Affording SPCHS
St. Petersburg Catholic strives to inform prospective families about options for tuition assistance. Families may receive multiple awards to help reduce tuition, however, 100% tuition assistance is not available. Each family is expected to make payments for each student's education. Payment amounts will be dependent on award amounts.
Qualified incoming applicants can be awarded state assistance. Families are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
2024-2025 School Year
Catholic School Tuition Aid Grant (CSTAG) and SPCHS Tuition Grant Applications
All St. Petersburg Catholic High School families have the opportunity to apply for financial aid to help assist in covering the cost of attending SPCHS. All financial aid applications will be assessed for need, through FACTS. Applications are open for the 2024-2025 school year as of Nov. 1, 2023. Completed applications must be received no later than April 30, 2024, for consideration. The application is considered complete once FACTS Grant and Aid has received the application, fee, and all the necessary supporting documentation required for evaluation by FACTS. Financial Aid is assessed annually, so parents must apply each year. All families requesting financial assistance will be required to also submit an application to the Florida School Choice Scholarship program facilitated by Step Up for Students (SUFS). CSTAG and SPCHS grants can be combined with other scholarships.
**NEW for the 2024-2025 school year, there will be an early decision round. Early decision notifications will be made by March 15, 2024. To qualify for this early decision, applications would need to be submitted by February 1, 2024 in order for them to be reviewed by FACTS and an early decision to be made by March 15, 2024.
Applications received by the final deadline, April 30, 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year will receive award notifications by mid-May, 2024.
Please note, aid is limited. Applications received after April 30, 2024 will be considered LATE. After submitting a LATE application, an appeal for CSTAG will need to be sent directly to the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers (OCSC) at [email protected], and an appeal for an SPCHS tuition grant will need to be sent to [email protected]. Award amounts are subject to adjustment after all awards have been distributed.
New Pricing for the 2024-2025 FACTS Grant & Aid Application Fee (non-refundable) = $38.00
School Choice Expansion HB-1
Previously Known As Florida Tax Credit (FTC) and Florida Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Opportunities (FES EO)
On March 27, 2023, Governor DeSantis signed HB-1 into law which eliminates the income restrictions on the FES-EO and FTC Scholarships, thus making all children of Florida residents in grades K-12 eligible for a scholarship. This new law will go into effect on July 1, 2023, for the 2023-2024 school year. If you had a State Scholarship previously, this will be in place of that scholarship, not in addition to. You must set up an Education Market Assistant (EMA) account to begin or renew the application.
Florida Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES UA)
This scholarship is for families of students with disabilities. Families apply and annually renew for participation in FES UA through one of the approved Scholarship Funding Organizations, which are responsible for determining eligibility, awarding and distributing funding to eligible student accounts, and approving eligible expenditures.
You must set up an Education Market Assistant (EMA) account to begin or renew the application.
Click here to create your Education Market Assistant (EMA) Account: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/logins/
Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/legislative-updates/
23-24 Catholic Students Tuition Assistance Grant (CSTAG) - Closed for New Applicants
This grant is based on financial need and is available to all Catholic students who are registered or have submitted an enrollment application. Applicants must be registered and active members of a Diocesan Parish. To apply, fill out a FACTS Grant and Aid application and submit the required tax documents by APRIL 30th. Visit www.dosp.org/schools-office/financial-assistance for additional information.
FACTS applications received after the initial consideration deadline of April 30, 2023 for the 23-24 school year will be subject to a reduced rate, providing that CSTAG funding is still available. CSTAG appeals for registered parishioners within the Diocese of St. Petersburg must be made in writing to the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers at [email protected] no later than July 31, 2023. Appeals should explain why your appeal should be considered and why you believe your family is eligible to receive Diocesan Assistance. You may include any information that you believe will support your request or aid the Appeal Committee in their decision to approve your appeal. Each appeal received will be carefully reviewed and considered by the Appeal Committee before an approval or denial is made. Please note that not all appeals are approved.
The Mary C. Forbes Foundation Scholarship - Closed for New Applicants
This scholarship is based on financial need. It is available to Catholic students residing within the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Applicants must be registered and active members of a Diocesan Parish. Visit marycforbesfoundation.com in mid-January for information. Applications must be downloaded, completed, and uploaded with all required documents by April 30th. No jpegs will be accepted. Please see “Notice to Applicant” on their website for more information.
St. Petersburg Catholic High School Tuition Grant
All families have the opportunity to apply for financial aid to help cover the cost of attending St. Petersburg Catholic. To apply, fill out a FACTS Grant and Aid application and submit the required tax information by APRIL 30th. All applications will be evaluated by the St. Petersburg Catholic Tuition Assistance Board. Award recipients will be subject to a contract based on academics and conduct. Award amounts are subject to adjustment after all other awards have been distributed. Any family requesting financial aid from St. Petersburg Catholic High School will be required to first submit an application to the School Choice Expansion HB-1 (see above).
