Affording Pardes
The 2023-2024 tuition is $19,450 per student.
- Payment plans (annually, semi-annually, quarterly and monthly) are available.
- Synagogue members receive a $440 family discount off their Pardes tuition.
- A $500 sibling discount is given for each additional child enrolled at Pardes.
- Tuition for the following school year is set by the Board of Directors and announced each January.
Financial Assistance at Pardes Jewish Day School
The state of Arizona allows families to use tax credit opportunities to offset the cost of a private school education. By doing so, families can choose the best educational setting for their child, including the opportunity to educate their child at a Jewish day school. The program allows Arizona tax payers to contribute a portion of their Arizona tax liability to a School Tuition Organization (STO) and take dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their state income tax return. The Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) is Pardes’ STO.
Families are encouraged to apply to the JTO for scholarships for their children whether they are new to Pardes or continuing their education at our school.
The State of Arizona also offers the opportunity to receive an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) to help pay private school tuition. An ESA account is administered by the Arizona Department of Education and funded by state tax dollars. Funding that would have otherwise been allocated to the qualified student’s school district or charter school can be redirected to a private school. Beginning July 1st, 2023 the state determined that funds sourced from a STO or ESA can not be used in the same year by the same student. Students can only switch funding sources at the beginning of the school year rather than quarter by quarter
Needs-Based Financial Assistance FAQs
How do I apply for financial assistance through the Jewish Tuition Organization?
- The Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) uses Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) to process the needs-based financial assistance applications.
- The TADS form can be found here. You will click on Financial Aid assessment and set up an account. Please make sure to select the option to submit the application to both the JTO and Pardes.
What are the eligibility requirements to apply for needs-based financial assistance?
To be eligible to receive a need-based financial assistance award, a Pardes family must:
○ Complete and timely submit a financial assistance application through TADS; and
○ Agree to personally and directly pay at least ten percent (10%) of the total annual tuition due for each child attending Pardes (the “Minimum Payment”).
When does the TADS application need to be submitted?
Families can begin to submit the TADS application in January but need to be completed by the end of April to ensure consideration, as financial resources are limited. Adjustments to this deadline may be made for those families admitted to Pardes on or after May 1.
Do I need to support the JTO if I am applying for needs-based financial assistance?
Yes, anyone applying for needs-based financial assistance must support the JTO unless they do not have an Arizona state tax liability.
Student-Recommended Tax Credit FAQs
What are student-recommended funds?
Arizona taxpayers can make a contribution to designated students through JTO, which provides scholarships to students enrolled in private schools. Families can solicit family and friends to make a tax contribution before they file their taxes. Please ask someone who doesn’t already take the credit for the JTO to recommend their tax credit to your child through the JTO.
Can I recommend my tax credit to my child?
No, a parent or guardian cannot provide recommended support for their own child or dependent (this does not include foster situations). It is also strictly prohibited to swap recommended support. For example, you cannot recommend your friend’s child and your same friend recommends your child.
Will the TADS process take into consideration the money that has been recommended to my child?
Any funds received by Pardes from the JTO as a result of such student-recommended tax credit contributions will be applied against that student’s tuition before any need-based financial assistance awards are applied. In the event that Pardes receives funds allocated by the JTO to a particular student that exceed the amount of tuition due for that student or that are not otherwise used to pay that student’s current school year’s tuition, those funds can be carried forward and applied against that the following year’s tuition for that student, if approved by the JTO.
If I am applying for needs-based financial assistance, do I need to get student-recommended funds as well?
Pardes families who apply for a need-based financial assistance award are strongly encouraged to obtain at least one student-recommended contribution from a third party, in the maximum tax credit amount to the JTO, with the child who is attending Pardes being recommended as the recipient of those funds when those funds are distributed by the JTO to Pardes.
How do we find out we have received donor-recommended tax credit dollars?
If you have not applied for financial assistance via the TADS form, Pardes/JTO will reach out to you to let you know you have been recommended to receive tax credits. You will then need to fill out the JTO’s application which is linked here.
Will the JTO tell me who has recommended funds for my child?
No, they will not. We recommend that those people who recommend funds to your child keep copies of their receipt and send them to you. This will enable you to keep records to make sure the numbers line up once you receive your financial assistance package.
Do I have to take the tax credit in order to receive donor-recommended tax credit monies?
All Pardes families are strongly encouraged to make an annual contribution of funds to the JTO in the maximum tax credit amount that may be taken for that tax year, and to recommend Pardes as the recipient of those funds.
*Please note deadline to take the credit for Pardes is April 18, 2023
“We never thought a private Jewish day school education was even an option, until Pardes showed us how to make it a reality. As current parents, we are amazed by the Pardes commitment and dedication to students. The teachers have challenged our daughter in the greatest of ways, ways that she is completely unaware of. Without a doubt, we made the right choice for our daughter, our family, and our peace of mind.”
– Sarah and Joshua Katz
Click here for the 2023-2024 Student Tuition Organization Policy
If you have questions regarding affordability, please contact Brenda Leon, Financial Assistance Coordinator, at bleon@pardesschool.org.
NOTICE: A school tuition organization cannot award, restrict or reserve scholarships solely on the basis of donor recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent. Consult your tax advisor for specific tax advice.