The traditional Annual Contract is the historical contract agreement we have had with our families.  It is a one-year, binding contract with the parents and their student for a single school year.

The Divisional Contract is an optional contract agreement families are able to choose with a multi-year agreement which allows parents to enroll their student for the duration of the student's division and Good Shepherd agrees to honor the tuition rate table in place at the time of signing for the duration of the contract.

Families may choose to opt in to a Divisional Contract (and, therefore, a set tuition rate table), rather than the traditional Annual Contract, which will remain in effect for the years the student is in the division. When the student is promoted into the next division, our families will have the choice to opt in to a new Divisional Contract for those upcoming years in that next division or choose a traditional Annual Contract. Tuition may be paid annually or throughout the year, in the same way our annual contracts are paid. 

Early Childhood Division: PreK, Kindergarten, and the option of Primer (potentially a three-year term)
Lower School Division: First-Fourth grades (four-year term)
Middle School Division: Fifth-Eighth (four-year term)

A family will know the total tuition cost for the years their student(s) stay(s) in the division. For a student enrolled in the program from PreK through 8th grade, the cost savings for that family is estimated to be approximately $19,000 per student. For families with more than one student, the savings can be significant.

For a family to qualify for a Divisional Contract, they must commit to stay at Good Shepherd for their student's entire division term. If a family expects to apply out mid-division, they will need to choose a traditional Annual Contract. If a family applies out in a year they have selected a Divisional Contract, the contract will automatically convert to an Annual Contract for the entirety of the term at the higher tuition rate, and additional charges will apply.

If a family suffers a financial hardship for any reason, they should contact the school to discuss the tuition assistance program.  The school will always first consider its ability to support a family through available funds from this program.

Choosing a Divisional Contract will not impact a family's eligibility for tuition assistance. The Tuition Assistance program will continue to be an annual evaluation of a family’s represented need for the upcoming school year. As such, you will continue to apply for assistance each year, and awards will be determined, and tuition adjusted annually, based on the school year and the amount awarded.
 

The Divisional Contract is a long-term contract, and if a family does breach the contract terms before the term ends, the contract will automatically convert to an Annual Contract for the entirety of the term at the higher tuition rate. Additional charges will apply.

Our tuition model must be a sustainable model for the school to ensure the excellence that you have come to expect. Because we must attract and retain quality faculty and staff, a lock-in tuition rate across an entire ten-year timeframe isn’t a sustainable option.