Admissions

Affording Valley School

Valley School is committed to opening the door to independent school education to all families in our community. Given this pledge, Valley School is pleased to offer Tuition Within Reach, an affordability initiative that individualizes the cost of tuition based on each family’s unique financial profile.

List of 3 items.

  • Over $1.2 million

    of Tuition Within Reach support offered to Valley School families each year.

  • $45,000 - $250,000

    Current household income range of families receiving Tuition Within Reach from Valley School.

  • Over 50%

    of Valley School students currently receive Tuition Within Reach support.
Under Tuition Within Reach, Valley School will charge a level of tuition that is customized to each family’s ability to contribute to educational expenses. Tuition rates are based on factors influencing a family’s financial circumstances, including- but not limited to- income, assets, expenses and family size. For some families, full tuition may be most suitable for their financial situation.
 
Full tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is $17,985.

List of 1 items.

  • Activity & Material Fees Vary by Grade Level:

    • Kindergarten $130
    • Grade 1: $130
    • Grade 2: $180
    • Grade 3: $180
    • Grade 4: $280
    • Grade 5: $435
    • Grade 6: $750
    • Grade 7: $850
    • Grade 8: $975
Busing to Valley School is available from many local communities, including Ligonier, Latrobe, Derry, Greensburg, Mount Pleasant, Johnstown, and Somerset. Transportation costs vary based on the school district within which a family resides. Valley School charges a fee of $1,350 per year to offset the cost of transportation provided by the school.

Included in the cost of tuition is a daily snack and home-cooked, family-style lunch.  Families should budget for some out-of-pocket expenses beyond what is billed by the school.  These vary based on grade level and may include uniforms, school supplies, sports clothing and equipment, performing arts items, and optional extracurricular materials. 

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Who qualifies for Tuition Within Reach?

    Tuition Within Reach is designed to help families feel less stretched in affording an independent school education, viewing tuition as a long-term investment and a sustainable expense within a family’s budget. All families interested in exploring Tuition Within Reach as an option should contact the school for more information. Currently enrolled families interested in applying for Tuition Within Reach should contact the Head of Finance and Operations for more information, while prospective and newly enrolled families should contact the Director of Admissions.

    Currently, over 50% of enrolled students qualify for Tuition Within Reach.

  • How do we apply for Tuition Within Reach?

    In order to determine a family’s best-fit rate of tuition, Valley School partners with Clarity, a third-party processing company used by many independent schools. Families interested in applying for Tuition Within Reach must complete an application online through Clarity. The application will gather relevant financial information about your family to support Valley School in determining the Tuition Within Reach rate that best fits your family.

    To get started, please go to the Clarity Application at clarityapp.com and create an account. Clarity's Family Application Guide will walk you step-by-step through the application process and can be found at clarityschools.com/library/family-application-guide

  • When do we apply for Tuition Within Reach?

    Application deadlines for the upcoming school year are announced in November. The application deadline for the 2024-25 school year is January 15, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline are considered on a rolling basis, but space and Tuition Within Reach availability may be limited.

    While currently enrolled families must apply for Tuition Within Reach annually, a similar tuition rate can be expected from year to year unless there are significant changes to income or assets. 

Valley School of Ligonier

Address: 153 Lupine Lane, Rector PA 15677
Mail: PO Box 616 Ligonier, PA 15658
Phone: (724) 238-6652  Fax: (724) 238-6838
In an environment that is safe, challenging, nurturing, and disciplined, Valley School provides a balanced and strong program of study for a diverse group of children. Our goal is to stimulate in each young person lifelong habits of moral behavior, seeking wisdom, and doing good works for others.
© Valley School of Ligonier. All Rights Reserved.