All students are billed the maximum tuition rate. This rate may be offset as appropriate by SDA church membership subsidy, prepayment and/or family discounts. Your SDA church membership must be verified by the Business Office ANNUALLY before the related adjustment will be posted to your account. Verification of membership is accomplished by submitting the appropriate form to your church’s clerk for signature and ensuring that the form is returned to TA. As a courtesy to returning students, the Business Office will make a reasonable effort to contact your church’s clerk to verify that your family’s membership continues in good and regular standing. If no response is received, it is ultimately the family’s responsibility to pursue completion of this requirement.
Annual tuition charges for the 2008-2009 school year are:
|
Non-SDA Students |
$13,230 |
|
Non-Potomac Conference SDA Students |
$11,270 |
|
Potomac Conference SDA Students |
$ 9,019 |
The annual,
nonrefundable entrance fee is due at registration.
The entrance fee schedule is as follows:
Freshmen and
Sophomores
$500.00
Juniors
$600.00
Seniors
$700.00
The entrance fees will now cover a number of costs associated with
class dues, PE uniforms, TA fleeces, IDs, yearbooks and yearbook
pictures, Surprise newspapers to name a few other yearly costs paid
outside of the entrance fees. For juniors, the PSAT testing will be
included this year. For seniors, graduation fees and
invitations, graduation regalia, one SAT test and the mailing of two
transcripts of the students choosing will be covered with the
increase of the entrance fee.
Tuition is payable in 10 installments, either July-May OR August -
May, on either the 5th or 20th of each month by utilizing the FACTS
Tuition Management Program or by establishing a standing credit card
order for your monthly payment. An 11-month payment plan is also
available and runs from July-May only; billing will run on the
10-month plan.
|
|
Due at registration |
10 monthly
pmts |
11 monthly pmts |
|
Non-SDA Students |
Entrance fees above |
$1323.00 |
$1202.00 |
|
Non-Potomac Conference SDA Students |
Entrance fees above |
$1127.00 |
$ 1025.46 |
|
Potomac Conference SDA Students |
Entrance fees above |
$ 901.95 |
$ 820.00 |
Tuition may be prepaid for the full year in advance or for each semester in advance. A prepayment discount of 5% is available if the entire year’s tuition is paid in advance; a discount of 2% is available if a semester is paid in advance. This discount does not apply to the entrance fee or any other fees.
A family discount is available when two or more students from the same family are enrolled at TA. The discount is 5% for 2 students; 10% for 3 or more students. This discount does not apply to the entrance fee or any other fees.
Account statements are generated monthly by the 10th of each month. All payments are due in our office by the last business day of the same month. Payments may be made by EFT via FACTS, cash, cashier’s check, personal check, money order or credit card. A finance charge of 1.5% will be assessed on all accounts unpaid by the end of the month.
EXAM PERMITS: Accounts must be kept current in order for students to receive their exam permits. Accounts must be paid through September to take October exams; through December to take January exams; through February to take March exams; through May to take June exams.
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RETURNED CHECKS: There is a fee of $25 for each returned personal check. Once a check has been returned on your account, TA reserves the right to require all future payments to be made with certified funds (i.e., cash, cashier’s check, money order or credit card).
REJECTED EFTs: FACTS will charge a fee of $25 for each rejected EFT. This is in addition to any fee(s) charged by your bank. FACTS will reattempt any missed payments/fees on its next payment cycle, either the 5th or the 20th, whichever comes next. TA will not charge a separate fee for a rejected FACTS EFT; however, if your unpaid balance carries over to the following month, your account will be assessed finance charges. If 3 consecutive FACTS EFTs are rejected, your student may be asked to withdraw from school until the account is brought current.
LOCKERS: Lockers must be left empty, clean and in good working condition. Lockers will be inspected by a TA staff member upon a student’s withdrawal or at year end. Any items found in lockers after graduation will be donated to charity.
PARKING PERMITS: Students who drive to school must obtain a parking permit. There is a nonrefundable fee of $10 for the parking tag and space assignment. Unauthorized vehicles are subject to towing.
JACKETS/UNIFORMS: A varsity jacket which can be used as winter outerwear is available at an additional cost to the student/family from Aladen Athletic. Customized additions to the jacket are also available at an additional cost. Orders will be taken by Aladen Athletic just after school starts.
