The Crescent Academy is a nonprofit Islamic school committed to providing students with a high-quality education grounded in Islamic faith, character, and values. TCA makes its best efforts to keep Islamic education within reach of as many families as reasonably possible.
TCA combines tuition, charitable giving, community support, careful budgeting, and responsible cost management so the full cost of educating a child is not passed on to families through tuition.
TCA does not receive significant government funding. As a private nonprofit Islamic school, TCA depends primarily on tuition, charitable contributions, fundraising, and the support of our community to operate the school and educate its students.
Tuition Covers Only Part of the Cost
Operating a school requires qualified teachers and staff, curriculum and classroom materials, technology, utilities, insurance, building maintenance, student services, security, and many other essential expenses. The tuition charged to a family does not represent the full cost of providing these services.
TCA uses several sources of support to meet these costs, including tuition and school fees; sadaqah and other charitable contributions; zakat funds used in accordance with applicable requirements; fundraising; and broader community support. Together, these resources allow TCA to offset a portion of the cost of education rather than passing the entire amount on to families.
How TCA Tuition Compares
For the 2026–2027 school year, the national average private-school tuition is approximately $14,943 per student. The national average for private elementary schools is approximately $13,957 per student. TCA’s standard annual tuition is $6,650 per student.
TCA’s standard tuition is $8,293 below the overall national private-school average—approximately 56% lower. It is also $7,307 below the national private elementary-school average—approximately 52% lower.
National figures are based on Private School Review’s 2026–2027 national tuition data. Tuition varies by school type and location.
The Role of Sadaqah and Zakat
Sadaqah and zakat both contribute to TCA’s broader mission of keeping Islamic education accessible, but they are received and used according to their respective purposes and requirements. These charitable resources help TCA reduce the amount of educational cost that must be collected from families through tuition. Funds are administered in accordance with donor intent and applicable religious and organizational requirements.
Because TCA’s affordability model draws upon multiple funding sources, we refer to reduced tuition and family-based support as financial assistance. We do not characterize an individual family’s financial-assistance award as “zakat.” This protects each family’s privacy, avoids assumptions about the funding assigned to a particular award, and accurately reflects the way TCA finances education across the school.
Financial Assistance
TCA recognizes that every family’s circumstances are different. Families who cannot afford the standard tuition may apply for financial assistance. Applications are reviewed individually, confidentially, and according to the school’s available resources and established guidelines.
Financial-assistance awards reduce the tuition a family is responsible for paying. They are made possible by the combined support of TCA’s donors, families, volunteers, and community.
2024–2025 Financial Snapshot
The following figures summarize TCA’s finances for the completed 2024–2025 school year. They show families what it costs to operate the school and how tuition and community support work together to make a TCA education possible.
Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. Tuition covered $451,349 of TCA’s $639,921 in operating expenses. Donations supplied the remaining $188,572, helping TCA balance its operating costs without passing the full cost on to families through tuition.
How TCA’s Expenses Were Distributed
This chart shows how TCA used its operating funds during the 2024–2025 school year. Most school expenses support the teachers and staff who educate, supervise, and care for our students each day.
- Personnel — $519,114 (81%)
Payroll, payroll-related taxes, and substitute or contract teaching costs - Facilities and operations — $51,924 (8%)
Utilities, insurance, cleaning, maintenance, moving, water, and security - Instruction and student programs — $48,811 (8%)
School supplies, books, student programs, events, and copies - School administration and technology — $20,071 (3%)
Technology, professional services, fundraising, banking, communications, and other costs needed to operate the school
How Families and the Community Help
Keeping tuition affordable requires a partnership. Families help by paying their agreed tuition on time. Donors support the school through sadaqah, zakat, and other charitable giving. TCA carefully manages staffing, facilities, and everyday operating expenses. Together, these efforts sustain an Islamic school for our children and for future generations.
When families pay tuition on time and community members contribute generously, TCA can continue offering a quality Islamic education at a cost far below the national private-school average.
Your Support Makes a Difference
Every contribution helps TCA maintain its programs, support its students, and limit the amount of educational cost passed on to families. By supporting TCA, donors are investing not only in individual students, but also in the long-term strength of Islamic education in our community.