Tuition Assistance
The School determines tuition assistance awards on a case-by-case basis. All financial information and decisions are kept strictly confidential. You can expect to receive a response to your completed tuition assistance application within two to four weeks.
Award decisions are determined on a basis similar to college financial aid. We also take into account all relevant circumstances, including academic achievement. Though tuition assistance is available, all Thomas Jefferson families are required to pay some portion of tuition, fees, and expenses. Families receiving assistance reapply annually.
Applying for Tuition Assistance
You may apply for tuition assistance when you apply for enrollment by following these steps:
- Complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and submit it with copies of your most recent W2 and 1040 forms. Review the PFS instructions for more in-depth information.
- Call us at (417) 781-5124 if you have questions or need help.
- Submit the PFS and all documentation with your enrollment application.
New Student Scholarships
Scholarships for new students are based on financial need and academic performance. They are awarded separately from financial assistance. Since the number of scholarships is limited, they are awarded to top applicants. TJ offers the following scholarships to new students:
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- E.L. Craig Scholarship
These merit-based scholarships cover up to 100 percent of tuition. They are awarded to families of new students in grades 7-12 who exhibit academic merit and have a demonstrated financial need.
- Henry & Gonzales Families Scholarship
Through the generosity of the Henry and Gonzales families, TJ is the recipient of annual scholarship funds which can be used to make a TJ education more accessible for students who demonstrate financial need and outstanding academic promise. These funds are meant to supplement tuition assistance awards and are available to all new students in grades 1-12.
- Carlin-Bandy Family Foundation
Through the generosity of the Carlin-Bandy family, TJ is the recipient of scholarship funds which can be used to make a TJ education more accessible for students who demonstrate financial need and outstanding academic promise. These funds are meant to supplement tuition assistance awards and are available to all new students in grades 1-12.
- Missouri Walnut Scholarship
Through the generosity of Missouri Walnut, LLC, TJ is the recipient of five renewable scholarships available for new students entering grades 6‐12. These half‐tuition scholarships are reserved for students who identify with the mission of the school, strive for excellence in the classroom and extracurricular activities, and who display strong character as outlined by the school’s Honor Code. Application requirements include teacher and Dean of Students references from the student’s current school, school transcripts, TJ’s entrance exam, and completion of a candidate questionnaire and an essay. Contact the admissions office for additional details.
Applying for New Student Scholarships
The following items are required when applying for scholarships. Many of these forms are also required for the general admission process:
- Excellent teacher and/or administrator references from your child’s current school.
- School transcripts or report cards reflecting strong academic performance.
- Qualifying scores on TJ’s admissions assessment.
- A well-written admissions essay (completed at TJ for students in grades 5-12).
- A completed Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and supporting documents.
- Optional: A letter from parents to the TJ Board Finance Committee outlining the desire to apply for scholarship.
Scholarships for current students are based on financial need and academic performance. They are awarded separately from financial assistance. Since the number of scholarships is limited, they are awarded to top applicants. TJ offers the following scholarships to current students:
The Mel Hancock Freedom Award
The Freedom Award scholarship is awarded to a rising senior, and is named for The Honorable Mel Hancock (Sept. 14, 1929 – Nov. 6, 2011), and his generous endowment which has provided scholarships for TJ students for years. Mr. Hancock, who represented Southwest Missouri as a member of Congress from 1989 to 1997, is better known to most Missourians as the author of the “Hancock Amendment” to our state Constitution. This amendment aligned growth of state tax collection with income growth of the people and has put tax money back in the pockets of millions of Missourians since voters approved it in 1980. Following his years of public service, Mr. Hancock endowed TJ with the scholarship awards that provide significant financial support for parents with children at TJ, and for students who plan to attend a private college or university. The essays for these awards are judged by a committee composed of a Board member, two faculty members, and a member of the community.
