Admission

Tuition & Financial Aid

A Sound Investment in Your Child's Future: Since 1915, Shady Hill has helped children achieve mastery through discovery. With a long tradition of academic excellence, we have developed a unique Central Subject curriculum that allows students to be researchers, critical thinkers, risk takers, scientists, and poets. Our environment cultivates a love of learning that stays with children for a lifetime.
 
An independent school education requires a significant financial investment, but SHS is more affordable than one may think. We have a strong endowment and are committed to two priorities: minimizing annual tuition increases and keeping our faculty salaries high relative to our peer schools. We are also deeply committed to providing need-based financial aid in order to bring the cost of attendance within reach to a broad range of families.
 
As part of Shady Hill's Mission Statement, we challenge prejudice, respect difference, and recognize that multiple perspectives inform human experience. To this end, we aim to enroll students from across the socioeconomic spectrum.  We award nearly $4 million annually in need-based financial aid to approximately 20 percent of the student body. The financial aid program is committed to helping families effectively meet the cost of a Shady Hill School education.  All grants take into consideration the total cost of enrolling at our school: you will not find add-ons for textbooks, lab fees, or field trips.  In addition, the Financial Aid Committee recognizes the added expense of Extended Day and Afterschool programs and considers these as part of a student's total cost when all parents in a household are working outside the home.
 
This section of our site is designed to inform families of all income levels about the financial aid process at Shady Hill. Please take a few minutes to explore the opportunities available to you. If you have additional questions please feel free to contact the Admission Office.
 

TUITION

Each January, the Board of Trustees determines the tuition for the upcoming year. Below is the tuition, by grade, for the 2024–2025 school year.
 
GRADE
TUITION
Beginners
$40,340
Kindergarten
$40,340
I & II
$42,480
III
$45,360
IV & V
$46,250
VI
$51,310
VII & VIII
$51,840

ADDITIONAL FEES

Afterschool Programming: We provide after school programming until 5:45 PM for students in all grade levels. The school schedule for the 2024–2025 school year is as follows:
  • Mondays: 8:15 AM–3:15 PM
  • Tuesdays: 8:15 AM–3:15 PM
  • Wednesdays: 8:15 AM–12:00 PM (Beginners & Kindergarten); 8:15–2:30 PM (Grades I–VIII)
  • Thursdays: 8:15 AM–3:15 PM
  • Fridays: 8:15 AM–3:15 PM

    Because dismissal times vary depending on grade level, please review our Extended Day and Afterschool Program brochure for detailed information regarding our Afterschool programs and costs.  

Bus Program: Our bus program, partially subsidized by the School, runs six routes in the area. The annual fee for the bus for the 2024–2025 school year is $3,700 for one child. The cost for a second child is $3,200 (with a fee capped at $6,900 per family). There are no charges for additional siblings beyond that. The cost of bus transportation is discounted by the same percentage as tuition grants for families who receive financial aid. 

Tutoring Program: We offer individual tutoring on campus for an additional fee. The cost of tutoring is discounted for families who receive financial aid.

FINANCIAL AID

The financial aid program is committed to helping families effectively meet the cost of a Shady Hill education. All grants take into consideration the total cost of enrolling at our school: you will not find add-ons for textbooks, lab fees, or field trips. In addition, the Financial Aid Committee recognizes the added expense of Extended Day and Afterschool programs and considers these as part of a student's total cost when all parents in a household are working outside the home.

List of 5 items.

  • + Apply Online

    Our financial aid program is designed to make a Shady Hill education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Shady Hill uses the Clarity Financial Aid Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application, which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

    To get started applying for need-based financial aid, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere! You are also able to save your progress and return at any time.

    At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.

    Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as you may need to upload additional documentation, such as our Afterschool worksheet.

  • + Clarity Application Information Sessions

    All parents are invited to attend any of the following family information sessions to learn more about the Clarity application. Webinar recordings will be available. 


    Please note that these sessions were hosted by Clarity and made available to all families applying for financial aid using their application.

  • + Financial Aid Webinar

    Please attend a nuts and bolts webinar on January 24 (12:00 - 1:00 PM) about financial aid at Shady Hill.  We will walk you through the general application process, discuss aspects specific to Shady Hill, and answer frequently asked questions. 

    These virtual sessions are geared towards parents/guardians interested in fall 2025.

  • + Frequently Asked Questions

    We encourage you to review answers to these frequently asked questions and to reach out to us if you have any unanswered questions. 

    Please keep in mind that if a family enrolls at Shady Hill School without a financial aid grant, they are not eligible for aid in future years unless there is a significant shift in the family's financial circumstances.

  • + Support with Your Application

    We recommend reviewing this Quick Reference Guide  (en Español) to applying for financial aid through Clarity.

    If you need further support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or (206) 210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

    You may also reach out to Phyllis Grant, Director of Student Accounts & Assistant Director of Financial Aid with any questions at phyllis.grant@shs.org.
For a thorough examination of financial aid at independent schools, please review the Applying for Financial Aid Guide (in English) and in Spanish. 

Questions? Please contact Phyllis Grant, Director of Student Accounts & Assistant Director of Financial Aid.
617.520.5260      178 Coolidge Hill  Cambridge MA 02138           Association of Independent Schools in New England