We are committed to making our school accessible to anyone that can benefit from a NOVA education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Financial aid is awarded based on a family's demonstrated financial need, comparing a student’s educational expenses with their family’s ability to pay. In the 2023-2024 school year, we awarded more than $375,000 in financial assistance to approximately 40% of our student body.

If the cost of a NOVA education feels out of reach, we believe submitting a financial aid application is a worthwhile step in the admissions process. The financial aid application takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete and is securely submitted through the FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) portal. Scroll down for more information on financial aid as well as a link to the FAST application portal. We hope you will take the next step in investing in the future and fill out the application!

We make all admission and financial aid decisions independently.

What does Tuition Cover?

NOVA's inclusive tuition covers textbooks, all field trips, lab supplies, and other incidentals. The only items not covered by tuition are lunches, grade-level supply list items, and NOVA Spirit Gear.

We strive each year to keep tuition affordable for our families. The reality is there is a difference between our tuition and the actual cost of funding a NOVA education. To help bridge this gap, we ask our community to consider making a donation to our Annual Fund. Gifts can range from $10 to more than $5,000. We encourage families to give in an amount that is meaningful to them and commensurate with their comfort. A gift of any size has a significant impact as it sends the message that you support the faculty, staff, and programs of NOVA Middle School.

Payment Options

We offer three easy payment options to help make NOVA accessible: payment in full at the start of the school year; two payments, one at the start and one in the middle of the school year; or ten monthly payments. See below for Financial Aid information.

Financial Aid Determination

NOVA uses FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) to help determine the contribution a family can make towards educational expenses. The FAST application requires that families submit their most recent tax return, other financial information, and a letter detailing any extenuating circumstances to inform the NOVA Financial Aid Committee about the reasons behind the requested award.

FAST does not decide whether financial aid will be given or how much to give, rather FAST provides a need-based financial analysis service which includes a recommendation of what a family could reasonably contribute toward tuition. Results are then reviewed by the NOVA Financial Aid Committee, which makes the final award determination. All financial information supplied by families is held in strict confidence. NOVA follows the guidelines established by the National Association of Independent Schools Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration.

Our Financial Aid Policy, established by the Board of Trustees, and our financial aid application process are designed to ensure that each family is subject to the same guidelines and procedures and to allocate financial aid equitably. All admissions and financial aid decisions are made independently.

Annual Procedure

Families must apply for financial aid each year. The school’s financial aid procedures prioritize returning students. Families previously paying full tuition experiencing a change that prevents payment of the full tuition for the following year may apply for financial aid with the same priority as other returning families who have received financial aid in the past.

The Priority Financial Aid Deadline is February 28. After that date, financial aid will be awarded only if available. Financial Aid award notifications will be made by early April.