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2013-14 Tuition Announcement
Dear Parents:
To begin, we thank you for entrusting us with your children. This trust obligates Emery/Weiner to provide the finest educational experience, which includes a well-rounded program of arts, athletics, extra-curricular opportunities and experiential learning -- all in a dynamic, pluralistic, Jewish environment.
Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our faculty, administration and staff -- along with the never-ending volunteer efforts of parents and the unwavering financial support of our stakeholders and community -- we are executing our mission very successfully. Still, we're always looking to get better. Which is why we're looking forward to the construction of Helfman Field, among other capital improvements; and which is why we're in the process of re-vamping how we teach study skills in Middle School, and evaluating ways to offer test prep courses on campus in the Upper School. We're also continuing to add technology courses & infrastructure and expand programming in the Arts so that our kids can participate in events such as the ISAS Fine Arts Festival.
Some of these initiatives will add to our budget, but we have also identified areas where efficiencies can be achieved in order to save. Still, despite our best efforts, the overall cost of providing an Emery/Weiner education continues to rise as we seek to remain competitive with faculty salaries and benefits, and adjust to the real inflation that exists in many of our expense categories.
Therefore, following the thorough study and recommendation of our Budget Committee, the Board of Trustees has approved a 4% increase in tuition rates for 2012-13. While the School is the beneficiary of substantial support from its supplemental fundraising efforts, and is the recipient of generous support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, it is tuition that carries the lion's share, covering well over 75% of our operating expenses.
Incidentally, this tuition raise is consistent with (even lower than) that of many other, local, private peer schools -- including some which have significant endowments -- and includes food services and several out-of-town trips. More importantly, accompanying this increase is an enhanced commitment to help those in our community who need financial assistance so that all qualified students can attend Emery/Weiner, regardless of a family's means.
In closing, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your children. We believe our unique school environment does more than help students gain admittance to competitive colleges -- it prepares them for success with a developed sense of self and mature Jewish identity, which are traits they'll carry with them for the rest of their lives. We thank you again for your trust and support.
Sincerely, Brad Rauch Stuart J. Dow President, Board of Trustees Head of School You may access the new tuition tables and begin the re-enrollment process online today. |