The unified dress code for TA consists of the following: monogrammed polo shirts in burgundy, navy and white; monogrammed oxford shirts in white; Docker-style khaki or navy pants and skirts; and monogrammed lightweight outerwear (sweaters and/or fleece). Approved uniform items (shirts, pants, skirts and sweaters/sweatshirts) are available at Campus Outfitters (www.campusoutfitters.com; school code TA1114). Approved polo shirts (in burgundy only) and fleece are available at the TA Bookstore.
Each student will have their ID picture taken at financial registration and will receive their personalized ID card and monogrammed lanyard at the mandatory orientation session(s) to be held prior to school start. The ID and lanyard are also part of the unified dress code and must be worn by each student all day, every day. Replacement ID cards are $10 each; replacement lanyards are $5 each.
BOOKSTORE: The Bookstore is located in the front entrance area of the building across from the office. TA, at no additional charge to the student, will supply all textbooks. Textbooks not returned, or returned in an unsuitable condition, will be charged to the student’s account.
OTHER FEES:
The FACTS Tuition Management Program charges a fee for its service: $41 for a full-year agreement and $31 for a half-year agreement. They collect their fee directly from the parent/guardian. Families who choose to prepay tuition will not be required to participate in this program and will not be charged this fee.
CUC Connection classes are available to qualified students for an additional fee. Fees are determined by Columbia Union College and are collected in their business office, not through TA. Please contact the CUC Business Office for further details.
Two transcripts are included in the entrance fee. A fee of $5 must be paid for any additional transcripts.
INSURANCE: TA carries EXCESS ONLY accident insurance for each student. It provides partial coverage for injuries sustained traveling to and from school, during regular school hours or at school-sponsored functions.
If your student is injured during the school year, it is his/her responsibility to file an accident report in the Front Office within 48 hours of the accident. The insurance company will not pay for any accident without this report.
If you have any questions, please call the Business Office at (301) 434-4700 x702.
We look forward to serving you.
K-12 Family Education Loan Program - SLM Financial Corporation, a Sallie Mae company, provides education financing for kindergarten through high school, including distance learning. For more information, please call them at 877/834-9851 or visit them online at www.salliemae.com/k12loan. Brochures and applications are also available at TA.
PrepGATE K-12 Education Loan Program - First Marblehead Corporation, in conjunction with Bank of America, provides education financing for most registered and/or accredited private K-12 day, boarding or special needs schools nationwide. For more information, please call them at 888/353-GATE or visit them online at www.prepgate.com. Brochures and applications are also available at TA.
TUITION ASSISTANCE, SUBSIDY & EQUALIZATION
Assistance - Families whose parents are employed by a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) church organization may be eligible to receive tuition assistance from their employer. Up to 35% of tuition and some education-related fees may be provided. For more information and details on the qualification process, employees should contact the Human Resources Department of their employer.
Subsidy - Some SDA churches offer special tuition subsidy programs based on their specific commitment to Christian education. For more information on what may be available and details on the qualification process, families should contact the Education Department leader or the Youth Pastor at their local church.
Equalization - Families who are members of a local SDA church within the Allegheny East Conference territory may be eligible to receive monthly financial assistance from their church. Amounts range from $50/month to $60/month, the actual difference between the Potomac SDA tuition rate and the non-Potomac SDA tuition rate. For more information and details on the qualification process, families should contact the Education Department leader at their local church.
MATCHING FUNDS
Literature Evangelism Scholarship Match - Students who choose to spend their summer working in their local SDA conference’s literature evangelism program selling SDA books and magazines door-to-door usually receive compensation in the form of an education scholarship payable to the SDA school of their choice. TA will match any scholarship award received for one of its students up to $500. The award amount will be credited to the student’s account as a lump sum when received; the match amount will be credited to the student’s account in 10 equal installments over the school year.
Summer Youth Ministry Scholarship Match - Students who choose to spend their summer working in their local SDA conference’s summer youth program usually receive compensation in the form of an education scholarship payable to the SDA school of their choice. TA will match any summer youth ministry scholarship award received for one of its students up to $500. The award amount will be credited to the student’s account as a lump sum when received; the match amount will be credited to the student’s account in 10 equal installments over the school year.
Two-Way Scholarship Match - Families who are members of a Potomac Conference SDA church may be eligible to apply to their church’s Worthy Student Fund for a scholarship. Awards granted by the church are eligible for a match to be granted by TA up to $500 for the school year. The award and match amounts will be credited to the student’s account in equal installments over the period of coverage specified by the church. The church should remit its award amount in a lump sum for each semester in advance or for the full year in advance, specifying that this represents a two-way award between the church and the school and specifying the period to be covered (semester or full year).
