Affording VCS and Flexible Tuition - Vermont Commons School Skip to main content

Affording VCS and Flexible Tuition

Flexible Tuition

Most middle school families paid between $12,650 – $27,900 and most high school families paid between $16,450 – $31,900 in tuition during the 2023-24 school year.

Flexible Tuition helps ensure that the Vermont Commons student body is broadly representative of the community at-large and that our education be accessible to every admitted student. The school allocates approximately 16.5% of the operating budget towards our Flexible Tuition model. Approximately 30% of our students take advantage of Flexible Tuition. The average tuition rate for those families accessing Flexible Tuition in 2023-24 was approximately $10,400.

The Comprehensive Fee for the 2024-25 school year is:

  • $28,820 for 6th-8th grades 
  • $32,895 for 9th-12th grades 

The Comprehensive Fee is for the entire academic year and covers all normal parts of the school program; it includes the textbook and activity fees, athletic fees, lab fees, programs, clubs, field trips and Encounter Week programs. (Programs involving national or international travel, extra tutoring, or individually designed activities such as music lessons are not included in the Comprehensive Fee.). Each year, tuition is set at a level that enables every student to enjoy the exceptional experience that is Vermont Commons School. Tuition allows us to retain high-quality educators, provide a modern campus with up-to-date facilities, and maintain small class sizes. 

Flexible Tuition Application

Families interested in Flexible Tuition complete an application at the time they submit their enrollment contract or admissions application. This application and supporting documents determine the tuition amount for your child for the coming school year. 

Start the Flexible Tuition Application

All information is kept strictly confidential and is limited to the Flexible Tuition Committee. Tuition rates will be between 20% and 100% of the Comprehensive Fee. Please note that the school makes its admissions and tuition decisions independently of one another.

Returning families who intend to apply for Flexible Tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year must submit a complete application with all supporting documents (including 2023 and 2024 tax returns) by February 25.  Late submissions may result in limited ability to offer Flexible Tuition.

Families new to Vermont Commons applying for admission and Flexible Tuition after these deadlines will receive full consideration on a rolling basis. Vermont Commons does not review requests for Flexible Tuition unless a student has been accepted to the school. Please contact our Business Manager, Linda Bursell at lbursell@vermontcommons.org with questions. 

Payment Plans

We offer generous interest-free payment plans that help families spread out the cost of a VCS education within each academic year, as needed. Within 7 days of acceptance to the school, Vermont Commons requires the first tuition payment from newly admitted families to secure a space for the student. This payment is $1000, and $250 for those applying for Flexible Tuition. Payments typically begin in the summer leading up to the school year.

Annual Payment Plan: 1 payment
Semi-Annual Payment Plan: 2 payments
Monthly Payment Plan: 10 payments

Helpful Documents

Families applying for Flexible Tuition should review the documents below which go into more detail regarding circumstances common among families at Vermont Commons.

Vermont Commons School admits mission aligned students irrespective of race, color, religion, gender and sexual diversity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship status, political affiliation, genetic information, or disability. All students are afforded the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to our students. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, ancestry, place of birth, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability in the administration of its educational programs, admission, scholarships and loans, athletics, or other school policies.

Scholarship. Community. Global Responsibility.

Students emerge from their time at Vermont Commons School intrinsically motivated to seek out their role for improving the world, with the skills and competencies to do so.