A preschool boy and girl working on a project

An Eternal Investment

At Desert Christian Schools, we believe a Christ-centered education is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your child’s future. While tuition represents that investment, there are opportunities available to help families offset the cost. Through programs such as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) and Tax Credit Scholarships (STO), families can take advantage of resources that make a Desert Christian education both accessible and affordable. We encourage you to explore the options below and attend one of our Financial Aid Workshops to learn how these programs can help make this important investment possible.

K-12 Tuition 2026-2027*

Grade Level	Cost
Elementary	Grades K-5: $11,600 6th Grade: $13,600
Junior High	$14,500
High School	$15,600

Preschool Tuition 2026-2027

3-4 Year Old Programs	Cost
5 Mornings/Week	$7,200
4 Mornings/Week	$6,300
3 Mornings/Week	$5,300

4-5 Year Old Programs	Cost
Bilingual 5 Full Days	$9,800
Bilingual 5 Half Days	$7,200

High School Fee Schedule	Cost
Application Fee	$150	New students only
Drama	$250	Per Production
Football	$400	Per year
All Other Sports	$250	Per sport
Robotics Club	$300	Per year

Junior High Fee Schedule	Cost
Application Fee	$150	New students only
Sports	$200	Per sport
Robotics Club	$300	Per year

Elementary Fee Schedule	Cost
Application Fee	$150	New students only
Sports Fee (6th Grade Only)	$200	Per sport

Preschool Fee Schedule	Cost
Application Fee	$150	New students only

Affording Desert Christian

In the state of Arizona, families are blessed to benefit from two tuition assistance programs, School Tuition Organizations (STOs for Tax Credit Scholarships) and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). Between these options, every DCS family should have the opportunity to cover between 40%-100% of their out-of-pocket tuition cost and reduce the potential barriers tuition may present.

Our team is committed to partnering with each family to help them identify the best tuition assistance solutions for their unique needs; however, it is ultimately the family’s responsibility to complete the application process by the deadlines set forth by the state organizations.

STOs and ESAs cannot be applied to preschool tuition. However, preschool families may “solicit” and bank recommended tax credit donations during the academic year prior to Kindergarten enrollment to be applied to Kindergarten and above.

DCS families who have diligently applied for either ESA or STO funding and still have a verified financial need, may be eligible to apply for additional in-house tuition assistance.

Additionally, DCS is proud to offer discounts to those who serve in full-time ministry, the military, public service, or have multiple children enrolled in the school.

Empowerment Scholarships (ESA)

Learn More About ESAs

Learn More About ESAs

Christian Education is Affordable!

Universal ESA Eligibility:

To receive ESA funding, you must do all three of the following:

Click here to apply. Confirm you are applying for the correct school year.
If applicable, resolve any application deficiencies within 30 days of the initial incomplete notice by ADE
Sign your contract within 30 days of receiving the link from ADE

For those applicants who meet the criteria specified above, ESA funding will be applied retroactively.

Funding & Next Steps: Once a signed ESA contract is received by the Department of Education, ESA staff will work with both the Treasurer’s Office and ClassWallet to open and fund the account, this process can take at least 3 weeks, however, due to the volume, it may take longer. Account holders will receive an email from ClassWallet when funds are available.

Other ESA Eligibility Categories: There is no retroactivity clause for any applicants other than Universal ESA applicants.

Link to frequently asked questions: Click Here!

Out-of-Pocket Estimate After ESA Benefit

Grade	After ESA Monthly Estimate (10 months)	After ESA Annual Estimate
Elementary	Grade K: $690 Grades 1-5: $440 6th Grade: $610	$6900 $4400 $6100
Junior High	Grades 7-8: $700	$7000
High School	Grades 9-12: $800	$8000

STO - Tax Credit Scholarships

Learn More About STOs

Learn More About STOs

Tax Credit Scholarships

Desert Christian Schools believes every family deserves the opportunity to send their child to the school of their choice. Tax Credit Scholarships will reduce the cost of tuition and can fully fund a child’s education.

Because DCS is a private school, we do not receive funding from the state. Our expenses are paid solely by tuition and fundraising. We do our very best to keep the cost of tuition low.

Since 1997 we in the State of Arizona have been blessed with the Tuition Tax Credit program. In 2015 Arizona’s Tax Credit Law was ranked Number One in the nation by the Center for Education Reform. Tax Credits give Christian parents true school choice, making Christian education affordable!

Historically, before Universal ESA, 75% of our students received some form of tax credit scholarship funding. 30% of those students were fully funded by tax credit scholarships! Are you taking advantage of this program? Are you redirecting your state taxes to this program?

Here are a few links to our most used School Tuition Organizations, to the Department of Revenue's entire list of STO's, and to information about the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program.

Original Individual - Financial Need Based or Recommended

Most common scholarship
Eligibility requirements:
- K - 12 student enrolled full-time at a private school
- Preschool student with a public school MET or IEP enrolled full-time at a private school
Families will:
- work to educate family members and friends about the scholarship
- encourage family and friends to allocate their AZ Private School Tax Credit on your child's behalf through the Recommended Funds Program
Caps:
- Income: None
- Maximum Scholarship Amount: None
- Solicitation: Up to twelve (12) years

Plus/Switcher/Overflow Scholarships - Financial Need Based or Recommended

Eligibility requirements:
- K - 12 student enrolled full-time at a private school
- Preschool student with a public school MET or IEP enrolled full-time at a private school
- And must meet one of the criteria listed below:
  - Entering kindergarten
  - Transferring from an Arizona public or charter school with at least one full semester of attendance in the prior school year
  - Dependent of active duty military stationed in Arizona on orders
  - Previous Low-Income Corporate, Displaced/Disabled or PLUS Awards recipient
Eligible families may apply for financial aid and solicit through the Recommended Funds Program
Caps:
- Income: None

