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Tuition Students

Non-Residents of Bristol Tennessee City Requesting to Attend as Tuition Students

Bristol Tennessee City Schools welcomes students in grades K-12 who reside outside of the Bristol Tennessee city limits as long as established student-teacher ratios permit. Preschool students are not eligible to attend as tuition students.  Space availability for tuition students are determined by the following priorities:

  • 1st Priority - Students residing in the school district or who are legal placements by virtue of Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-3113.
  • 2nd Priority - Students who reside within the city limits who file appropriate forms requesting transfers, with consideration given to those with siblings in the system.
  • 3rd Priority - Tuition students, those residing outside the city limits, with consideration given to those with established tuition siblings in the system.

Families living outside of the Bristol Tennessee city limits wanting their student(s) to attend a Bristol Tennessee City school as a tuition student, must complete the online enrollment and complete a tuition application at the school where they would like to attend.

Parents or guardians applying for their child/children to attend Bristol Tennessee City Schools as tuition students in Kindergarten, must complete the online enrollment and include a completed tuition application with the required Kindergarten enrollment documents.

Parents or guardians applying for their child/children to attend Bristol Tennessee City Schools as tuition students in grades 1 through 12, must complete the online enrollment and submit records of attendance, discipline, and grades from their previous school when they submit their completed tuition application.  Principals will review the records to determine if the student's tuition application will be approved.

Principal approval is required before a tuition student's enrollment is finalized.

The 2023-2024 New Student Tuition Application can be found on the Student Services page, under the documents section.  Completed New Student Tuition applications must be turned in to the school where the student is applying to attend for principal approval or denial.

Those applying for tuition will be notified of their acceptance or denial before the beginning of the school year.

For additional information on registering/enrolling a tuition student, please call the Student Services office at 423-652-9233 or refer to BTCS policy 6.204 Attendance of Non-Resident Students. 

Bristol Tennessee City Schools 2023-2024 Tuition Rates

Sullivan County Residents

1st Student in Family $ $700.00 per year or $350.00 per semester

2nd Student in Family $ $650.00 per year or $325.00 per semester

3rd Student in Family and any subsequent siblings $ $600.00 per year or $300.00 per semester

Students residing in Tennessee in Counties other than Sullivan

1st Student in Family - $900.00 per year or $450.00 per semester

2nd Student in Family - $850.00 per year or $425.00 per semester

3rd Student in Family and any subsequent siblings - $800.00 per year or $400.00 per semester

Out-of-State tuition

Tuition for out-of-state residents for the 2023-2024 school year is $12,327.00 per student or $6,163.50 per semester.


2023-2024 Tuition-Free Designated Elementary Program at Fairmount Elementary School

At their June 20, 2022 meeting, the Bristol Tennessee Board of Education approved a Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program at Fairmount Elementary School in kindergarten through fifth grades. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, out-of-district students who live in Tennessee will be eligible to apply to attend Fairmount Elementary at no cost. The other four elementary schools—Anderson, Avoca, Haynesfield, and Holston View—will continue with the standard tuition charges based on student residence.

 

All other guidelines regarding tuition students remain in effect for applying and for students who are currently enrolled in the program. The application process and requirements for all tuition students are outlined in School Board Policy 6.204 (Attendance of Non-Resident Students).

FAQs about the Fairmount Elementary Tuition-Free Program 

 

What is a Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program? 

The BTCS Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program offers the opportunity for out-of-district students who live in Tennessee to apply to attend Fairmount Elementary at no cost. The other four elementary schools—Anderson, Avoca, Haynesfield, and Holston View—maintain the standard tuition charges based on student residence. 

   

All other guidelines regarding tuition students remain in effect for applying or with students already in the program. The application process and requirements for all tuition students are outlined in School Board Policy 6.204 (Attendance of Non-Resident Students). 

 

Who is eligible to apply for the Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program? 

Any out-of-district student residing in the state of Tennessee is eligible to apply. Students residing in other states outside of Tennessee are not eligible to apply. Conditions must be met based on School Board Policy 6.204, including good attendance and discipline; satisfactory academic record; and in good standing regarding payment of any owed fees. All applications are subject to principal approval.  

