Tuition & Financial Assistance
As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we are excited to announce several enhancements to our programs and services. These updates are directly aligned with our ongoing commitment to providing an exceptional, high-quality Montessori education that prepares your children for future success and lifelong learning.
The following changes will help us further this mission:
Tuition Deposit: A portion of tuition paid upfront at the time of enrollment
We know choosing a school for the year is a big commitment for our families, and each year, we’re thrilled to welcome our returning families back for another year of learning and growth.
Upon re-enrollment (or enrollment for new incoming families), a $500.00 tuition deposit will guarantee your child’s spot in their class. This fee is credited towards the first month’s tuition for the upcoming school year [and can be made in two installments if necessary]. A tuition deposit is required for all families, including those receiving financial aid.
This deposit helps the MSH administration accurately plan for staffing, classroom placement, and material needs while continuing to prioritize staff training, small class sizes, and prepared environments.
Tuition Insurance: Protecting your family’s investment
MSH has partnered with the Murphy McClennan Agency to offer tuition insurance that protects your family’s investment. We understand that unforeseen circumstances, such as medical emergencies or involuntary job loss, can disrupt a student’s enrollment. This program is designed to protect your investment in your child’s education, offering a partial or full refund of tuition in covered withdrawal scenarios.
Tuition insurance will be due with August’s tuition and is calculated at 1.41% of annual tuition. For families receiving financial aid, tuition insurance is especially important, as it provides essential protection for your family’s investment and financial planning.
For families paying tuition in monthly installments, tuition insurance is required to ensure financial protection throughout the year – both for our school and for our families. Complete terms of the insurance policy will be posted soon.
Expansion of Our Adolescent Program to Include 9th Grade
We are excited to announce the extension of our Adolescent Program to include the 9th grade. This expansion offers the opportunity to continue their Montessori journey within our supportive community. By providing a full three-year cycle for the Secondary I program and the first year of high school experience, we ensure continued access to the unique, hands-on, and real-world-focused curriculum that is the hallmark of Montessori adolescent education.
Field Trip Fees: Enhancing curriculum-based excursions
In recent years, the rising cost of field trips, or “going outs,” have created challenges for our community. These experiences are vital to the Montessori philosophy of learning through interaction with the real world, bringing classroom lessons to life and making learning more engaging and impactful. Implementing a field trip fee helps us cover increased transportation costs, entry fees, supplies for overnight excursions, and other required expenses, ensuring that students are able to enjoy meaningful experiences as they move through the curriculum.
With this fee, families can expect more intentional, well-resourced goings out for their students, in alignment with our commitment to experiential learning, without having numerous, sporadic fees throughout the year.
The field trip fee will vary by program level and can be paid in a lump sum or distributed across monthly tuition installments, depending on your family’s preference.
Overall:
We plan for each upcoming school year with the oversight and expertise of our Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and Administration Team, taking into consideration the needs of our whole community, from families and children to faculty and staff. We are confident that these changes – providing tuition insurance, expanding our Adolescent Program, and instating field trip fees and tuition deposits – will support our school in providing education of exceptional quality, continuity of staffing, and high-fidelity Montessori curriculum as we guide children to be independent learners, critical thinkers, and tomorrow’s leaders.
*Updated 11/24/2025*
2026-2027 Tuition Rates
26-27 Toddler Tuition (18 months – 36 months)
26-27 Primary Tuition (3 years to 6 years)
26-27 Lower & Upper Elementary Tuition (1st – 6th grade)
26-27 Adolescent Tuition (7th – 9th grade)
Financial Assistance
FAST
The application process for the 2026-2027 school year will open in January 2026. Applications are provided by our admissions director once families begin moving through the admissions process.
We partner with the Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) application process. We know that families who choose to send their children to our school make many sacrifices to ensure a bright and successful future for their kids.
If you will be a returning MSH family for the upcoming school year and would like to apply for financial assistance, you may submit your confidential FAST application between now and January 31. New families will be considered after February 1 through March 31. The cost of the application is $48 and is paid directly to FAST by either Visa or Mastercard. You will be asked to send in federal and state tax documents, and the application includes specific questions pertaining to your household expenses. Again, the information is completely confidential. FAST will use this information to make an Expected Family Contribution recommendation to MSH.
