Private elementary school tuition in West Palm Beach can exceed $20,000 per year at some schools, but the published tuition price does not always tell parents what they will actually pay.
Scholarships, financial aid, family contribution programs, required fees, and school-specific assistance can significantly change the final cost.
For families who are actively looking to enroll a child in private elementary school in West Palm Beach, the most useful comparison is:
What will our family actually be responsible for paying for the school year?
The Foundations School offers one of the more distinctive funding models among West Palm Beach private elementary schools. Its published tuition is $16,500 per year, but families contribute $200 to $2,000 annually, based on household size and Adjusted Gross Income, after the school’s scholarship structure is applied.
This guide explains how that model works and compares it with other current private elementary school costs in West Palm Beach.
Private Elementary School Costs in West Palm Beach: 2026–2027 Comparison
| Private School | Elementary Tuition / Family Cost | Financial Assistance |
| The Foundations School | $16,500 tuition; families contribute $200–$2,000 annually based on household income and size | Step Up for Students + CCE Scholarship support |
| Berean Christian School | $14,500 for K5–Grade 6 | Families should confirm current scholarship eligibility and assistance directly |
| Rosarian Academy | $21,400 K–1; $22,930 Grades 2–4; $24,400 Grade 5 | Need-based financial aid and eligible Florida scholarship programs |
| The King’s Academy | $22,800 K–1; $23,800 Grades 2–5 | Need-based financial assistance for eligible accepted students |
| The Greene School | Contact admissions for current grade-specific cost | Financial-assistance options should be confirmed with admissions |
| St. Ann Catholic School | Contact the school for current 2026–2027 tuition | Confirm current scholarships and financial assistance directly |
These numbers are not completely equivalent.
Some schools publish conventional tuition that families are responsible for after financial aid. The Foundations School publishes tuition of $16,500 but uses a scholarship structure that limits each family’s required contribution to an income-based amount of $200–$2,000 for the year.
Parents should therefore compare final out-of-pocket responsibility, not tuition alone.
How Much Does The Foundations School Cost?
Tuition at The Foundations School is currently $16,500 per year.
That $16,500 reflects only a portion of the full cost of providing its small-school educational experience, which includes academics, individualized support, arts-integrated learning, and lunch.
However:
No family pays the full $16,500 tuition amount.
Instead, tuition is funded through three components:
- Step Up for Students scholarship funding
- The family’s Required Minimum Family Contribution
- A CCE Scholarship covering the remaining balance
The result is that the family’s direct annual contribution currently ranges from:
$200 to $2,000 per year
The specific amount depends on the family’s financial circumstances.
What Is the Required Minimum Family Contribution?
The Required Minimum Family Contribution is the amount each family contributes toward TFS tuition for the entire school year.
It is determined using:
- Household size
- Adjusted Gross Income, or AGI
- The family’s most recent federal tax return
The current contribution range is:
$200–$2,000 annually
This is an important distinction for parents researching affordable private schools.
$16,500 is the published tuition.
$200–$2,000 is what a family is required to contribute under the current TFS tuition-assistance structure.
The two numbers should not be treated as interchangeable.
How Does Step Up for Students Reduce TFS Tuition?
Families enrolling at The Foundations School must apply for a scholarship through Step Up for Students.
The family completes the scholarship application directly.
Once the scholarship is awarded, the family provides its Award ID Number so the scholarship funding can be applied to tuition.
TFS cannot submit the Step Up for Students application for a family.
The scholarship award is then one of the three components used to fund the child’s tuition:
$16,500 Tuition
minus
Step Up for Students Scholarship
minus
Required Minimum Family Contribution
equals
Remaining Balance Covered by CCE Scholarship
This structure is designed so families do not have to personally pay the remaining tuition balance after those funding sources are applied.
What Is the CCE Scholarship?
The CCE Scholarship covers any tuition balance that remains after:
- The Step Up for Students scholarship is applied; and
- The family’s Required Minimum Family Contribution is applied.
For example, parents do not need to calculate the remaining balance and then pay it themselves under the current model.
The remaining amount is covered through CCE scholarship support.
Families also do not submit a separate CCE Scholarship application.
