The Free School is closed for the 2024/25 school year. If you are interested in joining the program in the future, feel free to submit an application below.
_________________________________
Enrollment:
The Free School is closed for the 2024/25 school year. If you are interested in joining the program in the future, feel free to submit our Application Form.
Santa Barbara Free School is open from 10am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, from September to June.
If there’s an activity that a student wants to pursue off-campus such as classes, sports, apprenticeships, employment, etc, students are able to petition to have those activities count towards their attendance requirement. Outside activities are encouraged! Asking the School Meeting to endorse those activities is about acknowledging the personal responsibility every member has to the community.
Annual Tuition Levels:
| Base tuition for one student: | $20,000 |
| Tuition for siblings: | 25% tuition reduction for each additional student |
Financial Assistance is available for those who qualify.
No one is turned away for lack of funds. In fact, 85% of SB Free families qualify for reduced tuition under our sliding-scale policy. We are committed to making self-directed education accessible to all. Please see “Tuition Assistance” below for more information.
Optional: Visit us!
Families may schedule a time to visit the school by signing up for a time on our Events Page. This can be a great way to get introduced to the students and faculty, immerse in the flow of school activities, sit in on democratic meetings, and envision joining our community.
Step 1: Interview
Families initiate the interview process by submitting the Application Form. SB Free will then contact the family to schedule the interview. The interview is an opportunity for families to ask questions and for us to provide an in-depth description of the educational philosophy. We ask that all parents or guardians attend the interview along with the prospective students.
Step 2: Offers of Enrollment
Prospective students are offered membership at the school. Offers are based on student readiness, family compatibility with our educational philosophy and membership commitments, as well as the space and resources we have available to new applicants.
Once an Offer of Enrollment has been received, families are invited to enroll. Families wishing to enroll will complete the Enrollment Contract and other forms, which are available through the Parent Portal. Enrollment is secured with the submission of the first tuition payment.
Congratulations and welcome to the Santa Barbara Free School!
Santa Barbara Free School is committed to making attendance possible for all those who want to enroll.
We employ a sliding scale model based on per-capita income to account for family size, self-reported ability to pay, and a variety of financial factors. Total tuition payments will in most cases be capped at a percentage of family income, so that families enrolling multiple children can receive a substantial discount.
Please fill out the Application Form to be considered.
Tuition Assistance is vital to upholding our values of equity, inclusion, and representing our whole community. If you are in a position to contribute to our Scholarship Fund, please visit our Giving Page to see how your resources can make SB Free and democratic education more accessible to all.
Santa Barbara Free School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, national or ethnic origin in its admissions process, educational policies or school-administered programs.