TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
The St. James Performance Academy is an unparalleled experience and a meaningful investment in your child's future.
Providing a good education is one of the most important gifts. We know that an independent school education is an investment, the cost of which is a factor for some families in making their school decision.
2026–27 School Year Cost
Day Student Tuition $37,500
International Day Student (Living with Host Family) $62,500
International Day Student (Residing in Academy Housing) $75,000
Approximate Additional Expenses* $2,000
*Approximate additional expenses are anticipated for miscellaneous charges such as school uniforms, athletic issue (i.e. t-shirt + shorts), transportation, and meals on school days.
Financial Aid
The St. James Performance Academy is committed to making an Academy education accessible for qualified students by offering need-based financial aid, subject to demonstrated need and the availability of funds. We partner with Clarity to provide a secure, mobile-friendly application that simplifies the financial aid process.
Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier for exceptional student-athletes. Financial aid is awarded in the form of grants to families who demonstrate financial need. During the 2025–26 school year, The St. James Performance Academy awarded more than $3 million in financial aid, with an average grant of $14,900.
Our Process
How We Award Financial Aid
The St. James Performance Academy uses a standardized, need-based process to evaluate each family’s financial need.
Each year, the Academy’s leadership team approves the financial aid budget. We strive to support as many families as possible, but the budget sets the limit on available resources, so awards may not meet the full demonstrated need of every applicant.
As a new and emerging sports performance and college preparatory institution, The St. James Performance Academy encourages new and returning families to explore all personal funding sources before applying for aid. This directs funds to the families with the greatest need.
What We Consider
Your Family’s Financial Profile
- Family income (taxable and non-taxable)
- Assets such as home equity, other real estate, savings, stocks, and investments
- Number of dependents
- Age of parent(s)
- Number of children attending tuition-charging schools
Other Circumstances
- Consumer debt
- Potential income of a non-working spouse
- Sponsorships or NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) agreements
- Automobiles (fair market value or lease costs)
- Recreational vehicles, second homes, and vacation expenses
- Student travel and enrichment activities
OUR APPLICATION
How to Apply for Financial Aid Through Clarity
Whether you’re a new applicant or a returning Student Athlete, take a few minutes to review the Clarity Quick Reference Guide before you apply for financial aid. The Financial Aid Committee only considers applications completed in Clarity.
Need Help With Your Application?
Clarity offers support in English and Spanish. You can also switch the full application to Spanish using the drop-down menu in the lower left corner.
- In-app: Select “Get Help” in the lower left corner
- Email: support@clarityapp.com
- Phone: 206-210-3752
FAQs
Are there any merit awards available at The St. James Performance Academy?
No, The St. James Performance Academy does not offer any merit awards. All financial aid award calculations are based on a family’s demonstrated need. Since financial aid is granted annually, families must reapply each academic year.
How does The St. James Performance Academy determine financial aid awards?
Information from the financial aid application generates an estimated amount your family can contribute to educational expenses. The Financial Aid Committee uses this estimate as a starting point to help members of the Committee make fair and objective financial aid decisions. Homeownership, family size, the number of children at tuition-charging schools, regional cost of living adjustments and other factors are considered in the evaluation of a family’s ability to pay.
How do I apply for financial aid and is there a fee?
Please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is 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, if you are a US taxpayer, you will follow the steps to authorize the IRS to share a transcript of your W2(s) and personal tax return. Clarity has found that US taxpayers who have IRS.gov accounts before starting the Clarity Application have a much easier time completing this Verification process.
There is a $65 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.
Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as The St. James Performance Academy requires you to upload additional tax documentation including your W-2s, paystubs, and 1040 filings.
If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
If our family is eligible, how much financial aid is awarded and what does it cover?
Financial aid awards will vary based on your family’s demonstrated need. Awards can range from $1,000 up to 75 percent of the entire cost of tuition for the 2026-2027 school year.
When determining a financial assistance award, The St. James Performance Academy considers the total cost of attendance. In addition to financial aid for tuition, The St. James Performance Academy gives an additional $2,500 in aid to families who are active or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces, local, state or Federal law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians. Financial aid can be awarded to help cover other fees which can include textbooks, athletic equipment, field trips, school social events, etc. While awards do vary, we strive to help make an independent school education affordable for all families (including middle-income families who think they might not qualify).
Do I have to reapply for assistance each year?
Yes, each student’s need is recalculated annually. Therefore, parents are required to submit a new request for financial aid each year.
Do both parents need to complete a Financial Aid Application even if they are separated, divorced or were never married?
Yes, The St. James Performance Academy requires that each parent complete a financial aid application by January 15. Parents can be assured that all financial information received from one parent will not be shared with the other.
If our family does not qualify for financial aid, what options do we have regarding tuition payments?
Through The St. James Performance Academy business office, families can set up payment plans in Veracross, choosing to either make one payment, two payments (at the time of acceptance and again in December), or a ten-month payment plan (beginning in June 2027 and ending in March 2028).
Families who opt to pay in full will receive a 5% discount on their child’s comprehensive tuition fee for the school year. Families who enroll a second child in the Academy will also be eligible to receive a 5% discount on the second child’s comprehensive tuition fee.
Does The St. James Performance Academy offer tuition insurance?
The St. James Performance Academy has partnered with AWG DEWAR to provide families who opt pay their child’s tuition in a payment plan with comprehensive tuition insurance. The policy provides coverage of up to $30,000 of a student-athlete’s tuition in the event that a student-athlete is unable to participate due to a covered reason.
