Private School: An Investment in Your Child's Future

2024-2025 Tuition

Early Childhood $21,250
Kindergarten - Grade 8 $29,750

*Our bundled tuition approach includes before-care for all students, technology devices and programming, snacks and lunch, activities, experiential opportunities, books and other educational resources, and classroom supplies.

The School's Board of Trustees seeks to provide access to a Dawson education to students who, because of their academic achievements and personal qualities, are qualified and mission-appropriate for admission. Because many such children come from families that do not have the economic means to pay full tuition, and because the School values economic diversity within the student body, the Board of Trustees has established a tuition assistance program.

To be eligible for priority consideration, returning families must submit their initial tuition assistance applications by February 9, 2024, and upload supporting documentation by March 10, 2024.

Tuition Assistance Guidelines & FAQs

List of 6 items.

  • Dawson's Tuition Assistance Guidelines

    Need-based Tuition Assistance
    Tuition assistance awards are based upon a family’s need. 

    Separated, divorced, or never-married parents
    Dawson believes each natural parent has a responsibility to pay for the education of their child(ren). In the event a student’s parents are separated, divorced or never married, Dawson requires that each parent complete a financial aid application. The Tuition Assistance Committee does not feel bound by the assertion, if it is made, that one parent disclaims responsibility for educational expenses. Please note: Parents can be assured that all financial information received from one parent will not be shared with the other. 

    Additional children
    Dawson’s Tuition Assistance Committee, in coordination with FACTS, does take into account other children attending tuition-charging schools, including college; Dawson expects that a family with children attending other tuition-charging schools will also apply for financial assistance at those schools. The Tuition Assistance Committee believes that, in general, no consideration of financial assistance should be given to students whose parents pay full tuition for siblings at other institutions.

    Parents who have no contact with their child(ren)
    In instances where one parent is the sole provider and receives no other financial support, it is expected that a third party provide written documentation to that fact.

    Lifestyle choices
    Dawson’s tuition assistance program does take certain lifestyle choices into account before offering tuition assistance (i.e., second homes, boats, luxury cars, country club memberships, vacations, parental higher education, etc.). The Tuition Assistance Committee is unable to provide financial assistance to subsidize lifestyle choices. The Tuition Assistance Committee may contact you for more detailed information to ensure it has complete understanding of your family’s financial situation.

    Parents who do not work
    The Tuition Assistance Committee respects the value of having a parent at home full-time with infants, toddlers, and the elderly or infirmed. In a case where all other children are in school, it is expected that the non-working parent become employed to be considered for financial assistance. If not, the Tuition Assistance Committee will impute an appropriate salary in its considerations.

    Retirement and college accounts
    Our process acknowledges a family’s need to save for retirement and/or college within reason, but excessive assets may impact the Tuition Assistance Committee’s decision to award assistance.

    Additional information about applying for tuition assistance through FACTS can be found here:
  • Tuition Assistance Numbers

    • For the 2023-2024 school year, 15% of Dawson students received Tuition Assistance
    • 11% of all tuition dollars go toward Tuition Assistance and Discounts
    • For the 2024-2025 school year, Dawson has planned $1,827,000 for Tuition Assistance and Discounts
  • Tuition and Tuition Assistance FAQs

    How does The Alexander Dawson School determine tuition assistance awards?
    The Alexander Dawson School and its accrediting body, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), work within defined principles of good practice. From these principles, independent schools are given latitude as to what guidelines inform and determine tuition assistance decisions. Dawson has established specific tuition assistance guidelines that keep family contributions equitable and consistent. Evaluating need: Many aspects of a family's financial situation are considered, including:
    - the incomes of both parents (taxable and non-taxable)
    - the assets held by the family as a unit
    - the number of dependents
    - the number of children attending tuition-charging schools

    Does The Alexander Dawson School give academic, artistic, or athletic scholarships?
    No. All tuition assistance awards are based upon a family’s demonstrated financial need.

    What fees, after tuition, can I expect to pay?
    Tuition does not include the cost of uniforms, after-school care, enrichment classes, etc. A student receiving tuition assistance from the School will receive an award of the same percentage amount toward the overall cost of our Middle School traveling field trips.  

    What if my tax return is not available by the deadline?
    The Alexander Dawson School will use prior-year tax returns, like many colleges and other independent schools. To be eligible for the priority consideration window for returning families, you must upload your filed or unfiled 2023 tax return by March 10, 2024. If your unfiled 2023 tax return is not available by these deadlines, The Alexander Dawson School may not be able to offer tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year. All awards are subject to change pending 2023 tax verification through IRS transcript once returns are filed.

    Do I need to repay financial aid?
    No. All tuition assistance funds distributed by The Alexander Dawson School are provided as grants and thus, are not repaid.

    What is used to determine if I will qualify for tuition assistance? 
    The FACTS tuition assistance application provides the School with a calculation to determine how much a family can afford to pay in tuition. Many aspects of a family's financial situation are considered, including:
    - the incomes of both parents (taxable and non-taxable)
    - the assets held by the family as a unit
    - the number of dependents
    - the number of children attending tuition-charging schools

    Do I need to re-apply for tuition assistance every year? 
    Families must submit a new tuition assistance application, tax return, and all pertinent schedules and forms each year. It is expected that families are responsible for annual tuition increases as dictated by The Alexander Dawson School’s Board of Trustees.

    Is there a military discount? 
    Yes, a family with a parent who is active duty military or retired after career service is eligible for a 10% discount without regard to tuition assistance need.
  • Military Discount & Scholarships

    A family with a parent who is active duty military or retired after career service is eligible for a 10% discount without regard to tuition assistance need.

    Other Scholarships
  • Windsong Trust Grant

    Generously established by Windsong Trust in 2012 (for the 2012-2013 school year), the Medical Service Providers Tuition Assistance Fund provides 70 percent tuition funding for qualified children of employees of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. 
  • Ozmun Scholarship

    Dawson accepts applications for rising fifth or sixth-grade students for the Donald B. Ozmun Scholarship for Personal Excellence. 

    The Ozmun Scholarship is open only to children of employees of any Southern Nevada police, fire or EMT department or company. It covers 80% of Dawson tuition for up to four years. 

    The cost of Middle School trips is not covered by the Ozmun Scholarship. Families who qualify for tuition assistance will receive that percentage of assistance applied to the cost of any Middle School trip. Ozmun Scholarship winners will also get up to $500 a year to cover the cost of uniforms.

    We encourage driven, committed and mission-appropriate students to apply. Ozmun Scholarship Applicants must complete the regular admission process. In addition, they must compose a 300 to 500-word essay on the topic of “What does a lifetime of personal and academic excellence mean to me?”

    Applicants who are selected as semi-finalists will be interviewed by Dawson’s Ozmun Scholarship Committee.

    For questions regarding the Ozmun Scholarship, please contact Krista Jacobsen, Director of Admissions, at (702) 949-3600, or by email at kjacobsen@adsrm.org.

The Alexander Dawson School

The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.