The Choice Scholarship Program (Voucher) at ISI

The ISI High School began participating in the Choice Scholarship Program in 2017-2018 for grades 9 to 12. The Upper School expanded participation to include the Middle School in the 2023-2024 school year. A cautious approach was applied to expansion, specifically for the Lower School, as ISI wanted to ensure that our unique approach to education, pairing language learning with the Primary Years Program, could remain the same while participating in the program. In April 2024, after a thorough evaluation, ISI announced that the program would be expanded to all eligible grade levels for the 2024-2025 academic year. Currently, participation is possible for eligible families with Kindergarten through Grade 12 students through the 2025-2026 academic year.

Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, Indiana will expand school choice to all families, making vouchers universally available. This means that no income restrictions will apply, and all Hoosier families are expected to be able to use school vouchers to fund their child's education.

Estimated award amounts depend on the school district where the student resides. Families applying to ISI or reenrolling for the 2026-2027 academic year can view the Indiana Department of Education’s 2025-2026 School Year Estimated Award Amounts Document to better understand estimated voucher award amounts. Typically, estimated award amounts for the next school year are not released until January or February.

As additional information becomes available, ISI will share information with prospective and current families.

As a private, independent school, ISI is committed to having the freedom to define our mission and education philosophy, design curricula and academic programs that best serve our students’ needs, adopt the best pedagogical approaches for our students, establish job requirements and expectations for the performance of our faculty and staff, and adopt admissions procedures that reflect the mission and values of our school.

Though ISI has had to adhere to some additional requirements to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program (for example, testing) to date, ISI has been able to maintain autonomy, ensuring self-governance, including defining and carrying out its educational mission, policies, and procedures without interference.

All schools wishing to participate in the Choice Scholarship Program, including schools that have participated in prior years, must complete a Choice School Application annually. On an annual basis, and prior to applying, ISI evaluates participation, ensuring that requirements for participation don’t interfere with the school’s ability to maintain autonomy in operational, governance, instructional, academic, and extracurricular programs and practices. 

Prior to participation in the Choice Scholarship Program, the majority of financial aid offered by ISI reflected an unfunded tuition discount, meaning financial aid came almost exclusively from the institution's gross revenue rather than financial aid backed by endowed scholarships or grants. The financial aid program marked 19% of the school's budget before the pandemic. The pandemic exacerbated the need, and since 2020, it has continued to grow at an unsustainable pace, currently reflecting 31% of the school’s budget. Creating a sustainable funding source for financial aid has been a top strategic priority of school leaders. Participation in the Choice program provides a partial but important funding source for the school’s financial aid program. Since expanding Choice participation, an estimated 76% of the financial aid recipients at ISI receive funded or partially funded financial aid, an increase from 24%.

As ISI prepares for the Choice Scholarship Program to expand in 2026-2027, the school will review any changes to the program and share what impact the program expansion will have on current tuition and financial aid policies and procedures. 

97% of Indiana families are estimated to qualify for the program. Click here to view choice income guidelines for 2025-2026
 

Click here for estimated award amounts for 2025-2026. Note the estimated amount is based on the student’s public school corporation of legal settlement (the school district where the student resides).

ISI will apply for Choice on your behalf if you qualify, and you will receive a notification from the school confirming eligibility and your adjusted tuition rate. 

For families who have already applied for Financial Aid, the Registrar works directly with those families and keeps families informed of the status and any additional documentation needed for their Choice application.

Families who are NOT currently receiving financial aid awards but who meet the eligibility requirements, do not need to apply for financial aid, but will complete the ISI Choice Scholarship Eligibility Form with an upload of your 2024 federal tax returns (1040). ISI will apply for Choice on your behalf if you qualify, and you will receive a notification from the school confirming eligibility and your adjusted tuition rate. 

Forms must be completed no later than August 16. However, ISI encourages families to complete the form by May 31 so that their tuition bill (sent over the summer) reflects the Choice award and modified tuition obligation.

For families already receiving financial aid awards from ISI, the overall total award will not change unless the voucher amount exceeds the current aid award.