 

Why is the Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program being implemented at Fairmount? 

Fairmount Elementary has a significant amount of programming space available to serve additional students, more than any other school in the district. The move of sixth graders to Tennessee Middle School at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year created even more space. The free tuition program is an opportunity to increase enrollment at Fairmount. Fairmount’s enrollment at the end of the 2021-2022 school year was 351 students. The school was originally constructed to serve approximately 600 students. 

 

How do I apply for the program? 

Parents or guardians applying for their child/children to attend Fairmount as tuition free students in Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year, must complete the online enrollment and include the completed 2023-2024 Fairmont Free tuition application(s) with the required Kindergarten enrollment documents.
Parents or guardians applying for their child/children to attend Fairmount as new tuition free students in grades 1 through 5 for the 2023-2024 school year, must complete the online enrollment, complete the 2023-2024 Fairmount Free tuition application(s), and submit records of attendance, discipline, and grades from their previous school when they submit their completed tuition application(s).  The principal will review the records to determine if the student's tuition application will be approved.

 

Principal approval is required before a tuition student's enrollment is finalized.

 

In order to complete the online enrollment and application process prior to the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, families are encouraged to apply by June 1, 2023.  

 

The 2023-2024 Fairmount Free Tuition Application can be found on the Student Services page, under the documents section. All completed applications must be turned in to Fairmount Elementary School for principal approval or denial.

 

What is the timeline for application for the Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program? 

While families are encouraged to apply before June 1, 2023. Families may apply at any time for the Tuition-Free Designated Elementary School program. Applications received prior to June 1, 2023 will be given priority. Applications received after the beginning of the school year will be approved on a case-by-case basis. 

 

If I apply for the Tuition-Free Designated Elementary program, how will I be informed of the application status? 

Once all required records are received, the principal will review and make a recommendation to district administration. An official letter notifying parents of the outcome of the application will be emailed and mailed to parents/guardians starting after July 7, or as soon as possible as new applications are received. Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible. 

 

What are the benefits of increased enrollment? 

  • State funding to school districts is based per student. By increasing enrollment, the district gets an increase in state funding, approximately $4,500 per student. Additional funding benefits all students by allowing the district to provide increased programs and services. A gain of just over two new students through the tuition-free and staff discount programs will be budget neutral. All students gained above this will result in additional state funding, which will allow us to provide additional funding for programs and services to students.
  •  Increased enrollment helps the district retain teachers.
  • We are still in a time of COVID-recovery where increased funding, programs, and retaining teachers is vital to helping students recover from the lost instructional time and other detrimental effects of the pandemic. This is another strategy by the board to support that effort.

What are other potential benefits to families?

  • BTCS provides a high-quality education to all students. We have the programming space available, and we want to serve as many students as possible.
  •  The program will give families living near the city limits a choice where to send their children.
  •  Parents or guardians who work in the city will have the opportunity to bring their children to school which may be closer to their workplace.

 

If I enroll my child in Fairmount with the tuition-free program, is there a possibility the program could change next year? 

The effectiveness of the program will be reviewed annually by the board. However, once a student enters Fairmount in the tuition-free program, the student’s tuition will remain free through fifth grade as long as their enrollment status is consistent.  

 

Will tuition-free students be required to pay tuition upon transition to Tennessee Middle School? 

The program is only for Fairmount Elementary School. Families who attend Fairmount through fifth grade will be required to pay the appropriate tuition rates upon their child entering Tennessee Middle School in sixth grade. 

 

If I have a tuition-free child at Fairmount with additional siblings at Tennessee Middle School or Tennessee High School, will the middle and high school children receive the multi-student discount? 

Based on the fee structure outlined above, the first paid student is considered “1st Student in Family” for fee purposes. 

Will transportation be provided? 

Transportation is not provided for any students who attend Bristol Tennessee City Schools and reside outside the city limits. 

 

Who do I contact for more information? 

Please email [email protected] or call (423) 652-9233. 

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