Admissions
Tuition and Financial Aid
Affording a Center Education
We know that choosing a Center education is a significant decision and one that impacts children for life.
As families learn about The Center, we want to provide information about our tuition, fees, and strong financial aid program.
65%
Average Financial Aid Award
$2.5m
Financial Aid Budget
17-99%
Financial Aid Grant Range
List of 2 items.
-
Tuition 2026-27
Toddler Program: $30,162 (half day)
$36,263 (full day)Early Childhood 1 & 2:$30,162 (EC1 half day)
$36,263 (EC1 & EC2 full day)Elementary Grades K-6: $42,945 -
Fees
Fees below are reduced by the same percentage as a family’s financial aid grant.Non-refundable deposit, applied to Tuition: Early Childhood: $2,700 Elementary: $3,200 Annual Parent Association Dues: Per Child: $125 New Student Fee: $2,000
Financial Aid
The Center for Early Education is a community of socio-economically diverse students and families. Inclusion in the life of the school is an essential element of our educational philosophy and culture.
Socio-economic diversity enriches the educational opportunities for all families. In support of a school community that includes families with a wide range of economic experiences, financial aid is available to assist with the payment of tuition, fees, and extra-curricular programs at all grade levels and is awarded without regard to race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or religion.
The Financial Aid Committee confidentially reviews all financial aid applications and allocates funding to qualified families. While we encourage all applications from new and returning families who believe the full cost of tuition is prohibitive to attending, please understand that it is possible that not all who apply will qualify.
The Financial Aid Process
To assist us in objectively determining a family’s ability to pay tuition, we partner with Clarity.
We use Clarity's methodology (adjusted to fit our local community) as the foundation for our determinations, taking into consideration our school's policies and the resources available for returning students, as well as applicant families. All information is kept strictly confidential.
To get started, please go to the Clarity Application below and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly, so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
2026-27 Financial Aid Deadlines
Deadlines to complete the Clarity online application:
- Financial Aid Application Opens in November 2025
- Current/Returning Center Families Due – December 5, 2025
- Prospective/Applicant Families Financial Aid Application Due – January 16, 2026
In order for the Financial Aid Committee to distribute funds equitably, applicant families must meet all stated deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines may impact a family's financial aid award.
Financial Aid Application
Click here to access Clarity's financial aid application for 2025-26. The 2026-27 application and Family Application Guide will be available here by November 2025.
Questions?
Families can contact Katrina Lappin, Director of Admissions, at lappink@cee-school.org, or Debbie Wilhite, Director of Finance, at wilhited@cee-school.org with any financial aid questions.
The Center for Early Education, a socio-economically and culturally diverse independent school for children, toddlers through grade six, strives to graduate students who are joyful, resilient, lifelong learners. The Center embraces a philosophy of education that combines a nurturing, inclusive learning environment with an increasingly challenging academic program that addresses the developmental needs of each child.