Low-Income Corporate Scholarships

Eligibility requirements:

K - 12 student enrolled full-time at a private school
Preschool student with a public school MET or IEP enrolled full-time at a private school
Family income is equal to or below 185% of the federal free and reduced-price lunch program guidelines (Please see Caps below)
And must meet one of the criteria listed below:
- Entering kindergarten
- Transferring from an Arizona public or charter school with at least one full semester of attendance in the prior school year
- Dependent of active duty military stationed in Arizona on orders
- Previous Low-Income Corporate, Displaced/Disabled or PLUS Awards recipient

Caps:

Income:

Household Size	Family Income
1	$54,623
2	$74,063
3	$93,503
4	$112,943
5	$132,383
6	$151,823
7	$171,263
8	$190,703

Corporate Displaced/Disabled Scholarships

Eligibility requirements (Must meet one of the following criteria):
- Preschool student enrolled full-time in a qualified preschool program with an Arizona public school IEP or MET
  - The IEP or MET does not have to be current
- K-12 student enrolled full-time with an Arizona public school IEP, MET, or 504 plan
  - The IEP, MET, or 504 do not have to be current
- K-12 student enrolled full-time that has been placed in the Arizona foster care system at one time
  - Will be verified by the Arizona Department of Child Safety

Institute for Better Education (IBE) is one of several organizations you can designate your dollars to. To learn more about claiming your tax credit through IBE, click the button below.

Claim Your Tax Credit with
IBE

Out-of-Pocket Estimate After STO Benefit

Grade	After STO Monthly Estimate (10 Months)	After STO Annual Estimate
Elementary	Grade K: $0 - 1160 Grades 1-5: $0 - 1160 6th Grade: $0 - 1360	$0-11,600 $0-11,600 $0-13,600
Junior High	Grades 7-8: $0 - 1450	$0-14,500
High School	Grades 9-12: $0 - 1560	$0-15,600

In-House Tuition Assistance

In-House Tuition Assistance

In-House Financial Assistance

DCS families who have diligently applied for either ESA or STO funding and still have a verified financial need may be eligible to apply for additional in-house tuition assistance. Desert Christian Schools' Tuition Assistance Program is a needs-based program. DCS uses BeneFAQ, a third party financial analysis company to assist in evaluating your financial need. This means that the completion of the requirements outlined does not guarantee the awarding of financial aid.

Tuition Assistance is awarded on a first come, first serve basis. For re-enrolling families, the application deadline is May 1st for the following academic year. For new families, the application deadline is six weeks following the date of acceptance.

How to Apply For Financial Aid

Step One

(K-12 Only. Preschool Skip to Step Two)

DCS Families applying for financial aid must provide evidence that Arizona Tax Credit or Empowerment Scholarship Account opportunities have been maximized for children entering K-12.

Submit to the Head of Schools' Office copies of applications to at least three State Tuition Organizations, along with evidence of requesting Tax Credit donations by family members and friends (e.g. copies of letters). ESA applicants are to provide a copy of their application to the AZ Department of Education.

Step Two

Step Three

Submit the Tuition Assistance Program Checklist and all required material to the Business Office, to notify them you are applying for Tuition Assistance.

Within 3-5 days of completing the online application, BeneFAQ will provide the Head of Schools' Office a confidential FACT Report (Family Anticipated Contribution Total) from which the level of tuition aid will be determined.

Step Four

Click Here to Download Checklist

Important Additional DCS Financial Aid Requirements

Note: that all recipients of DCS Financial Aid must abide by the following requirements:

• Recipients must keep their school account current, including tuition, fees, and services; without accruing any late fee penalties.

• Students benefiting from DCS Financial Aid must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (i.e., a “C” grade or higher).

• Students benefiting from DCS Financial Aid must meet all expectations as outlined in the Student Conduct section of the DCS Family Handbook (DCS Family Handbook, Section “Student Conduct”, page 84).

Failure to comply with the above requirements may result in the forfeiture of tuition aid provided and the recipient family will be responsible for payment of the full tuition amount.

Discounts

Discounts

DCS Discounts

Multi-Child: Families that have two or more children enrolled may receive up to a $200/year award per child.

Ministry/Pastoral: Parents/Guardians whose sole occupation is full-time ministry (church or parachurch non-profit Christian organizations), and you can provide evidence that family income is from ministry, may receive up to a 50% award.

Military: Families who are active military and can provide evidence that family income is from military may receive up to a 10% award.

Public Service: Families employed by schools, fire departments, or law enforcement, and can provide evidence that family income is from public service may receive up to a 10% award.

Financial Aid Workshops Title

Desert Christian Schools and The Institute for Better Education will host Financial Aid Workshops throughout the year. These workshops will explain how to apply for, how to give, and how to raise funds for these scholarships. Feel free to bring family and friends. Everyone can benefit from this information!

Financial Aid Workshops
7525 E. Speedway Blvd.

2026-2027 Dates Coming Soon!

PLEASE NOTE: The Institute for Better Education (IBE) will be present at every workshop, along with Desert Christian School employees to answer questions.

An Eternal Investment

Affording Desert Christian

Empowerment Scholarships (ESA)

STO - Tax Credit Scholarships

Financial Aid Workshops 7525 E. Speedway Blvd.

2026-2027 Dates Coming Soon!

Financial Aid Workshops
7525 E. Speedway Blvd.