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Valuing an
MCDS Education

The life-long benefits of a strong work ethic, self-confidence, creative thinking, and a love of learning are difficult to quantify.

We work individually and confidentially to offer various payment plans, tuition assistance, and/or merit scholarships to bring an MCDS education within financial reach. While MCDS tuition remains well below the average tuition cost for US independent schools, we recognize the significant commitment each family must make to join the MCDS community.

Payment Plans

For your convenience, MCDS offers families the following school-administered tuition payment plans through our online tuition service. Check, electronic funds transfers, or credit card payments are accepted:

One payment: Full tuition due July.
Two payments*: Due July and November. 
Eleven payments*: Due July through May.

*A service charge is applied

Tuition 2023-24

Pre-K (half day): $13,835
Pre-K: $18,395
Kindergarten: $19,729
Lower School: $21,779
Middle School: $22,507
High School: $23,589
Tuition and Value

Tuition Rates and Payment Plans

Single Payment

Single Payment Plan

Semester Payments

Semester Payments

Installment Payment

Installment Payments

Additional Fees

There are both required and optional fees that apply to each MCDS student, and your student’s final fees depend on uniforms, lunch choices, athletic participation, extracurriculars, and other program selections. Financial aid is available upon request for all additional fees. Once a student is enrolled at MCDS, we are committed to the student receiving the full MCDS experience regardless of financial circumstances. 

Pre-K-Grade 4

Required:

  • Uniforms, our MCDS used uniform sales provide many discounted options. (Not required for Pre-K)
  • School supplies

Optional:

  • Bus transportation
  • Lunch
  • Milk
  • School portraits/yearbook
  • Extended Day program
  • Extracurricular activities, theatre productions, and athletics
  • Music competition 
  • Summer Discovery program (June through August)
  • Annual Fund donation

Grade 5-8

Required:

  • Uniforms, our MCDS used uniform sales provide many discounted options.
  • School supplies
  • Technology Fee: MCDS will provide students in grades five through eight with a Chromebook including pre-loaded applications and licences. Effective with the 2022/23 school year, the chromebook price for all new MS students will be $350/student. This price includes the chromebook, case, and minor repairs.

Optional:

  • Bus transportation
  • Lunch
  • Milk
  • School portraits/yearbook
  • Extended Day program
  • Extracurricular activities, theatre productions, and athletics
  • Eighth grade class trip to Washington, DC (student fundraising can offset this expense)
  • Various music program expenses (instrument rental, music competition fees, etc.)
  • Summer Discovery program (June through August)
  • Annual Fund donation

Grade 9-12

Required:

  • School supplies
  • Laptop or Chromebook
  • Graduation fee (grade 12 only)
  • International student fee (International students only):  In order to cover the additional resources involved with supporting international students, there is an international student tuition fee of $2,500.

Optional:

  • Bus transportation
  • Lunch
  • Milk
  • School portraits/yearbook
  • Extracurricular activities, theatre productions, and sports
  • Various music program expenses (instrument rental, music (competition fees, etc.)
  • Dances/Socials (Prom, Homecoming, etc.)
  • Exchange programs with Ecuador, Spain or Japan (student fundraising can offset this expense)
  • IB Diploma testing fees (required for IB Diploma candidate students only)
  • Annual Fund donation
Wisconsin Tuition Tax Deduction
Parents may deduct up to $4,000 of tuition per student in grades Kindergarten through eight, and up to $10,000 of tuition per high school student. Use the identifying number (FEIN) 39-1832986 for the Schedule PS Private School Tuition form.

Use of Section 529 Plans to Pay Tuition
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 contains a provision that allows use of Section 529 savings to pay for private K-12 education up to $10,000 per year, per child starting in 2018. Establishing and funding a Section 529 plan can provide significant tax benefits. See your investment advisor and CPA for more information.

Transportation Reimbursement
Reimbursement for your transportation expenses may be available depending on your home school district. Qualifying districts in Dane County include:
  • Madison Metropolitan
  • Middleton-Cross Plains
  • Waunakee
  • Deforest
Commutes need to be further than two miles and other restrictions may apply.  Please check with your district.

OUR MISSION

Madison Country Day School provides an intellectually stimulating, personally enriching, and academically challenging program to an able and diverse student body. We measure our curriculum and student achievement against the finest programs in the world. Furthermore, we advance education by creating programs that serve as models for other private and public schools.