Frequently Asked Questions: Admission and Affordability

The priority application deadline for the upcoming school year is February 1st.   We encourage you to submit the application fee and demographic section of the application by February 1st, but understand that other pieces of the application (recommendations, testing, etc.) may be completed after the deadline.   We will continue to review applications after February 1st until grade level enrollment reaches capacity.   Please contact admissions@theoakridgeschool.org to learn more about current openings.

The Oakridge Admission committee will do a holistic review of each student's admission file prior to making an enrollment offer.  Several items are included in this review:

• Application
• Previous school transcript(s) or report card(s)
• Completed recommendation form(s)
• Admission placement testing
• School-day classroom visit (when applicable)
• Interview

Finding the right fit, at the right time, for your child is very important to us. 

• Our preschool curriculum is designed for 3-year-olds.
• We use the birthday cutoff date of September 1.

More than likely, the answer is yes. Depending on the date and type of placement testing, this requirement may be waived. Usually, students need to re-test so we can have updated testing information, along with updated grades.

Admission testing is meant to assess the current academic level of your child, so no extra studying is needed for the exam.   We will have all needed testing materials and snacks/water as needed during testing.   The purpose of admission testing is to determine how we can best place the student in our academic program.

Our students come from public and private schools and over 80 zip codes in the Dallas/Arlington/Fort Worth area. Each year, students relocate from out of state and abroad. 

The Oakridge community also includes international students and in cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security, issues I-20 student visas when applicable.

Each year roughly over 140 new students (and their families!) join the Oakridge community. 

We understand that the cost of attending an independent school requires making a significant investment in your child’s education and future. Recognizing that every situation is unique, we are committed to working with each family to find ways to make an Oakridge education a reality. The Oakridge School's Tuition Assistance Committee seeks to assist qualified students whose families could not otherwise afford a private school education.  All students seeking financial support must complete a Clarity application annually. 

For the 2026-2027 school year, Oakridge families may also pursue funding through the Texas Educational Freedom Account (TEFA) program.  Visit https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/#ForFamilies for more information.  Applications open in early February.

Tuition assistance is a grant, not a loan, given to qualifying families based on financial need to offset the costs of an Oakridge education. The grant does not have to be repaid. Families who have students entering first through twelfth grade are eligible to apply for need-based assistance.  Oakridge does not award scholarships tied to academic or athletic accomplishments. 

Financial grants are applied to the basic tuition and fees. Costs not included in tuition and fees include uniforms, lunches, fees for optional clubs/activities, and textbooks for grades 5-12.  Please contact the admission office to learn more about the overall cost of attendance.

The reviews for admission and tuition assistance are independent of each other.  The admission decision is based on your child’s academic and overall fit for The Oakridge School.  Families who have completed their Clarity application will be notified of their tuition assistance award at the time of enrollment.

Yes! Each year, Oakridge makes grants of various amounts. We recognize that every family situation is different and that even a small amount of assistance can make a critical difference for many families.

Oakridge offers need-based tuition assistance but we do not award merit or athletic scholarships. 

To apply for tuition assistance, visit Clarity to complete the application.  Oakridge uses the calculations provided by Clarity, a third-party organization, as a starting point in determining the demonstrated need of a family. Other factors taken into consideration include the information provided in the Self-Report of Monthly Income, tax forms, the number of children in tuition-bearing schools, as well as extenuating circumstances.   In most cases, the review of tax returns will include the prior year filings.

Returning families will be need to re-apply for tuition assistance by December 1st for priority consideration for the next school year.

Families filing for tuition assistance must re-submit their applications each year. Financial aid may be filed by new and returning families annually.  A complete tuition assistance application consists of the full tax return, 1099’s or W2’s, and the parents’ financial statement submitted via Clarity.

For the 2026-2027 school year, Oakridge is participating as an authorized vendor for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program. TEFA is a state-funded initiative that empowers families to customize their children’s education. It allows eligible Texas families to receive government funds—deposited into a secure online account—to pay for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition and fees. For more information visit https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/#ForFamilies.

Eligibility is determined by the State of Texas, not by The Oakridge School. Under current guidelines, a child is generally eligible if they:

• Are a resident of Texas.
• Are eligible to attend a Texas public school (K-12).
• Meet specific income or prior-public-school-enrollment requirements set by the state legislature. 

Note: While many families may qualify, funding is subject to state caps and is often prioritized by income tiers or special needs status. Detailed information about the TEFA program, application, and deadlines can be found here, in addition to the TEFA Parent Application Checklist.

Yes. We view TEFA as the "first dollar" in tuition assistance.

• Step 1: You apply for and secure your TEFA funding from the state.
• Step 2: If the TEFA amount does not cover the full tuition responsibility and your family demonstrates additional need, you may apply for Oakridge’s supplemental tuition assistance.

Example: If tuition is $28,000 and you receive $10,400 from TEFA, you are responsible for the remaining $17,600. You can apply for Oakridge tuition assistance through the Clarity application to help bridge that remaining gap, should you qualify.

Applications are managed through a third-party portal, not through the school.

• The application for the 2026-2027 school year opens on February 4, 2026 and closes on March 17, 2026.
• Families must re-verify their eligibility annually.
• Once approved, you will "direct" the funds to The Oakridge School via the online portal, and the state will disburse payments directly to the school on a quarterly basis.

For more information on the application process, visit the TEFA website.