Individualized Tuition
We’re proud to call ourselves
Sonoma County’s most accessible
independent school.
The application deadline for 2024-2025 is February 12th, 2024!
Sonoma Earth School is a community-supported nonprofit, meaning we receive the financial support that we need to operate from a broad base of sources. Generous gifts from individuals, foundations and businesses allow us to offer individualized tuition that makes our program accessible to anyone.
As a nonprofit private school, we have the freedom to develop our unique curriculum and approach. However, we recognize that private education has been used to further exclusivity, divisiveness, and cultural erasure. Our tuition model is an organizational step toward countering these histories and establishing a community where a new type of education can flourish.
How much do I have to pay?
Your individualized tuition is based on your family’s finances.
We use a third party organization called TADS to assess each family’s financial circumstances and provide an individualized tuition amount. Using the information from TADS, we work with each family to ensure tuition is not a barrier to access.
Why?
Our school is for everyone, regardless of financial circumstance.
Is there a minimum tuition amount?
Applicants who apply for the coming year within our application window use TADS to set tuition and there is no minimum amount. Due to our budgeting and hiring cycles, applicants who apply outside of the application window will be asked to pay a minimum of 50% of full tuition (or $10,500 per year), which will be prorated based on the students’ start date.
Are there any additional school fees?
No.
Note, we do charge an application fee, and TADS charges a processing fee, both of which can be waived if the family finds this prohibitive.
Application deadline: February 12th, 2024
Process
Apply before February 12th, 2024
Parent Interview
Student Visiting Day
Acceptance
Set Individualized Tuition
Hold your place with a 5% non-refundable deposit
Tuition payments run July, 2024 through June, 2025
Families may opt out of the TADS tuition process and pay the maximum tuition amount of $21,000.
Refund Policy
Deposit and monthly payments are non-refundable. Those who pre-pay for the year or quarter will be eligible for prorated refund based on the portion of the school year enrolled.