Admissions

Financial Aid

Headwaters School believes that socioeconomic diversity enriches the educational experience of all students and we are committed to offering a robust need-based financial aid assistance program.
We encourage all families to apply to Headwaters, regardless of financial circumstances. Every family is expected to contribute financially to their child’s education as they are able and need based grants are available to help bridge the gap between a family’s ability to afford tuition and the full cost of a Headwaters education. Limited assistance is also available for extracurricular activities and supplies. Please know that while we attempt to meet the needs of every family that applies, in reality our resources are finite and we are not able to make awards for all candidates. 

Each family is expected to apply for financial aid through an independent third-party system each year to ensure integrity in the process. Headwaters uses Smart Aid to verify each family’s financial information. You can access the application at this link. Each family is responsible for the annual $35 application fee.

For prospective families:

Please complete a Campus Tour and an Application for Admission prior to submitting your Financial Aid application. If we are able to make an enrollment offer for your child(ren), we will send your Financial Aid award information along with the enrollment offer.

Financial Aid Application Now Open for 23-24 School Year

The financial aid application is now open for 2023-2024. Start your application by clicking here. A detailed account of how to apply for aid can be found here.

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  • Information to Successfully Complete Your Application

    Here is a video that will give you an overview of how to create an account within the Smart Aid system. Please note that this login is different from the one that you will use to submit your admission application to Headwaters. 

    You will need the following information to successfully complete your application: 
    • Headwaters School ID: #14236
    • Grade your child is applying to or entering in the next school year cycle (please note, the system uses PS for our YCC and PK for our Primary program).
    • Financial documentation: 
      • Most recent pay stub
      • Most recent W-2s and 1099s for all jobs
      • Most recent federal tax returns
      • Most recently filed business tax returns, as applicable
      • Other supplemental income information, as applicable: unemployment, veterans’ benefits, welfare, food stamps, child support, workers compensation, housing allowance, etc. 
      • If you are not able to provide any of the documents above, please submit a special circumstances letter with your application detailing which items you are not able to provide and why
      • If you have a monthly family budget or bank statements, those will also be helpful in completing the application, but are not required to be uploaded to the system. 
  • Am I Eligible for Financial Aid at Headwaters School?

    We wanted to share this chart to help families know in advance if they are likely candidates for financial aid at Headwaters School. 

    In the chart, you will see income levels and average tuition paid by families.
    Read More
  • Overview of Application Process

    Creating Your Account
    Please visit this link and create your account by entering your primary email address as your username. Smart Aid will use this email address to contact you in the event that your application is “on hold” for missing documentation. Once you create your username and password, you will receive a verification email. Once you click the verification link to verify that you are the account holder, you will be able to log in using the username and password you created. Please be advised that if you do not click the verification link that is sent to your email address, you will not be able to log in or reset your password.

    Submitting Documentation
    Documentation should be submitted at the time the application is completed. Application IDs must be included on all documents. Failure to include your ID will delay processing of your application. Please be advised that each document must be uploaded separately under the appropriate document type in order for your application to automatically move into the review status.
    Application Rollover
    If you created a Smart Aid account to apply for financial aid in a prior year, your application will roll over into the next school year. Your username and password will remain the same, as well as your application ID number (with the exception of the first two digits as that indicate the school year). The Parent/Guardian and Dependents section of the application will be auto-filled for you, you will simply need to confirm the information before advancing to the next sections of the application. If any information from the Parent/Guardian and Dependent section should be updated, please make the necessary changes.

    Smart Aid Contact Information
    Phone Support: (800)-360-8027
    Email Support: support@smartaidforparents.com

    Notification of Financial Aid
    Once your application is processed, a financial aid recommendation will be forwarded to Headwaters School. All final financial aid decisions, including notification of an award amount (if any) will be made by Headwaters School. Decisions for returning families will be released prior to the  re-enrollment period, usually in mid-January. Decisions for new families will be released on a rolling basis after that, as funds and budget allow.
  • Detailed Information about the Application Process

    Section 1 – Household Information
    Parent/Guardian: Enter the parent or guardian’s contact information. Dependent: Enter all dependents that live in the household. For dependents in college, select the “attending another private school” status option.

    Section 2 – Selecting A School
    Enter Headwaters School’s five-digit code (14236) or name in the search box. Make your selection by checking the select check box. Once a school or multiple schools are selected, you will then need to select the student(s) you wish to apply for aid at the appropriate school(s). After the school(s) have been selected, you will then need to select the upcoming grade for the student, student code (if applicable), and expected tuition (if applicable) for the upcoming year. Clicking “next” after each section will allow you to move on to each subsequent section.

    Section 3 – Income & Expenses
    Enter any income the household receives; employment, business or supplemental. If the work status is selected as ‘employed’, ‘self-employed’, ‘unemployed, receiving benefits’, or ‘disabled, receiving benefits,’ you will be required to enter this income source in the appropriate section before moving through the application. Please enter all expenses as they pertain to your household.

    Section 4 – Assets & Debts
    Enter all assets and debts as they pertain to your household.

    Section 5 – Special Circumstances
    Check off any special circumstance that pertains to your household. If no option available best describes your household’s circumstance, please check ‘other’ and describe your situation. This information is confidential and will only be available to designated School Administration and Smart Aid staff.

    Section 6 – Submit
    If your school uses family school codes, please make the appropriate selection. Agree to Smart Aid’s terms and conditions, then click SUBMIT to complete your online application.
  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Who should complete this aid application?
    A: Whomever the child resides with should complete this application whether it is a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or legal guardian. There is a section within the application where you can enter contributions from non-custodial parents and relatives.

    Q: Why do I need to input my spouse’s information if I am remarried and they are not legally responsible for my children?
    A: Smart Aid’s calculation works off of the total household income, therefore including all income, whether the party is legally responsible for your children or not. Our system, however, does take into effect your spouse’s expenses as well as their income. It is important to list all expenses that are asked for within the application.

    Q: I do not have the required tax documents. HELP!
    A: Include the most recent tax documentation you have available. If you are asked for a specific line from a tax document that you have not yet completed, please estimate the projected amount.

    Q: How will I know if I qualify for aid or not?
    A: Smart Aid does not disclose information about the results of your application. All final tuition aid decisions, including notification of an award amount (if any); will be made by Headwaters School. For returning families, this is typically in mid-January for the following academic year. For new families, awards are released on a rolling basis after the returning family re-enrollment period, usually starting in mid-February. 

    Q: What if I want to edit my application?
    A: Once an application has been submitted and paid for it can no longer be edited by a parent. However, if changes are necessary a written statement with the change (including the application ID), should be sent to support@smartaidforparents.com

Scholarships

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  • PACT Scholarship

    Headwaters School is excited to bring a new scholarship opportunity to a high school student of color from the Austin area. The ideal candidate is seeking admission for 9th grade, and identifies as Black or Latinx. The scholarship will be maintained for the full four years of high school, or for the remaining years of high school if a scholarship recipient does not begin their attendance in 9th grade, as long as the student remains in good academic and disciplinary standing. The student will also be expected to engage in extracurricular programs at Headwaters, through clubs, athletics, academic teams, or student leadership groups.
    Read More

Contact the Admissions Office

Phone: 512-623-5406   
Email: admissions@headwaters.org

Admissions Office Mailing Address:
807 Rio Grande St., Austin, Texas 78701

Spring Campus

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Creek Campus

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River Campus

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As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters School does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local law in its admissions, hiring, or board membership processes.