Saint Mark’s School Receives $1.7 Million Grant for New Partnership

Saint Mark’s School, an independent Episcopal school in Altadena serving students from preschool through sixth grade, has been awarded a $1.7 million grant from The Children’s Education Initiative to establish a new partnership aimed at empowering socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The San Diego-based nonprofit is dedicated to improving the quality of education for underserved children.

The grant, which is the largest in Saint Mark’s history, will be distributed over several years to provide tuition assistance and cover additional expenses such as technology and extended care for elementary school students. The partnership seeks to address the opportunity gap and expand access to quality education during the critical early years of a child’s life.

“We are thrilled to be one of the first schools to partner with The Children’s Education Initiative,” said Jennifer Foley Tolbert, the head of school at Saint Mark’s. “The Children’s Education Initiative’s goals strongly align with our values of celebrating diversity and inclusivity. We have long prioritized serving a socioeconomically diverse community, and The Children’s Education Initiative is providing the funds and framework for us to make a significant impact on the lives of more young people.”

Saint Mark’s was selected as a partner school through a competitive application process, standing out for its strong academic and social-emotional wellness program, integration of cultural competency into the curriculum, and successful track record of graduates thriving in middle school and beyond. The school’s ongoing commitment to serving a diverse student body across the socioeconomic spectrum was a key factor in The Children’s Education Initiative’s decision.

Maggie Young, the Director of Enrollment Management at Saint Mark’s, emphasized the impact the grant will have on individual students. “This partnership allows us to welcome additional students into our community regardless of their family’s ability to pay,” she said. “The funds provide students with the resources needed to access the full Saint Mark’s experience, not just tuition. The Children’s Education Initiative is helping remove financial barriers for families and enabling us to fully support students throughout their time here.”

The partnership between Saint Mark’s School and The Children’s Education Initiative marks the beginning of a transformative initiative that aims to provide children with the educational foundation needed to become future leaders in their communities and the world.