FAST allows MSH to offer need-based scholarships through an efficient and confidential application process.
The Montessori School of Huntsville also proudly accepts the following scholarships for Elementary & Middle school aged children, please visit their website for more information.
CHOOSE Act Alabama
The Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024 (The CHOOSE Act) is administered by the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR).
CHOOSE Act Alabama makes refundable income tax credits called education savings accounts (ESAs) available to support the success of eligible K-12 students in Alabama.
An ESA can be used to pay for tuition, fees, and other qualified education expenses at approved Education Service Providers (ESPs) in Alabama.
- $7,000 per participating student who is enrolled in a participating school
The application period is now Closed.
(Alabama Department of Public Revenue, 2025).
To complete the application, you’ll need:
- Student Birth Certificate
- Proof of Alabama Residency – Includes documentation that matches the physical address listed on the application. Examples include a recent tax return, state driver’s license, state issued ID, utility bill, voter registration card, mortgage statement, rental or lease agreement.
- Proof of Income – Includes documentation such as the most recent federal or state tax return record, Form W-2 or 1099, Social Security statement, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits statement.
Please see the chart below to see if your family qualifies:
Learn more: CHOOSE Act Alabama
Rocket City Scholarship Granting Organization
Rocket City Scholarship Granting Organization was founded to help provide families in the Tennessee Valley with a true choice in the education of their children. We hope to accomplish this by giving scholarships to students who are not thriving in their current school environment so that they can attend a school that meets their educational needs. – Rocket City SGO Mission Statement
Please submit your application to your school of choice. Schools will submit complete
applications to Rocket City SGO.
Rocket City SGO will accept applications for returning scholarship recipients April 1-30, 2025, and
for new applicants April 15-30, 2025. We will not accept late or incomplete applications.
Please contact Rocket City SGO to find out more about your rights as an SGO scholarship
recipient. Submission of a scholarship application does not guarantee a scholarship award for
the upcoming academic year. Scholarship award notifications will be made by each school on
August 1, 2025.
Who is eligible?
1. A student zoned for a priority school who was previously enrolled in a public school.
2. A student zoned for a priority school who was previously enrolled in a non-public school prior to receiving a scholarship.
3. A public-school student not zoned for a priority school. (75% of new scholarships must be given to a student continuously enrolled in a public school during the previous year)
4. A private school student not zoned for a priority school. (Only 25% of new scholarships awarded to students continuously enrolled in private school during the previous school year).
5. Be a member of a household whose total annual income meets the requirements of the Accountability Act.
Scholarship Prioritization
1. Returning Students zoned for a priority school.
2. Returning students not zoned for a priority school.
3. New Applicants zoned for a priority school.
4. New applicants who have siblings in the Rocket City SGO program.
5. All other applications will be considered in the order in which they are
submitted.
2025-2026 Priority Schools
Huntsville City Schools
Montview Elementary School
Morris Elementary School
Rolling Hills Elementary School
Chapman Middle School
James Dawson Elementary School
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School
Lakewood Elementary School
Williams Middle School
Ronald McNair 7-8 School
Decatur City Schools
Oak Park Elementary School
Tuscaloosa City Schools
Eastwood Middle School, Oakdale Elementary School, and Central High School
*Priority schools are designated by the State Superintendent of
Education and have received a D or F on their most recent state report card.
Amount Applied to Tuition
$6,000 – Elementary $8,000 – Middle School
The Montessori School of Huntsville offers limited scholarships through the Montessori Families Early Childhood Fund and The Kathy O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship Fund. Scholarship funds are raised throughout the year and supported through the generous philanthropy of current and alumni families as well as other members of the community who believe that a Montessori education is one of the best gifts you can give a child.
MSH is also a partner school through the Alabama Accountability Act. Eligible families in K-8th grades may receive funding through Rocket City Scholarship Granting Organization that will allow children to attend our programs who would otherwise not be able to attend due to limited financial resources.