Louisiana's Tuition Donation Credit program is older than LA GATOR and works differently. Donors give to a school tuition organization (STO), take a Louisiana tax credit, and the STO awards scholarships to students at participating private schools. For lower-income Baton Rouge families it's the main way to cover what LA GATOR doesn't.
The four school tuition organizations
- ACE Scholarships Louisiana
- Arete Scholars Louisiana
- Aspiring Scholars Louisiana
- Son of a Saint Louisiana
Each runs its own application and its money depends on donations, so apply early.
Who qualifies
- Household income at or below 250% of the federal poverty line ($80,375 for a family of four).
- A Louisiana resident.
- In public school on October 1 and February 1 of the latest school year, or entering kindergarten for the first time, or holding a Louisiana Scholarship Program or Tuition Donation scholarship the year before.
How much
Each STO sets its own award, capped at the lesser of the school's tuition and mandatory fees, or 80% of the state average per-pupil amount for elementary and middle school (90% for high school).
Using it with LA GATOR
Since Act 403 (SB 27) the two stack. LA GATOR pays tuition and mandatory fees first, the STO award covers the rest, and together they can't exceed actual tuition and fees. If LA GATOR alone covers the bill, the family declines the STO award.
Schools in our area on the 2024-25 participating list
A student can only use an STO award at a participating school. 42 schools in our directory were on the state's 2024-25 list:
East Baton Rouge Parish
- Bethany Christian School South Campus (Baton Rouge, grades PK-11)
- Catholic High School (Baton Rouge, grades 8-12)
- Central Private School (Central, grades PK-12)
- Diocese of Baton Rouge Special Education Program (Baton Rouge, grades K-8)
- Gardere Community Christian School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-5)
- Hosanna Christian Academy (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- Jehovah-Jireh Christian Academy (Baton Rouge, grades PK-12)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Academy (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- Most Blessed Sacrament School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- Parkview Baptist School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-12)
- Redemptorist St. Gerard School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- Sacred Heart of Jesus School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- St. Alphonsus Liguori School (Greenwell Springs, grades PK-8)
- St. Francis Xavier School (Baton Rouge, grades K-8)
- St. Jean Vianney School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- St. Joseph's Academy (Baton Rouge, grades 9-12)
- St. Jude the Apostle School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- St. Lillian Academy (Baton Rouge, grades K-12)
- St. Michael the Archangel High School (Baton Rouge, grades 9-12)
- St. Thomas More School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-8)
- The Brighton School (Baton Rouge, grades K-12)
- The Dunham School (Baton Rouge, grades PK-12)
Ascension Parish
- Ascension Catholic Diocesan Regional School (Donaldsonville, grades PK-12)
- Ascension Christian School (Gonzales, grades PK-12)
- St. John Primary School (Prairieville, grades PK-3)
- St. Theresa of Avila Middle School (Gonzales, grades 4-8)
- The Church Academy (Saint Amant, grades PK-8)
Tangipahoa Parish
- Emmanuel SDA School (Hammond, grades K-8)
- Mater Dolorosa School (Independence, grades PK-8)
- St. Joseph School (Ponchatoula, grades PK-8)
- St. Thomas Aquinas Diocesan Regional High School (Hammond, grades 8-12)
- Trafton Academy (Hammond, grades PK-8)
Pointe Coupee Parish
- Catholic Elementary School of Pointe Coupee (New Roads, grades PK-6)
- Catholic High School of Pointe Coupee (New Roads, grades 7-12)
- False River Academy (New Roads, grades PK-12)
West Baton Rouge Parish
- Holy Family School (Port Allen, grades PK-8)
- The Christian Academy of Louisiana (Addis, grades PK-12)
Iberville Parish
- St. John Elementary School (Plaquemine, grades PK-6)
- St. John High School (Plaquemine, grades 7-12)
Livingston Parish
- Open Door Christian Academy (Denham Springs, grades PK-12)
Assumption Parish
- St. Elizabeth School (Paincourtville, grades PK-8)
Source: LDOE, Tuition Donation Credit Program 2024-2025 Participating Nonpublic Schools. Schools join or leave each year, so confirm with the school.