“A Different Kind of Catholic Education: Where Faith, Family, and Finances Actually Align.”
At Lumen Christi Academy, we noticed something that needed addressing: While many Catholic schools claim to be pro-family, their tuition models often suggest otherwise. The Babylon Bee recently published a satirical piece about a Catholic school offering "discounts on the 8th child," and while it was meant to be humorous, it highlighted a very real challenge. Large, faithful families shouldn't have to choose between unapologetically catholic education and putting food on the table. So we decided to do something truly counter-cultural: Actually align our tuition with authentic Catholic values.
Our Revolutionary Approach:
Income-based tuition scaling that respects family size
Significant discounts for second and third children
No additional tuition costs for the 4th or more children
Self-reported income categories that honor family dignity
Simple and generous tuition forgiveness available as needed
Clear, transparent pricing without hidden fees
Commitment to making Catholic education accessible to all faithful families
Walking the Walk: Catholic Values in Action
"True to the faith...fair to the family" isn't just our motto—it's the foundation of our revolutionary approach to Catholic education. While many schools teach Catholic social justice principles in the classroom, we've built them directly into our financial structure.
Our approach is rooted in core Catholic principles that predate the modern era:
-
Pope Pius XI emphasized that the family has "priority of nature and therefore of rights over civil society." Our tuition model actively supports families rather than penalizing them for each additional child.
-
In his groundbreaking encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), Pope Leo XIII stated, "Let it be then taken for granted that the workman's wages should be sufficient to maintain him and his family in reasonable comfort." Our income-based tuition scale acknowledges that different families have different resources.
-
Our self-reported income categories and elimination of intrusive financial validation processes respect the inherent dignity of each family in our community.
-
We honor parents as the primary educators of their children by eliminating mandatory fundraising and volunteer requirements, trusting families to contribute as they are able.
-
By including meals for all students and removing financial barriers that create division, we live out the principle of social solidarity that has been a hallmark of Catholic teaching for centuries.
K-12th Grade Tuition Cost
True to the Faith... Fair to the Family
Where Large Families Are Welcomed, Not Penalized.
Our philosophy is simple— If God has blessed your family with many children, that doesn't automatically mean He's blessed you with proportionally more income. We believe Catholic education should be accessible to faithful families of all sizes and means.
We've created a straightforward, honest approach to tuition that acknowledges both family size and financial reality. Our self-reporting system maintains dignity while ensuring fairness. From families earning under $50,000 to those blessed with higher incomes, every family contributes according to their means.
Boarding Options
For families seeking a full immersion in Catholic classical education, we offer boarding options for grades 6-12, with the same family-friendly pricing structure. Boarding student costs will consist of normal tuition and additional boarding fees.
Monday-Thursday Boarding
Boarding students will be supervised after school and overnight by our Luminaries. Acting as resident advisors, our Luminaries provide mentorship and accountability for the students. Each night students will join in praying Vespers and gather for a community dinner. After ample freetime, students will have quiet time in the boys or girls dorm followed by lights out at 9:30. All boarding students will particapate in the after school programs.
Looking for a 7-day option? Within our community, there are host families available if you are looking to board your student over the weekends. Functioning like "exchange" students on the weekend, students would live with a host family who would pick them up on Thursdays and return them on Monday morning. We ask parents to pay a $150 per weekend stipend to these families. For more information, contact Dan Sevigny at president@lumenchristiacademy.org