Financial Aid at CDS
Students learn best when their peers are from a variety of backgrounds. To attract and retain a full school of highly qualified and great match students from varied backgrounds, independent schools must have healthy financial aid programs. Share the Promise was created in 2016 to highlight the importance of financial aid in a healthy school and provide a novel, fun, community-driven way to support it. Let’s keep the success and spirit going! Please plan to join us for a joy-filled evening of friendships, food, and philanthropy, all in support of the very best of causes: our kids.
Did You Know?
- A healthy financial aid program ensures a healthy Independent School. Through financial aid, independent schools are able to enroll a greater number of students who are excellent matches to their programs which gives our school the ability and the advantage to create an optimal student community and learning environment through more strategic admission decisions.
- Tuition revenue does not pay for the financial aid budget at CDS.
- Financial aid programs benefit all enrolled families through stronger enrollment numbers and increased tuition revenue which stabilizes tuition costs for everyone.
- All families enrolled at CDS pay tuition. This year, $2 million of CDS’s tuition revenue comes from families receiving financial aid.
- Financial aid programs benefit all students. Classes composed of students from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives enhance students’ learning, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence—better preparing all students for successful futures in the real and complex world.
- Approximately 26% of current CDS students receive some level of need-based financial aid. Need-based awards to current students range from $2,500- $34,000. The average need-based award is $18,000 for LS/MS/US and $23,000 for Key School.
- 100% of the proceeds from Share the Promise directly support the need-based financial aid program at CDS.
