Tuition & Fees

The Value of a Baker Education

Our students are our greatest legacy. We are committed to partnering with families who believe that Baker’s mission and values will provide an education for a lifetime for their child. Our students and their families represent over 25 zipcodes in the Chicagoland area – all with a strong commitment to being part of an exemplary school community.
Tuition dollars go toward supporting the mission of Baker Demonstration School and to provide all of our students with the best education, PK-8 that will prepare them to thrive in high school and beyond.

This mission is built on our values

  • Treating children as whole people: We commit to providing for their complex social, emotional and intellectual needs.
  • Encouraging a lifelong love of learning: We commit to providing creative, student-led learning experiences.
  • Teaching adaptability: We commit to preparing children to advocate for themselves, work together, adapt and thrive in whatever path they choose.
  • Honoring diversity: We commit to welcoming into our community a diversity of perspectives, experiences and cultural identities.
The value of a Baker education

Our Commitment

  • Establish comparatively affordable and accessible education to families. Keep the cost of tuition in a realistic range, while retaining top talent among our faculty and staff.
  • Make tuition as comprehensive as possible and keep additional fees to a minimum.
  • Providing equitable and accessible tuition assistance for families who qualify.
  • Diligently seek funding to keep our scholarship funds robust.

 

Tuition Cost

Tuition and Fees for the 2024-25 academic year ranges from $9,100 for half-day preschool to $30,795 for eighth grade. View our comprehensive tuition structure below. 

Grade Level Tuition Arrival TimeDismissal Time
Pre-K 3-day (Half Day)$9,100 8:30AM12:30PM
Pre-K 3-day (Full Day)$12,100 8:30AM3:00PM
Pre-K 5-day (Half Day)$12,100 8:30AM12:30PM
Pre-K 5-day (Full Day)$16,955 8:30AM3:00PM
Kindergarten$19,950 8:30AM3:00PM
First Grade$23,100 8:30AM3:15PM
Second Grade$26,085 8:30AM3:15PM
Third-Fifth Grade$28,195 8:30AM3:15PM
Sixth-Eighth Grade$30,795 8:30AM3:15PM

*Early Care begins at 7:30 a.m. and After-school care continues until 6 p.m.

Included in Tuition

  • Early morning care from 7:30-8:30 a.m.
  • Yearbook
  • Athletics
  • Field trips and field experiences
  • Computers and Technology
  • Student Clubs
  • Band Instruments
  • General class supplies

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance awards are based on the parents’/guardians’ income, assets and resources. Our Tuition Assistance Committee reviews each family’s application thoroughly to determine possible tuition assistance. If you have any questions about how to afford Baker, please feel free to reach out to our Director of Finance & Operations, Arona Puttrich at aputtrich@bakerdemschool.org to schedule a phone call or meeting to discuss your questions.

All families are eligible to apply for Tuition Assistance through the FACTS tuition management system.  Tuition Assistance is need based.  Please visit the FACTS website to apply for assistance.  If you have an established account, there is no need to create an account, simply login to your online account.  If you do not have an account, click on the “Create an Account” button.

Baker’s code is 20716 and our full name is Baker Demonstration School.

Disclaimer: The tuition assistance scenarios listed below are not a promise of financial assistance. Individual financial assistance applications are reviewed and calculated by a committee and tuition assistance decisions are based on many factors. Baker Demonstration School utilizes a methodology that considers, but is not limited to, the following factors: family size, bank accounts and investments, home equity and other assets, certain kinds of debt and unusual expenses, medical expenses, tuition paid for siblings at Baker and other schools (including 4-year colleges and universities), and unique family circumstances on a case-by-case basis. The total amount allocated to our tuition assistance program is subject to budget constraints that vary each school year.

Family 1: Low Income

An applicant for 6th grade lives with her single parent. The family income is $39,000. The family does not own a home and currently has no savings.

Tuition: $25,170
Likely Tuition Assistance Amount: $23,320

Expected family contribution: $1,850

Family 2: Middle Income

An applicant for Kindergarten lives with his 2 year old sibling and parents. Both parents work full-time. The family income is $64,000. The family has $18,000 in savings and does not own a home.

Tuition: $20,870
Likely Tuition Assistance Amount: $15,750

Expected family contribution: $5,120

Family 3: High Income, Low Financial Net Worth

An applicant for Kindergarten lives with her parents and preschool age sister who attend preschool. Both parents are employed, but one parent works part-time to be home on the days the PK student is not in school. The preschooler attends PK three days a week. Their annual income is $201,000. While they have investments and savings of $35,000 they also have student loan debt of $65,000. They own their home and have no other assets.

