An Affordable Catholic Education
At St. Mary-Basha Catholic School, we believe that every child should be able to receive a Catholic education. Therefore, it is our goal to make Catholic education affordable for all who desire it.
We will work individually with each family to help ensure their child’s education at St. Mary-Basha Catholic School becomes a reality. ALL families are encouraged to apply for financial assistance. This allows the school to assist those who need it.
Options for assistance include, but are not limited to the following:
- Empowerment Scholarship Account through the Arizona Department of Education (ESA Scholarships). ESA is recommended for children in 1st through 8th grade.
- School Tuition Organizations (STOs), including Catholic Education Arizona (CEA), provide scholarships based on financial need and donor recommendation. CEA is recommended for children in Kindergarten.
- Pastor Scholarships may be available for children in Pre-K.
For a consultation on financial assistance for your family, please contact us at admissions@stmarybashacatholic.org.
Resources for Financial Assistance
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA)
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) are available to all Arizona K-12 students and contracts are administered by the State of Arizona. The ESA program allows families to choose the best school for their needs and have their educational tax dollars follow them to that school. It expands educational opportunities for all Arizona students outside of the public school system by providing public funding that can be used for a wide variety of educational expenses (i.e. private school tuition, educational therapies, tutoring, and more). Please note: ESA does not cover full-day kindergarten. See the information on CEA (below) if you have a child who will be entering kindergarten.
Additional information:
- Required paperwork: Birth certificate for student and proof of residency for the parent applying.
- Requirement: Resident of Arizona, from age 5 (before January 1st) through 12th grade. Depending on age, some PreK students may qualify regardless of grade.
- STOs cannot be used along with ESA in the same academic year.
- Funding depends on many factors, and typically families across the state received between $7,000-$8,000 per student.The ESA Parent Handbook and website has more information on ESA and ESA allowable expenses.
If a family accepts ESA, the school finance office must be notified. The Finance Coordinator will assist St. Mary-Basha families with the ESA process.
School Tuition Organizations (STOs)
STOs are non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporations, organized for the sole purpose of obtaining contributions through the state of Arizona’s Tuition Tax Credit Program and then using those contributions to provide scholarships to families who choose to enroll their child in a private school. Catholic Education Arizona is one of the major STOs that St. Mary-Basha works with to provide financial assistance to families.Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) are available to all Arizona K-12 students and contracts are administered by the State of Arizona. The ESA program allows families to choose the best school for their needs and have their educational tax dollars follow them to that school. It expands educational opportunities for all Arizona students outside of the public school system by providing public funding that can be used for a wide variety of educational expenses (i.e. private school tuition, educational therapies, tutoring, and more). Please note: ESA does not cover full-day kindergarten. See the information on CEA (below) if you have a child who will be entering kindergarten.
Catholic Education Arizona (CEA)
CEA provides scholarships through the tax credit program for students at St. Mary-Basha Catholic School and other Diocesan schools. We require all of our families seeking financial assistance to apply to CEA, unless they have accepted ESA for the school year. IMPORTANT: We highly recommend that families apply to CEA for their children who will be entering kindergarten rather than ESA. ESA does not cover full-day kindergarten.
The application is available starting in February and is due annually by April 15th. The completed application process includes a submission of tax documentation for the previous year. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Late applications are not eligible for early funding decisions (round 1) and are subject to available funds. Apply for CEA at
The application is available starting in February and is due annually by April 15th. The completed application process includes a submission of tax documentation for the previous year. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding. Late applications are not eligible for early funding decisions (round 1) and are subject to available funds. Apply for CEA at
School code: 700 / School password: cea700
Financial aid covers a portion of the tuition costs. The amount of the award is determined by CEA after reviewing a completed application and available funds.
Financial aid covers a portion of the tuition costs. The amount of the award is determined by CEA after reviewing a completed application and available funds.
Eagle Referral Program
Families of St. Mary-Basha Catholic School are the best promoters of Catholic Education and our school community. You are an invaluable asset for sharing your personal experience through simple word of mouth with families, neighbors and colleagues. To show our appreciation for your support and to thank you for your trust and confidence, we want to reward you! Your family will receive a $500 tuition credit for helping us enroll new families in St. Mary-Basha! If you know a family who would benefit from a Catholic Education at St. Mary-Basha, please have them contact the school office to schedule a tour. For full details on the program, click the link below.
Pastor Scholarships
Applicants may apply for Pastor Scholarships that are available to St. Mary-Basha Catholic School students in preschool and pre-kindergarten. Additional qualifications for the Pastor Scholarship are determined by the pastor and principal. Applications are available through each family's FACTS account and are tied to the Brophy Scholarship Application.
Please let us know if your financial situation changes during the year. Open and early communication is critical in this process. We want to work with you.