How Tuition Assistance Can Give Your Child An Opportunity to Excel Academically

Research proves that Catholic schools deliver several advantages over public schools, including higher academic achievement, higher graduation rates for Latino and African American students, greater achievement gains for at-risk students, and higher earnings after graduation than their public school-educated peers. It seems almost all students would benefit from a strong Polk County private school education, but some families find it is difficult to pay tuition fees for a private education. The Catholic Diocese of Orlando’s schools all accept tuition assistance and scholarships in several forms to allow all students access to a quality education.

• Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a free service for all Florida students who are four years old by September 1 of the calendar school year. VPK offers educational materials that prepare students for kindergarten.
• The Gardiner Scholarship provides funds for special needs students to purchase approved products and services, including school fees, therapist and specialist fees, curriculum, technology, and savings accounts for college. The average per-year scholarship amount is $10,000.
• The McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program offers tuition assistance for eligible students with physical or mental disabilities to enroll in a private school of their choice.
• The AAA Scholarship Foundation provides assistance to economically disadvantaged families and students with disabilities to give them the best school choice for their children. Monies can also be directed toward transportation costs if the family decides to enroll their child in a public school outside their district. Private school funds are directed toward tuition and fees.
• Step Up for Students allows disadvantaged families of students in grades K-12 the financial support in the form of the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (FTC), an income-based scholarship.
• The Alive in Christ Capital and Endowment Campaign allocates $2,500 a year toward tuition fees.

With the abundance of scholarship money and tuition assistance, more families than ever are able to take advantage of the higher levels of success Polk County private schools offer. Contact the Polk County Catholic Schools at 407-246-4800 to learn more about scholarship programs you may be qualified to receive, and browse our website for facts about our schools, advantages of a Catholic education, and other information pertaining to the new school year.