Admission

Tuition and Financial Support

Financial Support at St. Margaret's

St. Margaret’s is proud to offer a strong and supportive need-based financial aid program. For the 2023-24 Academic year, over 4.9 million dollars in need-based grants were awarded to enrolling students. We believe that having a diverse and equitable school is at the core of our institutional values. We see financial aid as a St. Margaret’s community strength. Our goal is to engage and guide capable and talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and make the opportunities of St. Margaret’s accessible to all.
 
Families are encouraged to apply for admission as well as need-based financial aid. After admission decisions are determined, completed financial aid applications are considered by the St. Margaret’s Financial Aid Committee. Need-based grants are shared to families at the time of Admission.
 
We encourage families to preview our financial aid application process listed below, and to contact our Office of Admission & Financial Aid at any time with follow up questions.  We are here to support your family, and we look forward to working with you.
 
Sincerely,
Phoebe F. Larson,
Director of Enrollment Management

Need Based Financial Aid Application Steps

St. Margaret's works within the Clarity Financial Aid review platform when determining a family's financial ability to contribute towards the cost of tuition. The Financial Aid Committee carefully evaluates the income and assets of each family applying for aid and awards financial assistance according to demonstrated need.
 
All need-based financial aid awards are reviewed and recalculated each year. Families are asked to re-submit updated financial aid application information and annual tax information. Please know, all of St. Margaret's financial assistance is confidential and based upon a family’s needs, the school does not offer any athletic nor arts scholarships.

List of 2 items.

  • Complete the online

    Clarity Application for Financial Aid. The Clarity Customer Support team is available by email or phone at support@clarityapp.com or 206.210.3752, in both English and Spanish. There is a $60 processing fee.
  • Upload Additional Documents to the Clarity portal.

    St. Margaret’s requires signed 2023 Federal Tax Form 1040 including all W-2 and/or 1099 forms and schedules, including K-1, 1120S, 1065 and 1098-T forms for both parents. If you have an S Corporation, Partnership or you are a Sole Proprietor, please submit Schedule K-1, 1120S and/or 1065 along with your taxes. If you have a college student, please submit form 1098-T. 

    We ask that all financial aid applicants complete their taxes early in order to meet the necessary financial aid deadline. If families are concerned about submitting all of the necessary tax documentation by the stated deadline, the Financial Aid Committee will allow a CPA certified draft copy of the 2023 1040 tax return with all schedules in order to complete the financial aid file.
All application forms for financial aid are confidentially collated and tracked by St. Margaret’s Business Office. Melissa Norwood, Student Account Specialist, manages the processing of all financial aid forms. 
 
If you have any questions regarding the St. Margaret’s need-based financial aid program, deadlines and online forms, please contact the St. Margaret’s Office of Admission and Financial Aid at 949.661.0108 ext. 1248 or admission@smes.org.

Tuition at St. Margaret's

The St. Margaret’s tuition and fees listed are for the current 2024-2025 school year. Whether a child is re-enrolling or entering St. Margaret's for the first time, a non-refundable deposit fee is required to guarantee a place in the school. The balance of the tuition is due in 9 payments or 2 payments (May 31 and August 31).

In addition, St. Margaret's Episcopal School requires participation in the Tuition Refund Plan underwritten by the Commercial Union Insurance Company, Boston, MA, for A.W. G. Dewar, Inc. The plan costs approximately 0.7% of tuition and protects the educational investment of the family should a student not complete the school year for any reason. The Tuition Refund Plan premium is included in the cost of tuition.

Financial Aid Deadlines

Financial Aid applications will be open January 10, 2024.

Financial Aid applications for New Families are due Thursday, February 15, 2024
 
Financial Aid applications for Currently Enrolled Families are due Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Documents and Resources

Financial Aid Information for Separated or Divorced Families:
 
When working with separated or divorced families, the expectation is that both biological parents will participate in the full Financial Aid Application process.
 
Both parents need to submit completed current year taxes and the Clarity Financial Aid Application. All documents would be part of the need-based Financial Aid Review and all information would remain confidential. In addition, we ask that all divorced households forward their current Divorce Agreement - as they apply for need-based financial aid. All Divorce Agreement information is private and would need to be submitted to Alanna Cajthaml in the St. Margaret’s Business Office.
 
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

Non-Discrimination Policy
St. Margaret's Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid, hiring and athletic policies or in other school-administered programs.