Tuition & Affordability

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 for 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/caregivers (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

No. All tuition assistance awards are based on a family's demonstrated financial need.

Tuition does not include the cost of uniforms, after-school care, enrichment classes, etc. A student receiving tuition assistance from the School will receive discounted after-care an award of the same percentage toward the overall cost of our Middle School overnight field studies.  

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 2025 tax return by March 6, 2026. If your unfiled 2025 tax return is not available by these deadlines, The Alexander Dawson School may not be able to offer tuition assistance for the 2026-2027 school year. All awards are subject to change pending 2025 tax verification through the IRS transcript once returns are filed.

No. All tuition assistance funds distributed by The Alexander Dawson School are provided as grants and, thus, are not repaid.

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/caregivers (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

Families must submit a new tuition assistance application, tax return, and all pertinent schedules and forms each year. Families are responsible for annual tuition increases as dictated by The Alexander Dawson School’s Board of Trustees.

Yes. The Alexander Dawson School offers the G.B. Henderson Scholarship for prospective students applying for enrollment in grades 5-6. This award covers up to 75-90 percent of tuition. 

Learn more about the G.B. Henderson Scholarship.

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

Other Scholarships:

Folds of Honor Children's Fund

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 percent of Dawson's tuition for up to four years. 

The cost of Middle School trips is not covered by the Ozmun Scholarship. Families that qualify for tuition assistance will receive that percentage of assistance applied to the cost of any Middle School trip. Ozmun Scholarship winners will also receive up to $500 per 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 answering the question “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 Director of Admissions & Communications Nicole Ceccacci at nceccacci@adsrm.org.