Tuitions: $31,275
Likely Tuition Assistance Amount: $7,395

Expected family contribution: $23,880

Family 4: High Income, Medium Financial Net Worth

A family of four with a 5th grade child and high school student has a combined income of $190,000. The high school child attends a tuition-charging high school. The family owns their home and has been able to invest more than $450,000 into their retirement savings.

Tuition: $23,060
Likely Tuition Assistance Amount: $8,395

Expected family contribution: $14,665

Family 5: High Income, High Financial Net Worth

Applicants for 4th and 6th grade live with their parents and two other siblings – one toddler and one in a tuition charging high school. The family income is $310,000. The family owns a home and has assets including savings and investments totaling to $575,000. This family also has student loans.

Student applicant 4th Grade
Tuition: $23,060
Student applicant 6th Grade
Tuition: $25,170

Likely Tuition Assistance Amount: $13,885

Expected family contribution: $34,345

Apply for Tuition Assistance

Tuition Application for new families

This is a two-step process:

  1. Complete and submit the online admission application. 
  2. After submitting the admission application, submit your application for need-based assistance through FACTS. The link for FACTS online application is: online.factsmgt.com/aid. Click on the “Create an Account” button – Baker’s code is 20716 and our full name is Baker Demonstration School – and set up your online account. (You can use one application for multiple children.)

Baker reviews and determines the tuition assistance award for qualifying families after a child’s admission file has been completed and submitted. Applications filed on or before December 16th will be prioritized. All information submitted is confidential.

Tuition Assistance FAQs

Q. May I submit my tuition assistance application first (before applying for admission) to find out if I qualify for tuition assistance?
A. We ask all families seeking tuition assistance to complete and submit the admission application and required application materials to Baker first. Once you have established an applicant file, you may apply for tuition assistance. However, if you would like to have a brief meeting or phone call with our Director of Finance and Operations, Arona Puttrich, to discuss your family’s financial situation, please email her at aputtrich@bakerdemschool.org to arrange a time.

Q. What does a tuition assistance grant cover?
A. Grants may be applied towards a comprehensive tuition plan which includes: early morning care from 7:30-8:30 a.m, yearbook, athletics, field trips and field experiences, computers and technology, student clubs, PE clothing, and band instruments. Grants do not cover: extended care enrichment after school activities, or the hot lunch program.

Q. When will we find out if we qualify for a tuition assistance grant?
A. If you apply for admission and tuition assistance by the December 16th priority deadline, you will receive notification of the decision by January 31. If you qualify but apply after December 16th, grants will be determined based on the availability of funds.

Q. When will we know tuition rates for the upcoming school year?
A. Tuition for the upcoming school year will be communicated to new and current families in November of the preceding academic year.

Q. How can I find out if my current income and financial situation would qualify my family for tuition assistance?
A. Tuition assistance grants are based on income, assets and resources. Since each family’s situation is unique, the Committee gives careful attention to each family’s application individually. Refer to the decision examples above for a general idea of qualification levels for tuition assistance. Our Director of Finance and Operations, Arona Puttrich is happy to schedule a phone call or meeting time to discuss your situation in advance of applying if that would help your process. Email her to arrange a time: aputtrich@bakerdemschool.org.

Q. Are there other options for tuition assistance outside of Baker?
A. The organizations listed below may provide options for tuition assistance. Please note that these organizations and services operate independently of Baker Demonstration School:

Q. If we have additional questions about the tuition assistance application, who should we contact?
A. For additional questions or more information about tuition or tuition assistance, please contact
Arona Puttrich, Director of Finance and Operations by email: aputtrich@bakerdemschool.org.

Tax Credit Scholarship

You will need to apply for an Illinois tax credit scholarship through a scholarship granting organization (SGO). Baker has chosen Empower Illinois as our preferred SGO. We recommend applying early. Visit their website to find out when the application process opens (typically late February/early March).

  1. Determine whether you’re likely to qualify. Eligibility to receive a scholarship is based on your family’s household income. Find out more at the Empower Illinois website. 
  2. Gather what you need to apply. The SGOs should be publishing a list of all of the necessary documents families will need. Families typically will need the following documents:
    • Most recent tax return
    • Proof of residency (i.e. driver’s license or state ID)
    • Birth certificate or passport for student
  3. Apply to Empower Illinois online. Scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis as determined by Empower Illinois. 
  4. Apply through additional SGOs as well. School families are free to apply for scholarships through multiple SGOs, and given how funds will be distributed, it is beneficial to do so.

Tuition Discounts

We are also pleased to offer discounts to:

Northwestern University Faculty & Staff

Chicago Area University Faculty & Staff

University employees: Our Business Office works with the HR Department at your employer to confirm your employment.

Active Duty Military Personnel

Please complete this form to request additional information about tuition discounts.

 

Questions? Contact Admissions

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to start a conversation about enrolling your child at Baker!

Phone: (847) 425-5800

Email: admissions@bakerdemschool.org