Tuition

Each year Sheldon Christian School will determine the cost of education based on the budget that passes for the upcoming school year. Since SCS participates in Universal 4 Year Old Pre-school, those students will always receive a free education. Kindergarten - 8th grade cost of education is determined in March for the upcoming school year. This number varies from year to year, but is normally in line with the cost of living. SCS hopes to provide your child with a God centered education that is affordable for all who truly value it. Please call 712-324-2429 to discuss what this looks like for you and your family. 

Tuition Assistance

Sheldon Christian School provides many opportunities for financial aid.  We want to ensure the success of every family who values Christian education, knowing that financially we are all in different situations. The Finance team at SCS will work with you to discover opportunities to fit you best.

ESA's (Education Savings Account):

• Sheldon Christian School, along with all other accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa, have an extraordinary opportunity to receive funding from the state of Iowa without conceding to any of the bylaws in our constitution. In 2024 the Iowa Department of Education passed a law to fund education savings accounts (ESA) https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/options-educational-choice/students-first-education-savings-accounts. What this means is that the cost of education has been greatly reduced and now is affordable for all families. 
• Who is eligible?
  • Year 1: School Year 2023-2024
    • A student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school with a household income at or below 300% of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines, $90,000 for a family of four
    • All students enrolled in a public school
    • All entering kindergarten students
  • Year 2: School Year 2024-2025
    • All entering kindergarten students
    • All students enrolled in a public school
    • A student enrolled in an accredited nonpublic school with a household income at or below 400% of the 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines that will be updated January 2024
  • Year 3: School Year 2025-2026
    • All K-12 students in Iowa regardless of income
• Each year when you enroll your child at Sheldon Christian School you will work directly with a company called Odyssey. Odyssey manages the ESA program for the state of Iowa. They created a website enabling you to log in and conduct all family and financial matters in one easy to use location. 

Convenental Pledge:

• One of the longstanding ways SCS is funded is through the Covenental Pledge. This is a financial pledge from our two supporting churches (Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 1st Christian Reformed Church) with a mission to provide affordable tuition for ALL students. Support is also requested and provided by many of the other churches represented at SCS. 

NICSTO:

• Northwest Iowa Christian Schools Tuition Organization - Receive voluntary cash contributions from Iowa taxpayers and allocate those funds in tuition grants to Iowa school children, who in turn, use those grants to attend one of the schools represented by an STO.

• NICSTO applications become available in January of each year and will be sent to each family. The first payout is normally in February. You can also find the form under the Inquiries & Admissions tab, then Tuition & Tuition Assistance.

• NICSTO application & Guidelines

Free/Reduced Hot Lunch:

• The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services offers free and reduced price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program.

• Free/Reduced Lunch Application

529 Plan:

• 529 plan is a type of tax-free investment account you can use to save for college expenses and starting January 1, 2018, for K-12 tuition.

• 529 information

• Enroll in 529 Plan

Scrip:

• It is a tuition reduction program available to you at SCS. It benefits you and the school. It’s a matter of making your everyday spending help pay your tuition.  Many local businesses participate and with over 300 of the country’s biggest brands (see full national GL SCRIP list at www.shopwithscrip.com), including grocery and department stores, gas stations, restaurants, hotels and home improvement, the Scrip program has something to appeal to every family. 
• Scrip Information and Enrollment