Enrollment in the scholarship program occurs when families complete and submit the Enrollment & Financial Agreement.
Families receiving this support must comply with the terms and conditions associated with the scholarship to continue receiving it.
Do All TFS Families Need to Apply for Step Up for Students?
Yes.
Families enrolling at TFS must complete the Step Up for Students scholarship process.
They must also provide the Award ID Number after receiving their scholarship determination so that funding can be applied toward tuition.
The school does not control the Step Up determination process and cannot submit the scholarship application for the family.
Parents considering enrollment should therefore avoid waiting until the final stages of admissions to begin researching scholarship requirements.
Are There Additional Fees at The Foundations School?
One reason parents should compare private-school costs carefully is that tuition can be only one part of the annual bill.
At The Foundations School, the initial application requires a:
$50 non-refundable application fee
That $50 is credited toward the family’s annual tuition contribution.
There are no additional required fees for:
- Food
- Technology
- Textbooks
- Classroom supplies
- School spirit shirts
- Activity fees
This makes the family’s required contribution more predictable than a tuition figure accompanied by multiple mandatory annual fees.
Families should use the same approach when comparing other schools: ask for tuition plus every required fee, not tuition alone.
What Would a Family Actually Pay at TFS?
The family contribution depends on income and household size, so there is no single price that applies to every household.
The current range is:
| TFS Cost Component | Amount / Requirement |
| Published Tuition | $16,500 per year |
| Step Up for Students | Family must apply and provide Award ID |
| Required Minimum Family Contribution | $200–$2,000 per year |
| CCE Scholarship | Covers remaining balance after Step Up and family contribution |
| Application Fee | $50; credited toward annual family contribution |
| Additional Required Food Fee | None |
| Additional Required Technology Fee | None |
| Additional Required Textbook Fee | None |
| Additional Required Classroom Supply Fee | None |
| Additional Required Activity Fee | None |
| Payment Plans | Available |
For parents trying to decide whether private school is financially realistic, the key number to discuss with TFS is therefore the Required Minimum Family Contribution assigned to your household.
What If Your Financial Situation Has Changed?
The family contribution normally uses household size and the Adjusted Gross Income shown on the family’s most recent federal tax return.
However, circumstances can change.
Families experiencing a significant financial hardship may request an additional review.
Payment plans are also available, allowing families to make payments throughout the school year rather than paying their entire contribution at once.
Parents who need either an additional financial review or a payment arrangement can discuss those options during the enrollment process.
How Does TFS Cost Compare With Other West Palm Beach Private Elementary Schools?
Looking only at published tuition can create a misleading comparison.
For 2026–2027, several nearby private schools publish elementary tuition above $14,000 per year before applicable financial assistance.
Berean Christian School
Berean Christian School publishes $14,500 in tuition for K5 through Grade 6 for 2026–2027.
New students may also encounter:
- $25 application fee
- $75 testing fee
- $500 registration fee
- $750 student fee
Other program-specific costs may apply.
Parents interested in Berean should calculate tuition plus required fees and then determine which scholarships or assistance may apply to their family.
Rosarian Academy Tuition and Financial Aid
Rosarian Academy publishes the following 2026–2027 tuition:
| Grade | Annual Tuition |
| Kindergarten | $21,400 |
| Grade 1 | $21,400 |
| Grade 2 | $22,930 |
| Grade 3 | $22,930 |
| Grade 4 | $22,930 |
| Grade 5 | $24,400 |
Additional published charges include:
- $125 new-student application fee
- $1,200 annual registration fee
- $325 K–8 course materials fee
Other expenses, including some lunch, after-school, uniform, book, and program costs, can also apply.
Rosarian offers need-based financial aid for qualifying families and participates in eligible Florida scholarship programs.
Families applying for institutional financial assistance must complete the school’s required financial-aid process.
The King’s Academy Tuition and Financial Aid
The King’s Academy publishes the following 2026–2027 elementary tuition:
| Grade | Annual Tuition |
| Kindergarten–Grade 1 | $22,800 |
| Grades 2–5 | $23,800 |
Published additional costs include:
- $140 application fee per student
- $985 new-student enrollment fee per family
- $125 Kindergarten Academic Service Fee
- $655 Elementary Curriculum Fee
- $145 Elementary Activity Fee
Additional course and activity charges may also apply.
