full-time Admissions Information

Eligibility

Our only criterion for admission is that the family is in agreement with our philosophy. We strive to maintain a true diversity of gender, ethnicity, nationality, race, ability, religion, and income within our Community.

Ages

Our middle and high school programs are open for full-time enrollment for ages 13 to 16. For part-time enrollment, please click here. Pono's elementary programs are on pause until 2024.

Tuition and Sliding Scale

2024–2025 full tuition for middle and high school students is $28,200. A 10% siblings discount is offered.

Pono offers sliding scale tuition to eligible families. Parents seeking tuition abatement through our sliding scale need to fill out an application with FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment to see if they qualify for sliding scale tuition. Sliding scale tuition is determined by FACTS. Please note that FACTS bases their tuition decisions on families' tax returns and other financial information.

Payment Plans

Pono offers three different plans for tuition payment: full tuition upfront; 3 installments; and 12 installments.

 

Admissions Process for full time enrollment

1. Attend a Virtual Information Session

Information sessions offer families the opportunity to hear about Pono’s philosophy, principles, learning environment, and admissions process. New families meet our founder and director, teachers, and other families in our community. Meetings last approximately 45 minutes.

 2. Submit an Initial Admissions Application Form

This form can be submitted online (see form below). Upon receipt of this form, you will receive information about our sliding scale and details about upcoming meetings and deadlines. Please note that you may submit this form on our website before you attend an Information Session.

3. Sliding Scale Application

If you are seeking tuition abatement through our sliding scale, you will need to fill out an application with FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. FACTS charges a non-refundable fee of $30 per family. FACTS’s application and the necessary supporting documentation are submitted online. It takes FACTS a couple of weeks to process applications and issue their analysis reports. 

 4. Spend a WEEK at Pono

Full-time students are invited to spend a whole week at Pono. This week allows new students to experience Pono and meet the whole Pono community of children, parents, Pono teachers, visiting teachers, and interns. An electronic Full Admissions Application will be provided after the visit and the tuition (after receipt of FACTS analysis report, if applicable) will be discussed.

 5. Submit Complete Admissions Application

Complete the Full Admissions Application and submit by email to admissions@pono.nyc.

 6. Attend Virtual Admissions Meeting and Submit Down-Payment

When the above steps are completed, you will be asked to attend an admissions meeting. In Admissions Meetings we review the application and Pono's safety plan, and ask that you sign the tuition contract and submit the non-refundable down-payment of $1,000.

Pono does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identification in the administration of its policies, scholarship and loan programs, admissions and other center-administered programs.