Scholarship Description and Application

At Circle City Theatre Company, we are dedicated to making our programs accessible to all youth, regardless of their financial circumstances. To break down financial barriers to participation, we offer both partial and full scholarships based on family income, using the Economic Policy Institute's (EPI) Family Budget Calculator as our guide.

The EPI Family Budget Calculator provides a detailed estimate of the income needed for a modest yet adequate standard of living, accounting for various family sizes and the specific cost of living in Chatham County, NC. We use these estimates, minus childcare costs, to determine scholarship eligibility.

Eligibility Criteria:

Partial Scholarships (50% Coverage): Families with incomes at or below the EPI's modest living standard (minus childcare costs) qualify for a 50% reduction in tuition. The specific income thresholds for 2024 are as follows:

• 1 Adult, 1 Child: $68,820

• 1 Adult, 2 Children: $87,196

• 1 Adult, 3 Children: $107,841

• 1 Adult, 4 Children: $118,144

• 2 Adults, 1 Child: $81,632

• 2 Adults, 2 Children: $97,130

• 2 Adults, 3 Children: $115,016

• 2 Adults, 4 Children: $126,437

Full Scholarships (100% Coverage): Families with incomes at or below 60% of the EPI's modest living standard are eligible for full scholarships. The 2024 thresholds for full scholarships are:

• 1 Adult, 1 Child: $41,292

• 1 Adult, 2 Children: $52,318

• 1 Adult, 3 Children: $64,705

• 1 Adult, 4 Children: $70,886

• 2 Adults, 1 Child: $48,979

• 2 Adults, 2 Children: $58,278

• 2 Adults, 3 Children: $69,010

• 2 Adults, 4 Children: $75,862

To support this initiative, we allocate 25% of each class's and camp's tuition revenue to fund these scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to qualifying youth on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. It is only with generous donations from people like you that we can offer scholarships to the youth that would otherwise not be able to participate in extracurricular performing arts programs. If you recognize the value in providing these scholarships and want them to continue, please consider making a donation to the fund today!

Demographic Context:

Chatham County, NC, is a community with diverse income levels. The median household income in the county is around $72,000, yet there is significant variation among families. Approximately 11% of the population lives below the federal poverty line, and many families with children face financial challenges, making scholarship programs like ours vital for ensuring access to the arts. 

Data Sources

• EPI Data

• NC DHHS Free and Reduced Lunch Income Data

• Federal Poverty Level Data

For more information or questions about our scholarship program, contact Laura Sandvik at lsandvik@circlecitytheatrecompany.org