Please note: Tuition assistance, subsidy and equalization awards are not eligible for this match, nor are the literature evangelism or summer youth ministry awards eligible for a second match under this program.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Academic (8th Grade) Scholarship - TA participates in the graduation ceremonies of the SDA elementary schools in the metropolitan Washington area, offering incentive scholarships to the top students in each class in the areas of academics, athletics, leadership and music. Awards are made based on recommendations from the elementary schools. The award amount, equal to one month’s tuition, will be credited to the student’s account in 10 equal installments over the school year.
Academy Day / Parent Night Scholarships - Each spring, TA hosts an Academy Day and a Parent Night for prospective students and their families to become better acquainted with the TA program. A scholarship award will be given to one prospective student in attendance at each of the promotional events. The award amount, equal to one month’s tuition, will be credited to the student’s account in 10 equal installments over the school year.
Principal’s Scholarship - TA recognizes outstanding achievement in the areas of academics, athletics, leadership and music by students who come to us from schools other than those which are part of the SDA educational system. TA also recognizes significant contributions by current students who demonstrate exceptional gifts and use those gifts to uphold the standards of excellence here at TA. The principal, at his/her discretion, grants awards in an amount of his/her choosing to provide additional incentive and motivation for these talented students.
Class Fee Waivers - TA charges a fee $100/class for participation in the honors, advanced placement and college classes offered as part of our program. TA recognizes that some students who are academically qualified to participate in these classes may find it financially challenging to do so because of the additional fee. Because TA wants all eligible students to feel free to take these courses, we will grant a waiver of the class fee for those who have a genuine demonstrated financial need. To be considered for this waiver, please contact the Business Office, specifically the Vice Principal for Finance.
Hatt Memorial Scholarship - Robert Hatt was a beloved math teacher and administrator at TA for 38 years. This needs-based scholarship, established in his honor, awards $1,000 during the spring ceremony to a student (usually a junior or senior) who is an exceptional math scholar and/or is interested in pursuing a career in mathematical sciences. To be considered for this award, applicants must submit an essay outlining future career plans along with a copy of the family’s most recent IRS Form 1040.
Caring Heart Award - This Christian service award is given at the graduation ceremony to a student recommended by TA administration (usually a junior) in recognition of his/her demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to witnessing and service activities. The Caring Heart Award is funded by the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists Office of Education, K-12. Matching funds are available to the recipient of this award via the Presidential Freedom Scholarship program. Details on the matching scholarship are available online at www.nationalservice.org/scholarships.
TA Worthy Student Fund Scholarship - TA administers a needs-based scholarship which is funded, as are all of the awards previously listed, by the auto donation program. Families who wish to participate in this program need to do the following things to ensure timely consideration for a scholarship award:
1. complete and submit the 4-page application by the initial deadline of August 1;
2. include a copy of the most recent IRS Form 1040 (for the 2003-04 school year, the 2002 return is required);
3. include documentation (pay stub) related to current income if it has changed significantly in the current year;
4. understand and accept the commitments required of both parent and student regarding this scholarship:
a. Parents must commit to making a certain minimum monthly payment on their student’s account, no matter what (the car breaks down, the water heater needs replacing, death in the family, etc.). Parents must decide on an amount that they will be able to afford to pay even in the midst of difficult financial circumstances while asking TA to make a payment on their student’s account in the form of this scholarship. Please note that the family will still be held responsible for whatever the balance is on the student’s account at any given point.
b. Students must commit to achieving acceptable grades while on this scholarship. No grade of D or F will be acceptable. Grades will be checked 4 times per year in October, January, March and June. If the student does earn a grade of D or F, TA reserves the right to retroactively adjust the amount of the award granted.
c. Students must commit to participating in TA’s work/study program. They should actively pursue a student job here at the school in order to generate income which will be used to help pay the school bill. If a student is matched to an open position and refuses to work in that position, TA reserves the right to adjust the amount of the award granted.
WORK / STUDY PROGRAM
TA offers an opportunity for students to work/study in various departments of the school. By doing so, TA hopes to
(1) encourage the student to develop an appreciation for work as part of life; (2) teach the student good work habits and basic employment skills; and (3) provide opportunity for students to earn a portion of their tuition. Student workers will be evaluated and graded weekly, and their pay for the week will be based on their weekly grade. Much more detailed information on the program is available in a separate brochure, along with all the forms which would need to be completed to establish a student in the work/study program. Please contact the Business Office to receive a work permit package.