The King’s Academy offers need-based financial assistance to eligible students after admission.
Families can also choose among full-payment, 50/50, and monthly payment options.
Comparing TFS With Conventional Private-School Tuition
The difference becomes clearer when parents separate tuition from family responsibility.
| School | Published Elementary Tuition | Before Aid / Fees | What Parents Should Verify |
| TFS | $16,500 | Family contribution limited to $200–$2,000 under current scholarship structure | Household-specific contribution |
| Berean Christian | $14,500 | Additional fees apply | Scholarships + final family cost |
| Rosarian Academy | $21,400–$24,400 | Additional fees apply | Financial aid + scholarship amount |
| The King’s Academy | $22,800–$23,800 | Additional fees apply | Need-based aid + final fees |
For TFS, this means a family should not assume that seeing $16,500 tuition means they need $16,500 available to enroll.
The family contribution structure is specifically designed to lower that direct financial requirement.
What Does the TFS Family Contribution Include?
Affordability is not only about lowering the tuition figure.
Parents should also understand which everyday school costs are already included.
TFS does not charge additional mandatory fees for:
Lunch
Lunch is included rather than billed as a separate mandatory expense.
Technology
Families are not charged a separate required technology fee.
Textbooks
There is no additional required textbook fee.
Classroom Supplies
Required classroom supplies are not billed separately.
School Spirit Shirts
There is no separate mandatory charge for school spirit shirts.
Activity Fees
There is no additional required activity fee.
This allows parents to evaluate the annual family contribution with fewer separate mandatory school expenses added afterward.
What Education Does the TFS Tuition Support?
Affordability matters only if the school environment also fits the child.
TFS serves Kindergarten through Grade 5 and is structured around small classes and individualized instruction.
The maximum class size is:
15 students
The student-to-teacher ratio is:
7:1
The educational approach includes:
- Evidence-based instruction
- Personalized instruction
- Small-group learning
- Ongoing assessment
- Differentiated instruction
- Science of Reading practices
- Arts-integrated learning
- Project-based learning
- Technology integration
- Social-emotional learning
Kindergarten through Grade 5 students complete i-Ready assessments in reading and mathematics three times per year to help educators monitor progress and provide targeted instruction.
TFS also operates an 11-month academic model with 207 instructional days.
These are useful factors for families to evaluate alongside cost because private-school affordability should ultimately be considered in relation to what a child will experience during the school year.
Who Should Consider The Foundations School?
TFS may deserve a closer look if your family is seeking a private elementary school in West Palm Beach and prioritizes several of the following:
- Kindergarten through Grade 5
- Maximum 15-student classes
- 7:1 student-to-teacher ratio
- Individualized instruction
- Small-group learning
- Evidence-based teaching
- Science of Reading practices
- Arts-integrated learning
- Project-based learning
- Ongoing academic assessment
- 207 instructional days
- Income-based family contribution
- Step Up for Students participation
- Additional CCE scholarship support
- Few additional mandatory school fees
Parents who identify with those priorities can use a campus visit to determine whether the academic environment is also the right fit for their child.
How to Apply for Financial Assistance at The Foundations School
The financial-aid process is closely connected with enrollment.
Step 1: Begin the TFS Admissions Process
Families can start with an inquiry and campus visit.
The Foundations School accepts applications throughout the admissions cycle, but enrollment is limited.
Starting early gives parents time to understand both the academic program and scholarship requirements before making an enrollment decision.
Step 2: Complete the School Application
Submit the online application to begin formal consideration for admission.
A $50 non-refundable application fee is required and is credited toward the family’s annual contribution.
Step 3: Apply Through Step Up for Students
Families complete the Step Up scholarship application themselves.
Once approved, provide the Award ID Number so funding can be applied to tuition.
Step 4: Submit Financial Information
The Required Minimum Family Contribution is based on:
- Household size
- Adjusted Gross Income
- The most recent federal tax return
This information allows the household’s required contribution to be determined.
