“All of my teachers were the reason I truly wanted to be at Mizzentop. Every one of them made it easier to move forward.” 
The Importance of Giving
As is the case with many other independent schools, our development efforts are designed in part to solicit charitable gifts to bridge the gap between income and the actual cost of operating our school. Most parents are surprised to find that tuition does not cover the cost of their child's education. Tuition and fees cover approximately 90% of the cost of a child's education.
This is why in the fall of each school year we call on parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to make a gift to the Annual Fund. Every gift is important, no matter what size, and every gift helps our school to continue providing an education of value to the students. Your donation, together with those of others, is vital to the continued strength of Mizzentop. Simply put, it is the only way most private schools can offer and maintain quality.
Fund raising is one way that Mizzentop bridges the gap between tuition revenue and operating/capital expenses. In addition to our Annual Fund and our special events, including an Annual Dinner Dance & Auction, the school directs occasional campaigns to finance special building projects. Faculty recruitment and training, curriculum and program enhancements, support for our creative and performing arts, maintaining athletic programs, technology upgrades, and maintenance of existing facilities depend on the funds raised through Annual Giving.
We welcome your involvement as parents of Mizzentop Day School students in our Annual Fund, Annual Dinner Dance & Auction, and Book Fair, along with other fund raising activities. Your involvement is vital to the health and commitment to educational excellence. For more information about the Annual Fund or to make a contribution, contact Rachel Melgard at (845) 855-7338, or rmelgard@mizzentop.org.
How does Mizzentop sustain its current programming?
Mizzentop Day School, like most independent private schools, relies greatly on tuition revenue to cover operational and instructional expenses. Over the past eight years, Mizzentop has been successful in operating within a balanced budget.
Our current $1.7 million budget is comprised of several revenue streams of which a percent is derived from fund raising, advancement efforts, and restricted and unrestricted contributions. All of the above, through advancement, help balance our operating budget and allows Mizzentop to maintain a tuition structure far less expensive than other area private elementary schools. The majority of revenue is derived from tuition, student fees, after-school and camp programming, facility rental, and interest income.
Instructional expenses, which directly impact student educational programming, comprise over 76 percent of total expenditures. Mizzentop operates on a minimal operational budget ensuring a tremendous value for each child's education.