Affording CCWS

Walking Together: Affording CCWS

Central Coast Waldorf School is an independent, community supported school. We offer a rich, developmentally appropriate Waldorf education in small classes, with dedicated teachers and a strong outdoor and arts program. Choosing CCWS is a meaningful investment in your child’s early years and in our local community.

We know tuition is a significant commitment. About one in four CCWS students receives a tuition adjustment each year. Through our need informed tuition adjustment program, we partner with families to find a tuition level that is sustainable whenever possible, while keeping our small school financially healthy. Our Board of Directors is committed to ensuring our program remains accessible and inclusive.

As a small independent school, every tuition dollar matters and every family's situation is unique. Before you decide CCWS is not financially possible for your family, please reach out. We are happy to talk with you about tuition adjustment, and what might be realistic for your situation.

Talk with us about making Waldorf possible

"This school has helped so much with my son's confidence and creativity. It has helped me with feeling a strong sense of community and being involved. We are so happy to have found this school and have this option for learning."

–CCWS Parent

2026/2027 School Year

Please review our Age & Grade Placement Policy.

Not Sure If You'll Qualify? Let’s Talk.

Early Childhood (Preschool & Kindergarten) in a high‑cost area like ours can be especially challenging. If your child is in the 3-6-year‑old range and you are weighing other options, we invite you to talk with us about tuition adjustment, and how families make CCWS work during these important years.

Ask about Early Childhood tuition

Sample Family 1: Preschool, single parent

• Household: Single parent, one 3‑year‑old in 5‑day, full‑day Preschool
   
• Approximate income: 55,000
   
• Standard tuition: 1,000 per month (11 months)
   
• Net monthly adjusted tuition: About 500 per month
   

This family loves that CCWS offers a warm, consistent environment while the parent works full time. A tuition adjustment makes full day Preschool possible when it otherwise would not be.

Sample Family 2: Mixed‑age Kindergarten, two working parents

• Household: Two working parents, one 5‑year‑old in 5‑day, full‑day mixed‑age Kindergarten
   
• Approximate income: 95,000
   
• Standard tuition: 1,109 per month (11 months)
   
• Net monthly adjusted tuition: About 550 per month
   

This family could not comfortably afford full tuition while paying a local mortgage. Tuition adjustment shares the responsibility between family and school and allows them to choose CCWS instead of another TK program.

Sample Family 3: Two children in Grades

• Household: Two working parents, two children in Grades 2 and 5
   
• Approximate income: 135,000
   
• Standard tuition (before sibling discount):
   
  • First child: 1,228 per month
     
  • Second child: 1,228 per month
     
• Net monthly adjusted tuition: About 1,840 per month for both children together
   

With sibling discounts and tuition adjustment, this family keeps both children at CCWS while balancing other costs such as housing and transportation.

Sample Family 4: One child in Kindergarten, one in Grades

• Household: Two‑parent household, one child in 4‑day, full day Kindergarten, one child in Grade 3
   
• Approximate income: 115,000
   
• Standard tuition:
   
  • Kindergarten (4 days): 864 per month
     
  • Grades: 1,228 per month
     
• Net monthly adjusted tuition: Together, about 1,300 - 1,400 per month
   

This family is stretching to prioritize education while managing rent and student loans. A tuition adjustment, especially in Kindergarten, makes continued enrollment possible.

Examples are for illustration only. Actual awards vary based on each family's circumstances and available tuition adjustment funds in a given year.

Guiding Principles

• Awards are needs‑based; they are gifts, not loans.
• Tuition adjustment is needs based and funded from our operating budget and annual giving; funds are limited each year.
• About 25% of students receive some assistance; awards are rarely full tuition and are meant to share the responsibility between family and school.
• We ask families to prioritize education as much as they are able, while we do our best to meet them part way.
• There is no dedicated scholarship fund or endowment, so every aid dollar must be made up via other revenue and fundraising.

Additional Support and Giving

Our school thrives through the shared involvement of our families and community.

• Families are asked to contribute 40 volunteer hours per year to support our program and events..

• An annual giving campaign supports the school’s operating budget.

• Fundraising opportunities include the Spring Gala and Jog-a-thon.

• An athletics program for Grades 5–8 is offered with additional fees.

• Families are asked to attend parent evenings with their class teacher to support strong home–school partnerships.

Understanding Your Tuition & Payment Options

Due at Signing of the Enrollment Contract

• Enrollment Fee

• Tuition Deposit (applied toward total tuition; remaining balance billed according to your selected payment plan)

• 5% Tuition Protection Fee
  (waived for families selecting the Lump Sum payment option)

Due May 1

• Materials Fee

Available Payment Schedules

• Lump Sum Payment – Due June 10 (5% Tuition Protection Fee waived)

• Two-Payment Schedule* – Due July 10 and January 10

• 11-Month Payment Schedule* – July 10 through May 10 

• Field Trip Fee is due with the first tuition invoice.

* A 5% Tuition Protection Fee is required for all payment plans except the Lump Sum option.

Ready to start your journey? 

Start a tuition conversation
Contact Admissions
Central Coast Waldorf
(805) 235-4401