Step 5: Complete the Enrollment & Financial Agreement
After Step Up funding and the family contribution are applied, the CCE Scholarship covers the remaining tuition balance.
Families are automatically enrolled in the CCE Scholarship program when the Enrollment & Financial Agreement is completed and submitted.
No separate CCE Scholarship application is required.
What Should Parents Ask Before Paying a Private-School Application Fee?
Families comparing affordable private elementary schools should obtain answers to these questions before committing:
- What is the full published annual tuition?
- How much will our family actually be responsible for paying?
- Which scholarships can be applied to tuition?
- Does the school provide additional institutional financial aid?
- What happens if a scholarship does not cover the remaining tuition?
- Are application or registration fees refundable?
- Which mandatory fees are charged in addition to tuition?
- Are books and classroom supplies included?
- Is technology included?
- Is lunch included?
- Are activity fees included?
- Can tuition or the family contribution be paid in installments?
- Can financial aid be reconsidered if family income changes?
- Is financial aid guaranteed from year to year, or must families reapply?
- Is there currently space available in the child’s grade?
For TFS applicants, several of these questions already have clear answers: the family contribution is $200–$2,000, the $50 application fee is credited toward that contribution, payment plans are available, and there are no additional mandatory food, technology, textbook, classroom-supply, spirit-shirt, or activity fees.
Is The Foundations School an Affordable Private Elementary School?
For families eligible to enroll and who complete the required scholarship process, TFS is structured specifically to make private elementary education financially accessible.
The published tuition is:
$16,500 per year
But the family contribution is:
$200–$2,000 per year
That contribution is based on household income and size.
Step Up for Students funding is applied to tuition, and a CCE Scholarship covers the remaining tuition balance after the Step Up scholarship and required family contribution.
The affordability calculation therefore looks different from a conventional private school where a family begins with a published tuition bill and then searches for enough financial aid to reduce it.
At TFS, the family’s required contribution is established as part of the financial structure from the beginning.
Is TFS Less Expensive Than Public School?
Public school does not charge tuition, so it should not be described as more expensive than private school.
Families may still encounter expenses during a public-school year for items such as supplies, uniforms, field trips, and activities, depending on the school and the student’s needs.
At TFS, the direct annual family contribution currently ranges from $200 to $2,000, while several commonly separate school expenses—including lunch, technology, textbooks, classroom supplies, school spirit shirts, and activity fees—do not carry additional mandatory charges.
Parents should compare their actual expected costs rather than assuming either option will have identical expenses for every household.
Can You Pay the TFS Family Contribution Monthly?
Payment plans are available.
Families may arrange payments throughout the school year rather than paying the entire required contribution at once.
This may be particularly useful for households assigned a contribution closer to the upper end of the $200–$2,000 annual range.
What If Your Family Cannot Afford Its Assigned Contribution?
Families experiencing a significant financial hardship can request additional review.
This is particularly relevant when the most recent federal tax return no longer reflects the family’s current financial situation.
Families can also discuss payment-plan arrangements.
When Should You Apply to TFS?
Applications are accepted throughout the admissions cycle.
However, enrollment is limited, so parents considering TFS should begin the process as early as possible rather than waiting until immediately before the desired start date.
The admissions process includes:
- Inquiry and campus visit
- Application
- Scholarship application and required documents
- Family interview and student visit or assessment
- Admissions decision
Beginning early also gives families more time to complete the Step Up for Students process and prepare financial documentation.
Ready to Find Out What Your Family Would Pay?
For parents actively searching for an affordable private elementary school in West Palm Beach, the next useful step is not simply comparing published tuition.
It is determining the amount your household would actually be required to contribute.
The Foundations School
Grades: Kindergarten–Grade 5
Address: 2400 Metrocentre Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Phone: 561-805-9927
Families can begin with an inquiry or campus visit to learn more about available enrollment, the K–5 academic program, Step Up for Students requirements, and the Required Minimum Family Contribution.
If the $200–$2,000 income-based annual contribution, small classes, and scholarship-supported tuition model fit what your family is looking for, inquire about current grade availability and begin the TFS admissions process.