Admissions

Tuition Assistance

5-Step Tuition Assistance Plan

Thank you for considering Northwest Christian School. We are committed to helping families understand the tuition assistance options available to them and determine the best solution for their family. Please use the 5-step action plan below to assist you in maximizing your tuition assistance results.

List of 5 items.

Step 1: Apply to NCS

Apply to NCS via the website and complete all checklist items in your portal as soon as possible. You can't accept any tuition assistance awards or sign an ESA contract unless your child is officially enrolled at NCS or other private school, but you can begin applying for assistance before they are enrolled.
Step 2: Promote and Participate in the Private School Tax Credit

Promote the private school tax credit donation to all friends and family and donate yourself. Deadline to make a dollar-for-dollar tax credit donation is 4/15.
Step 3: Apply to Various STO's

Apply with the various STO's (State Tuition Organizations) based on what your student qualifies for. Most STO's open their annual applications in the late winter or early spring. NOTE: Don't forget to complete the public school and/or prior scholarship verifications forms on each website, if applicable. Your total, combined award amount is unlimited; you can combine awards from multiple STO sources. Unused individual tax credits can carry over to future years if your results exceed the cost of tuition for the year.
*Individual Private School Tax Credits (Original & Switcher):
www.azto.org Arizona Tuition Organization
www.acsto.org Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization
www.arizonatuitionconnection.com Arizona Tuition Connection
www.ibescholarships.org Institute for Better Education
www.apesf.org Arizona Private Education Scholarship Fund, Inc.
www.pstf123.org Private School Tuition Fund 123
www.sto4kidz.org School Tuition Organization 4 Kidz
www.new hope scholarships.org, New Hope Scholarship Foundation
*Corporate Low Income Tax Credit Scholarships (See income qualifying chart. Corp. Low Income from the third link from the top of the page) and D/D must be used for the specific school year; cannot carry over to a future year)
www.aaascholarships.org AAA (NEW!!!!! lower income required- see website for income guidelines; new rules allow you now to combine with our tax credit award! Award=$7,900 for 9-12 and $6,100 for K-8, guaranteed for 3 consecutive years if awarded). Deadline to apply: May. *cannot be used for online or flex programs
www.arizonaleader.org Arizona Leadership Foundation *cannot be used for online or flex programs
www.arizonatuitionconnection.com Arizona Tuition Connection
www.schoolchoicearizona.org School Choice Arizona
www.azto.org Arizona Tuition Organization
www.pstf123.org Private School Tuition Fund 123
www.sto4kidz.org School Tuition Organization 4 Kidz

* Displaced/Disabled (D/D) Tax Credit Scholarships: ALF, IBE, STO4Kidz, FAIS, ATC, APESF (see Easy Reference Guide link above for web links to these STO's)
Step 4: Apply to ESA

Apply to ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) in April/May for the upcoming school year: Apply: azed.gov/esa NOTE: All AZ K-12th students should qualify. Verification of identity and AZ residency required (Appx. $4000-$4,500 for Kindergarten per year, $6,800-$7,000 for 1st-12th)
ESA FAQ's
ESA Parent Handbook
Class Wallet Sign-In
ESA Help Desk Ticket Tutorial
Class Wallet Contact Info: (877) 969-5536 or email: help@classwallet.com
Step 5: Decide Which Program to Pursue

Decide which program to pursue for each child: 1) The tax credit path (unlimited amount of assistance, results vary) OR, 2) The ESA (paid quarterly, for example:1st-12th grade, appx. $1,700/quarter max). You cannot use tax credit programs and the ESA simultaneously, nor can you switch back and forth between the two programs within the same fiscal year for the same student. You should have a good idea of your initial results by the end of the summer (mid-late July). Remember, STO's send awards throughout the year (AZTO sends awards 7xs/year), so what you get in July/August does not necessarily represent your potential annual results. Don't sign the ESA until you are: 1) Enrolled at NCS or other private school 2) Sure you want to pass on any of the tax credits award offers (tax credits can be banked for multiple years if not used, provided you apply annually with the STO's).

Additional Resources

Empowerment Scholarship Awards (ESA)

Contact Monette Mason, NCS Accounts Receivable, mmason@ncsaz.org, as soon as you sign and accept an ESA and for any questions. For some lower income families, the AAA scholarship combined with other individual and corporate low-income tax credits, may provide a better outcome than the ESA alone, but these organizations do not award students enrolled in any type of an online program.