SGOs and Indiana Choice Scholarships

What is the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program?
The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program makes your tax dollars available to help pay for your child's tuition at any non-public school of your choice. Eligibile students receive 90% of what the state allocates to educate a child in the public school district where they reside.  

How does my child qualify for a Choice Scholarship?

To be eligible, a student must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Have a legal residence in Indiana
2. Is at least five years of age on October 1 of the school year
3. Is a member of a household with an annual income of not more than 400% of the amount required for the individual to qualify for the free/reduced lunch program (see chart below).  

What is a typical Choice Scholarship amount?
Choice Scholarships vary by the school district in which the child resides. The estimated Scholarship amounts for the 2024-25 school year are:

• South Bend Community School Corporation - $7,168.89
• School City of Mishawaka - $6,884.10
• Penn-Harris-Madison - $6,213.25

If my child qualifies for a Choice Scholarship, how much of a tuition balance can I expect?  
The tuition balance will vary based on the school district in which the student resides and if your family qualifies for an active parishioner discount (attends weekly Mass at St. Anthony with a signed affidavit from our parish administrator, Father Arthur Joseph Ssembajja). 

• Example 1: Non-Parishioner student tuition for 2024-25 = $7,750. School Choice Scholarship for a child residing in the SBCSC boundaries = $7,168.89. Tuition balance = $581.11 for the year ($48.43 per month over 12 months). 

• Example 2: Active parishioner student tuition for 2024-25= $7,400. School Choice Scholarship for a child residing in the SBCSC boundaries = $7,168.89. Tuition balance = $231.11 for the year.

Tuition balances, along with the registration fee, can be broken out into monthly payments spread over 10 or 12 months, using our FACTS Payment Plan system.  

Can I receive an award mid-year?
Yes, period 2 applications are open from November 1 thru January 15 and scholarship awards are 1/2 of the full year award.  Tuition will be prorated based on the number of days attending.

SGO stands for "Scholarship Granting Organization" which provides scholarship awards to low and middle-income families to help them afford the school of their choice. SGO awards are distributed to families who meet income and other requirements.  

SGO awards for St. Anthony students are managed by the SGONEI and funded by charitable corporate or individual private donations, not by the state.

Individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, PCs, and those who are self-employed are all eligible to receive 50% of their donation back in the form of a state tax credit.