Admission and Affordability

Affording Crossroads

At Crossroads, our values center on equity and justice, sustaining a diverse student body, and providing access to a transformative educational experience at an affordable cost.
Crossroads provides an environment where curiosity is cultivated, dismantling systems of oppression is encouraged, and civic engagement is expected. We strive to be a community of intention, embracing collective responsibility for solving collective problems. By making our school affordable, we ensure that Crossroads is accessible to students who will use their education to create a more just and equitable society.

Our Affordability Program—formerly known as Financial Aid—is a partnership between families and Crossroads to remove financial barriers and determine the right cost for families from a multitude of backgrounds and circumstances.

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  • Average Grant = 73% of Tuition

  • 25% of Our Families Participate in Our Affordability Program

Affording Crossroads

Misconceptions About Affordability

  • All local private/independent schools will offer the same grant amounts.

    Schools have different tuition costs, budgets and policies when offering grants.

  • There are too many hidden costs outside the cost of tuition.

    Crossroads works diligently to bundle most expenses into the cost of tuition: You can find a detailed breakdown here. Our Affordability Program also has an Inclusion Aid program that helps cover the cost of textbooks, laptops, school transportation, and after-school care.

  • We cannot afford to pay for 13 years of education.

    The average family who receives Affordability Grants starting in kindergarten would receive around $320,000 during their child’s Crossroads journey. As long as there are no increases in your income, you can expect to receive a similar grant every year that you apply.

  • We feel like we make too much money to qualify.

    This is a big misconception! Most families are surprised by the amount they qualify for. Crossroads works with each family to understand their unique financial situation and make a Crossroads education possible for accepted students.

  • We will have to pay the School back.

    Our Affordability Grant is not a loan, but rather a discount off the cost of tuition that does not need to be paid back.
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Affording Crossroads

How to Explore the Affordability Program

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  • Family Conversations

    We encourage you to begin this process by discussing how your family values education and how this aligns with your educational goals for your child.

  • Establishing Your Priorities

    Once you understand Crossroads’ Affordability policies and process, we encourage you to create budget scenarios at different levels and discuss any lifestyle adjustments you might need to make to afford Crossroads.

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  • Exploring Affordability

    Attend one of our online Affordability Info Sessions and Affordability Coffees. See the Upcoming Events section below for details. Also, please read our Crossroads Affordability Family Guide.

  • Gathering Documents & Completing the Application

    You will need to gather all supporting documentation (English / Spanish), complete the Parent Financial Statement and upload your documentation to your portal.

Affording Crossroads

What Families Pay

Affording Crossroads

Upcoming Events About Affordability
Crossroads offers various types of sessions to help you navigate affording Crossroads. Our sessions are designed to take the “mystery” out of the process. Our goal is to be transparent and to educate our families so that they can make an informed decision while researching this educational opportunity.

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  • Virtual Financial Aid and Affordability Coffee

    Join our Director of Affordability for a quick 45-minute webinar, with a Q&A. The goal of the event is to provide you with information regarding our Affordability mission, purpose and philosophy; the Affordability process and deadlines; independent school affordability; and the value of an independent school education. Multiple dates available.
    Register here

  • Café de Ayuda Financiera/Asequibilidad

    Presentado en español. Únase a nosotros para tener la oportunidad de aprender más sobre la ayuda financiera en Crossroads y el compromiso de la escuela para desarrollar y mantener una diversidad socioeconómica significativa en nuestra comunidad. Es un seminario web rápido de 45 minutos con preguntas y respuestas. El objetivo del programa es brindarle información sobre lo siguiente: la misión de asequibilidad, el propósito, la filosofía y por qué. Proceso de asequibilidad y plazos. Asequibilidad escolar, valor y por qué escuelas independientes.
    registrarse aquí

  • Financial Planning for an Independent School Education

    Please join our Director of Affordability as we discuss Independent School affordability and the cost of attendance. We will look at schools’ financial aid programs and break down school costs. We will also discuss tuition inflation, give participants an understanding of where their tuition dollars go and the value of an independent school education.
    REGISTER HERE

  • Financial Aid/Affordability Information Night

    Learn more about Affordability at Crossroads and the School’s commitment to developing and sustaining significant socio-economic diversity in our community. We will also present key elements of the application process, deadlines and policies, as well as outline the steps to successfully complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online via the School & Student Services (SSS) Family Portal.
    REGISTER HERE

  • Noche de Informativa Sobre Ayuda Financiera

    Presentado en español. Únase a nosotros para tener la oportunidad de aprender más sobre la ayuda financiera en Crossroads y el compromiso de la escuela para desarrollar y mantener una diversidad socioeconómica significativa en nuestra comunidad. Este programa brinda un ambiente abierto y cómodo para que los padres o tutores aprendan más sobre la ayuda financiera y los guiará a través del proceso de solicitud de ayuda financiera, los plazos y las políticas. También describiremos los pasos para completar con éxito la Declaración financiera de los padres (PFS) en línea a través del Portal familiar de Servicios escolares y estudiantiles (SSS).
    registrarse aquí
We ask for registrations in advance, but gladly welcome walk-ins. This register link will bring you to our online application portal, Ravenna HUB, where you will be able to register for Admission events and access our application.

Affordability Program

FAQs

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  • Do I have to reapply each year for the Affordability Program?

    Yes. Each student’s need is recalculated annually. Therefore, parents/guardians are required to complete the application and upload the required documentation each year. 

  • Does Crossroads help with costs outside of tuition?

    Our Inclusion Aid program helps cover the cost of books, laptops, transportation, after-school programs, and other school-related expenses.

  • How does the School make a determination of a grant?

    The School considers many factors when evaluating an application. The data provided through the School and Student Services application drives a methodology to compute a family’s ability to pay for educational expenses for all children. The SSS computation takes into account family size, cost of living, income and assets. Crossroads combines SSS information with our School policies, along with family conversations, to make assessments of a family’s ability to pay. All of our decisions are done through a committee. 

  • Is the Affordability Program a loan?

    Our Affordability Program is not a loan, it is a reduction of the educational cost.

  • What are the terms of the Affordability Program?

    Every application will be reviewed on an individual basis and families reapply each year. Our School policies on affordability are meant to guide the Affordability Committee to issue fair and consistent grants.

  • What does “total family philosophy” mean?

    Crossroads expects to have a cooperative and communicative relationship with all parents or guardians of each of our students and requires the active participation of a student’s entire family in funding this educational opportunity.

    The School recognizes, in rare cases, there may be an unusual circumstance that makes it difficult to obtain certain information. In this case, Crossroads will ask the applying parent to provide information and the School will make every effort to make contact with both biological and/or custodial parents and all responsible family members.

  • What is the average Affordability Grant?

    Our Average Affordability Grant award is around $31,000, around 75% of the cost of tuition.

  • What is the average income of families applying for the Affordability Program?

    Our average family income is $165,000.

Admission and Affordability

Contact Us

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  • Steven Casey

    DIRECTOR OF AFFORDABILITY
    310-582-4451
    Email Us

Elementary School

Norton Campus
1715 Olympic Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: 310-828-1196

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21st Street Campus
1714 21st Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: 310-829-7391

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