Admissions

Tuition & Financial Aid

An Investment in Your Child's Future

Tuition and Affordability


At Friends Community School, we believe an exceptional education is one of the most meaningful investments a family can make.  We are committed to partnering with families to make the admissions and tuition process as clear, transparent, and supportive as possible. In keeping with our Quaker values, we are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational community that welcomes families from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. 
 
At FCS, we provide an educational experience that guides each child on their journey toward becoming a lifelong learner, courageous risk-taker, and joyous peacemaker.

All-Inclusive Tuition

For the 2026-2027 school year, FCS's all-inclusive tuition is: 

Grade Tuition
K - 4th Grade $31,000
5th - 6th Grade $32,250
7th - 8th Grade $34,250

Tuition and fees for the following year are set by the FCS Board of Trustees each January.

Financial Aid

Over 40% of FCS families receive aid. To meet the needs of as many families as possible, the maximum grant is 50% of tuition. Supplemental assistance may be available for Quaker families. 

FCS uses Clarity to process financial aid applications using secure, encrypted data. Clarity provides FCS with an estimate of a family’s level of financial need based on the information shared in the application, including assets, income, expenses, debts, and the number of students attending tuition-charging schools.

There is a $65 fee to process the the application. 

 Application data submitted to Clarity is provided to FCS’s Financial Aid Committee, who makes all final award determinations. The process is confidential throughout.

Our financial aid application for the 2027-28 school year will be available through Clarity by mid-October.

Read below for instructions, and review the links under Helpful Resources for our policies and procedures, tutorials, and more.

Applying for Financial Aid though Clarity

1. To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account, or log into your existing account if you've already applied. (The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete.) At the end of the application, there is a $65 fee to submit.

2. Complete the Clarity Enhanced Tax Verification (ETV) process to release your W2 and personal tax return transcripts from the IRS. You'll be asked to authorize the sharing of your tax transcripts and verify your identity. Clarity offers two options for enhanced tax verification process: “Clarity” and “IRS”. Please reference the Tax Verification Guide to preview the steps of this process. 

Please Note: 
After you complete the application, you may be asked to return to the dashboard to provide additional tax documentation.

If you need support during the application process, in-app support available through the Help button, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752.

English and Spanish support is available. The application is also available in Spanish.

Applying for Financial Aid in 5 Steps

Enrollment

Re-Enrollment Agreements for returning students for the upcoming school year are offered to parents in the preceding winter.  Enrollment Agreements for students accepted to FCS for the upcoming school year will be offered to parents at the time of acceptance notification (by early March). For families who qualify for financial aid, the financial aid award is included in the Agreement. To reserve a student's space for the upcoming FCS school year, the Enrollment/Re-Enrollment Agreement must be signed electronically by both parents/guardians and submitted with the non-refundable Enrollment Deposit by the indicated deadline.  

Parents/guardians are responsible for the full year's tuition, minus any financial aid offered, unless written notice of withdrawal is received before May 1 preceding the school year. Optional tuition insurance is available.

Financial Aid FAQs

List of 8 items.

  • Do returning families need to apply for financial aid every year?

    Yes. Financial aid is awarded for one school year at a time, and returning families must submit a new financial aid application annually. Returning families receiving financial aid will see their award as part of their Re-enrollment Agreement.

  • Does FCS offer payment plans?

    Yes. FCS offers multiple payment plan options that allow families to spread tuition payments over the course of the school year. Payment plan options and terms are provided during the enrollment process.

    Questions about tuition, financial aid, or payment options? Contact admissions@friendscommunityschool.org. Our team is happy to help you understand the choices available to your family.

  • Is my financial information confidential?

    Yes. Financial aid information is treated confidentially. FCS uses Clarity to securely collect financial information, and information provided as part of the financial aid process is reviewed only for purposes related to determining financial assistance.

  • Should my family apply for financial aid?

    There is no single income level that determines whether a family will qualify. FCS considers the full financial picture of each household, including income, assets, expenses, debts, family size, and other relevant circumstances. We encourage families who believe tuition may be a financial challenge to apply.

  • What if parents/guardians live in separate households?

    Each parent/ guardian is required to submit a financial aid application, regardless of marital or relationship status. This helps FCS ensure that financial aid is awarded equitably and consistently to all families. If there are separate households, financial information is kept confidential and is not shared with the other household.

  • What information will I need to provide?

    Families should be prepared to provide information about household income, assets, expenses, debts, and other financial circumstances. Applicants will also complete Clarity's tax verification process, which verifies required tax information. FCS may request additional documentation when needed to better understand a family's financial circumstances.

  • When should prospective families apply for financial aid?

    We encourage families seeking financial aid to complete the financial aid process at the same time as the admission process. This allows FCS to communicate a financial aid award at the time an offer of admission is made. Prospective families offered admission will receive their financial aid award as part of their Enrollment Agreement.

  • Who should I contact if I have questions?

    We know that every family's financial circumstances are different, and we welcome your questions. Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@friendscommunityschool.org for assistance with FCS financial aid policies or your family's individual circumstances. For technical assistance with the Clarity application, families may use the support options available directly within Clarity.

Helpful Resources

Financial Aid Dates and Deadlines

List of 5 items.

  • October 15, 2026

    Financial aid application available

  • December 15, 2026

    Financial aid deadline for current FCS families

  • January 14, 2027

    Financial aid deadline for prospective families

  • January 22, 2027

    Returning FCS families notified of financial aid award (as part of Re-enrollment Agreement)

  • February 26, 2027

    Prospective families notified of financial aid award (as part of Enrollment Agreement)

Enrollment Dates and Deadlines

List of 4 items.

  • January 22, 2027

    Re-enrollment Agreements released to current FCS families

  • February 3, 2027

    Re-enrollment Agreement deadline for returning FCS families

  • February 26, 2027

    Enrollment Agreements released to families offered admission to FCS

  • March 12, 2027

    Enrollment Agreement deadline for prospective families
5901 Westchester Park Drive College Park, MD, 20740
Phone: (301) 441-2100
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