Accessibility. Affordability. Inclusivity.
Our goal is to make our school accessible to as many children as possible and to create a school community that is diverse, inclusive, and educationally enriching.
Our Indexed Tuition, for children ages five and up, allows the school to adjust a family’s rate of tuition to be in proportion to their financial resources, while also balancing the operating needs of the school. About half of our school’s families apply for and receive Indexed Tuition.
TUITION SCHEDULE 2026-27
| PROGRAM |
TUITION | INDEXED TUITION RANGE |
| PRESCHOOL age 3 or 4 on Sept. 1 5-Day Full Day 5-Day Half Day |
$16,540 $12,720 |
Eligible for ACT 166 funds Eligible for ACT 166 funds |
| KINDERGARTEN age 5 on Sept. 1 5-Day Full Day 5-Day Half Day |
$16,540 $12,720 |
$8,270 – $16,540 $6,360 – $12,720 |
| GRADES 1-4 | $18,540 | $9,270 – $18,540 |
| GRADES 5-6 | $19,320 | $9,660 – $19,320 |
| GRADES 7-8 | $19,880 | $9,940 – $19,880 |
| GRADES 9-12 | $22,420 | $6,730 – $22,420 |
Not included in tuition:
• Tuition Protection Plan, 1.5% of the adjusted tuition
• Private tutoring
• Private music instruction and instrument rental
• Equipment rental for Ski/Ride program
EXTENDED DAY
Students ages 4 and up through grade 5 may sign up for extended day care, which runs from school day dismissal to 5:30 pm. Enroll in all five days for an annual cost of $3,750, or choose the specific afternoons you need for the year:
• Annual cost of $725 per day for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays
• Annual cost of $850 for Thursdays (early release day, extended care begins 2:15 pm)
Extended Day Drop-In Rates (subject to availability)
Grade 1-5 drop-ins are welcome for the cost of $35 for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, and $45 for Thursdays (early release day). Drop-ins are not available for Early Childhood.
Tuition Q&A
How do I apply for indexed tuition?
For families with a child in their kindergarten year or older, you can apply for tuition assistance. First submit an enrollment application, and then submit a confidential application on Clarity and read Clarity’s Family Application Guide if you have questions. Read our Indexed Tuition Policy for more information.
How to apply for Act 166 and the Child Care Financial Assistance Program (CCFAP)?
Act 166 provides non–need-based preschool funding for children ages 3–5 by September 1. Funds are paid directly to the LCWS and applied to 10 hours per week of preschool. To be eligible for the full subsidy, parents must complete registration through their local school district before the first day of school. For more information, click here or contact your local school district.
Note: Act 166 funds may be prorated by school districts for children with extended absences.
Also note: Children entering their official kindergarten year are not eligible for Act 166 but may apply for Indexed Tuition.
Child Care Financial Assistance Program: Guidelines for State Preschool Tuition Assistance and information on how to apply can be found on the DCF page of the Agency for Human Services website.
What if a family has more than one child?
The process for determining where a family’s tuition falls on our indexed tuition takes into consideration the number of students enrolled. You complete one application for the family.
Can I pay my tuition in monthly payments?
We offer interest-free payment plans, allowing families to choose one, two, four, or twelve monthly payments spread across the July to June year.
Are scholarships available?
In addition to Indexed Tuition, all families may apply for our Diversity & Inclusion Fund Scholarship.
Are other discounts offered?
Our high school families may request the optional Waldorf Incentive Discount to help reduce the cost of tuition. This discount provides 3% tuition relief for each full year a student attended a Waldorf school in grades 1-8. It is applied before any tuition adjustment awards and does not affect minimum tuition requirements. To take advantage of this incentive, families should submit this application. Note: The incentive does not apply to partial Waldorf years.
What if a student has to withdraw midyear?
We know life can change, sometimes unexpectedly. At the time of enrollment, all families purchase our Tuition Protection Plan, which provides some financial protection in case a student needs to withdraw from school. The fee is 1.5% of the adjusted tuition and is not included in the tuition rates above. Learn more about our plan here.
What is the actual cost of educating each child?
As is the case at most independent schools, tuition alone does not cover the actual cost of educating a child at LCWS. We rely on fundraising efforts to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and operating costs.
How can I learn more about the school?
We’d love to connect with you. Send us your contact information, and our Enrollment Director will reach out to share more about our school and answer any questions. You can also email Admissions or call (802) 985-2827 anytime.
How do I apply?
Getting started is easy — just click the Apply button below. You’ll be directed to set up an account in our admissions portal, where you can complete your application at your own pace.
Please contact our Admissions Office if you have any questions:
Lake Champlain Waldorf School
Admissions Office
359 Turtle Lane, Shelburne, Vermont 05482
Email: admissions@lakechamplainwaldorfschool.org
Phone: (802) 985-2827
Fax: (802) 985-2834
It is a fundamental goal of Waldorf education and Waldorf schools to bring students to an understanding and experience of the common humanity of all the world’s peoples, transcending the stereotypes, prejudices, and divisive barriers of classification by sex, race, nationality, socio-economic status, etc. The Lake Champlain Waldorf School’s admission process does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, physical ability, nationality or ethnic origin, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or financial aid.