Tuition and Fees | The First Academy

Affording The First Academy

Think you can’t afford a private, Christian education- think again.

The First Academy is committed to providing families with tuition affordability options and opportunities. Each family is unique and The First Academy seeks to assist families in affording a high-quality Christian education to the greatest extent possible.

The First Academy provides the strongest balance of accelerated academics and student leadership in a Christian environment- all with a tuition price point at approximately 10% less than that of competitor schools. With our tuition affordability options, TFA is the most affordable K-12 school with FCIS accreditation in Orlando. The First Academy offers an unparalleled value.

We are proud to serve families from throughout Central Florida with varying socioeconomic backgrounds. Our goal is for new and current families to be educated on the options and opportunities to afford an education at The First Academy.

What an excellent school, with its great administration, excellent teachers, top-notch academics and extra curricular activities, TFA is easily our top choice in Central Florida. Our family couldn’t be happier! Yes, it’s an investment, but the return on investment is very high… worth every penny.”

– J. Wheeler, Lower School Parent

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance has been allocated and is closed for the 2020-2021 school year.

Also known as financial aid, variable tuition or index tuition– The First Academy offers Tuition Assistance to qualifying families. Tuition Assistance is financial need-based assistance determined by a third party company. Please visit the Tuition Assistance page for more information on this affordability option.

Want to speak to a Tuition Assistance representative? We are here to help.

Florida Department of Education Scholarships

The First Academy accepts several Florida Department of Education Scholarships, as outlined below.

Family Empowerment Scholarship – Administered by Step Up For Students

The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program was enacted in 2019 and is designed to give more families access to private school education. This scholarship is accepted for students in The First Academy day program. To be eligible to receive this scholarship, your student must be eligible to enroll in kindergarten or enrolled in and in attendance at a Florida public school during both the October and February student counts in the year prior to enrollment at The First Academy. To find out more information about the application process, please click this link.

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship – Administered by Step Up For Students

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship is an income-based scholarship administered through the Step Up for Students Organization. This scholarship is accepted for students in The First Academy day program. Applications for new students for the 2020-21 school year will be open in March of 2020 and applications for current Step Up families will open in January 2020. To find out more information about the step up for students scholarship, please click this link.

The Hope Scholarship – Administered by Step Up For Students

The Hope Scholarship was created to give parents the option to place their student in a safer family environment. This scholarship is accepted for students in The First Academy day program. To find out more information about the Hope scholarship, please click this link.

McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

The McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities provides a scholarship for tuition to Florida students with special needs. This scholarship is accepted for tuition for students in The First Hope program only. To find out more information about the McKay Scholarship Program, please click this link.

Gardiner Scholarship

The Gardiner Scholarship Program helps parents individualize the educational plans for their children with special needs. Funds from the Gardiner Scholarship can be used to pay for not only tuition but also for therapists, specialists, curriculum and technology and even for funding a college account through a 529 plan. This scholarship is accepted for tuition for students in The First Hope program only. For families with students in other programs, it can still be very beneficial to apply for and receive this scholarship since it can be used for a broad array of educational support for your student. To find out more information about the Gardiner Scholarship, please click this link.

Want to speak to a Tuition Assistance representative? We are here to help.

Additional Affordability Options

Outlined below is additional information on affordabililty options.

529 Plan

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in December of 2017, qualified distributions are now allowed of up to $10,000 per year for K-12 tuition at any private school. These plans were designed as a vehicle to fund a college education, and now but there are educational situations where using these funds can be beneficial. For example, perhaps your funding is running ahead of projections for college financing needs and won’t be needed for college or you may have a 529 plan intended for an older sibling that wasn’t used. K-12 private school tuition can be a great use of these funds!

Roth IRA

ROTH IRA contributions (not investment returns) can be distributed at any age without penalty. This can be a great way to fund private school tuition as the investment earnings keep growing after withdrawing the original contributions. You should never compromise your future financial security. If you determine that you don’t need to rely on these funds for retirement and you enact proper investment strategies, a Roth IRA can be a great way to help fund your private school education.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

Parents who meet certain income guidelines are eligible to contribute up to $2,000 per year to a Coverdell ESA. Contributions are made from your after-tax income and earnings on those contributions grow tax-free. Distributions from these accounts aren’t taxed if they are used for qualified education expenses such as private school tuition and fees, books, supplies, uniforms, and tutoring.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

If your employer offers a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, funds you deposit can be used toward eligible dependent care expenses. Since contributions to a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account are pre-tax, it can be a great way to save on your overall expenses. Eligible dependent care expenses include afterschool programs, preschool and K-4 tuition, and even summer camps for dependent children under the age of 13. To find out how this might impact your personal situation, make sure to talk to your accountant or financial advisor.

Other Family Assistance

Grandparents and other family members may be willing to help support your student with the gift of tuition. Whether they contribute by directly paying a portion of your student’s tuition or by investing in one of the options outlined above, this can be an invaluable resource for the education of your student.

Want to speak to a Tuition Assistance representative? We are here to help.

Tuition

Given the severe impact that COVID-19 has had on our economy, our School Board has made the decision to freeze tuition at its current rate for next year. There will be no increase in tuition for the 2020-21 school year. We trust this unprecedented step will allow our families to rest and be assured that we want to do all that we can to serve you well during these difficult days. As far as we know, TFA is the only private school in Orlando that has taken this important step to date.

2020-2021 Tuition:

K4 (3-Day, Tues-Thurs): $9,000
K4 (5-Day): $10,120
Transitional Kindergarten: $11,250
Kindergarten: $12,380

Grades 1-4: $15,020
Grades 5-6: $16,440
Grades 7-8: $17,890
Grades 9-11: $19,490
Grade 12: $19,880

Non-US residents will pay an additional annual fee of $3750 per student for both new and returning families for the 2021-22 school year. For more information on International Admissions, click here.

Want to learn more about The First Academy’s Tuition Affordability Options? Click here for more information.

Want to know what your estimated monthly payment will be? Divide the grade level tuition by 12 months, as most families opt for a monthly payment. Please keep in mind this does not take into account Tuition Assistance, additional affordability options or fees.

Want to speak to an Admissions representative? We are here to help.

Grade Level Fees

Knowing a school’s fees is just as important as knowing the tuition. While most schools charge additional fees for educational resources, such as books and technology, The First Academy does not. These are already included in tuition.
The First Academy fees are approximately half the cost of the fees charged by other Central Florida private schools.

Every grade level plans special events and activities that vary from year to year. These are reflected in the grade level fees outlined below.

2020-2021 Activity Fees:

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Payment Plans

Families may choose one of the following tuition payment plans: Annual payment with a 1% discount for tuition paid in full by deadline or Monthly over 12 months.

Please visit the Payment Plans, Service Fees and Payment Dates page for more information.

Want to speak to an Admissions representative? We are here to help.