Admissions
Tuition & Access

Financial Aid

Headwaters School believes that socioeconomic diversity enriches the educational experience of all students and we are committed to offering a robust need-based financial aid assistance program.

Financial Aid Application Now Open for the 2025-2026 School Year

We encourage all families to apply to Headwaters, regardless of financial circumstances. Every family is expected to contribute financially to their child’s education as they are able and need based grants are available to help bridge the gap between a family’s ability to afford tuition and the full cost of a Headwaters education. Limited assistance is also available for extracurricular activities and supplies.

We offer the opportunity to apply for need-based Financial Aid to families in grades Kindergarten and up. Please know that while we attempt to meet the needs of every family that applies, in reality, our resources are finite and we are not able to make awards for all candidates. 

Each family is expected to apply each year for financial aid through an independent third-party system, Clarity, to ensure integrity in the process. Headwaters uses Clarity to verify each family’s financial information. You can access our application at this link. Each family is responsible for the annual application fee.

We ask all returning families seeking aid for the 2025-2026 school year to complete the application by January 3, 2025. 

For prospective families:

Please complete a Campus Tour and an Application for Admission prior to submitting your Financial Aid application. If we are able to make an enrollment offer for your child(ren), we will send your Financial Aid award information along with the enrollment offer.

Application Support

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  • Information to Successfully Complete Your Application

    Headwaters Financial Aid program is designed to make a Headwaters education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Headwaters is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

    To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also 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, there is a $60 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. Click here for step-by-step directions on how to complete the application.

    Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Headwaters requires you to upload additional tax documentation.

    The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is January 5, 2023.

    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.

  • Am I Eligible for Financial Aid at Headwaters School?

    We wanted to share this chart to help families know in advance if they are likely candidates for financial aid at Headwaters School. 

    In the chart, you will see income levels and average tuition paid by families.
    Read More

  • What is the deadline?

    Returning Families
    We ask all returning families seeking aid for the 2025-2026 school year to complete the application by January 3, 2025. This allows the financial aid committee to make decisions and notify families of their awards before re-enrollment contracts are sent. Please upload the most recent year’s supporting documents available; we understand that 2024 taxes will not be completed before the application deadline.

    Incoming Families
    This is a rolling deadline. Please complete a Campus Tour and an Application for Admission prior to submitting your Financial Aid application. If we are able to make an enrollment offer for your child(ren), we will send your Financial Aid award information along with the enrollment offer.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Who should complete this aid application?
    A: Whomever the child resides with should complete this application whether it is a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or legal guardian. There is a section within the application where you can enter contributions from non-custodial parents and relatives.

    Q: Why do I need to input my spouse’s information if I am remarried and they are not legally responsible for my children?
    A:Clarity’s calculation works off of the total household income, therefore including all income, whether the party is legally responsible for your children or not. Our system, however, does take into effect your spouse’s expenses as well as their income. It is important to list all expenses that are asked for within the application.

    Q: I do not have the required tax documents. HELP!
    A: Include the most recent tax documentation you have available. If you are asked for a specific line from a tax document that you have not yet completed, please estimate the projected amount.

    Q: How will I know if I qualify for aid or not?
    A: Clarity does not disclose information about the results of your application. All final tuition aid decisions, including notification of an award amount (if any); will be made by Headwaters School. For returning families, this is typically in mid-January for the following academic year. For new families, awards are released on a rolling basis after the returning family re-enrollment period, usually starting in mid-February. 

Scholarship Opportunities

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Contact the Admissions Office

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about our online inquiry or application forms!

Phone: 512-623-5406   
Email: admissions@headwaters.org

Admissions Office Mailing Address:
807 Rio Grande St., Austin, Texas 78701

Financial Aid Committee Chair

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  • Alexandra Penry

    Senior Director of Finance and Advancement, Financial Aid Committee Chair
    512-537-2026

Spring Campus

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Creek Campus

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River Campus

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As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters School does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local law in its admissions, financial aid, hiring, or board membership processes.