Scholarships and Tuition Assistance

The opportunity to attend Saint Peter Catholic School should not be hindered by finances.  Tuition assistance can come in many forms.

​NC Opportunity Scholarship
On October 3, 2023, the North Carolina State Budget (House Bill 259) became law, authorizing several changes to the State's Opportunity Scholarship Program. Changes for the 2024-2025 school year include:

• Removal of the income cap for families to receive the scholarship; now all North Carolina students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be eligible for the Scholarship regardless of income.
• Prior public school enrollment is no longer a requirement for eligibility for the scholarship.
• A student's scholarship amount will be based on household income.
• Scholarship amounts will range from approximately $3,000 to approximately $7,000.

The Opportunity Scholarship application for the 2024-2025 school year will open on February 1, 2024. Families must apply by March 1 to receive priority consideration. More information about the application process will be available on the program website in January.

Every North Carolina family will have the option of applying for tuition assistance for K - 12 private schools. Information on how to apply for the scholarship will be emailed to families in January 2024. For more information, click here.  The priority application window is February 1, 2024 until March 1, 2024.   ​

Black and Indian Mission (BIMO) Tuition Assistance for Students of African American and Native American Ancestry
Catholic school students (Preschool-12th grade) of African American Ancestry and Native American heritage in the Diocese of Raleigh are eligible to apply for tuition assistance. The assistance awards are funded by parish second collection donations and a grant from the Black and Indian Mission Office founded by the Catholic bishops of the United States. 
• All applicants MUST complete a Catholic school enrollment application before this application will be considered. Click here for SPCS enrollment application.
• Applications for the scholarship will be posted here when they become available. The application window typically opens February 1.
• Decision letters are typically emailed to parents no later than May 22. 
• Tuition awards are sent from the diocese to the applicant’s school.

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Tuition Assistance from Saint Peter Catholic Church
Tuition assistance is granted on a yearly basis for members of Saint Peter Catholic Church who qualify as having a demonstrated financial need.  The church serves as many families as it can.  A new application is required for each year the assistance is needed.    A church application must be completed along with an online application in the FACTS program.  Applications are due March 1 for the upcoming school year.  Applicants who are planning to enroll in St. Peter Catholic School but have not received an offer to enroll are still encouraged to apply for tuition assistance by March 1 if they qualify. 
Both of these applications must be filled out for assistance to be considered:
Click here for the church application.
Click here for the online FACTS application for tuition assistance.
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Using 529 Plans for tuition at Saint Peter Catholic School
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress on December 22, 2017 adds new section 529(c)(7) to permit qualified tuition plans to make nontaxable distributions for tuition in connection with attendance or enrollment at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school, up to $10,000 incurred during each tax year, on a per-student basis. 

A significant benefit of a section 529 plan is the ability to grow income tax free until amounts are distributed for a “qualified higher education expense,” which now includes tuition and other expenses for attendance at K-12 Catholic schools. Thus, the change benefits those who can and do take advantage of 529 plans.

Click here for more information on how 529 funds can now be used for tuition at Saint Peter Catholic School. ​