will receive a tour and orientation. They are free to stay at school and interact with students and staff for two hours. After the initial visit students who are interested in joining the school should schedule an enrollment conference and visiting week.

Enrollment Conference

Enrollment conferences are scheduled before the visiting week in order to clarify the educational philosophy and practices of the school. The conference is an official acknowledgement of the student’s intention to join the school community. It is a time to review expectations, clarify questions, and address any concerns raised by the student, school, and parents.

The enrollment conference and visiting week must be scheduled in advance. The non-refundable fee for the visiting week is $160, and must be paid at or before the enrollment conference. Also, the Registration Information Forms must be completed and turned in at this time.

Visiting Week

The purpose of the visiting week is to determine whether the school actually provides a good fit with the family’s educational philosophy. During the visiting week, new students attend school with the same privileges and responsibilities as other students, freely using school facilities, and participating in school activities. Students are expected to follow the rules of the school and participate in the judicial process during visiting weeks. Visiting students are welcome to attend school meeting, but may vote only after they have officially enrolled in the school.

Full-time students are expected to attend five consecutive days (Monday through Friday) for the visiting week, while part-time students may attend five days in the pattern they plan to enroll (for example: Tuesday-Thursday, plus Tuesday, Wednesday).

Official Enrollment

At the end of the visiting week the student may officially join the school and become a voting member of the School Meeting. At this time, the tuition contract and immunization form must be completed, signed, and returned. A second conference may be scheduled if requested by the student, parents, or enrollment committee. The following fees are also due at this time:
• the full tuition payment or first tuition installment
• deposit equal to the last month’s tuition payment ($6120/10 = $612 for full time)
• $35 administrative fee if making installment payments

Tuition

Tuition

Tuition amounts for the 2008-2009 school year are: $6120 (5 days), $4900 (4 days), $3680 (3 days). Discounts for siblings are: 25% of full-time tuition for the second child ($4600), 50% of full tuition for the third and subsequent children ($3070).

Tuition Payments

If tuition is paid in full by August 31st there is a 5% discount. If paying monthly payments, there is an annual non-refundable administrative fee of $35 per family due June 1.

Special Circumstances

Part-time Enrollment

The Clearwater School offers part-time enrollment of three or four days per week to students who are 4-7 years old. The purpose of this option is to allow younger students time to adjust to full-time school. For part-time students, the five-day visiting week may be completed in one week or spread across two consecutive weeks. Talk to the Enrollment Clerk if you want to arrange part-time enrollment.

Reduced Tuition Rates

We recognize that some families will not be able to afford the full cost of tuition and extend reduced tuition rates to families based on their financial ability. We ask each family to pay as much of the tuition fee as they can afford. For those requesting a reduction in tuition, we trust that each family will act honestly and with concern for the school’s needs. The tuition assistance procedure is available through the Enrollment Clerk.

Donation to Tuition Assistance Fund

The Clearwater School intentionally sets tuition at as low a rate as possible to make the school accessible to families who otherwise could not consider attending a private school. We value the diversity of our community and offer a tuition assistance program to remove financial barriers to enrollment. Funding for the school relies on the donation of many individuals, including parents, staff, and founders. At the time of enrollment and reenrollment we ask families to consider making a donation to the school with special attention to the tuition assistance fund. We appreciate any donations of money, stock, or monthly pledges. Your generosity will help make Clearwater available to a diverse group of families.