SC ESTF
This is a new state scholarship for South Carolina’s K-12 students! For this school year (2025-2026) 10,000 scholarships were given out at $7800.00 per student. For the 26-27 school year, there will be 15,000 scholarships given out at $7600.00 per student.
Thomas Sumter is registered to accept this scholarship, and information can be found at Palmetto NavigatEd.
Quick Facts:
- Scholarship is for kindergarten through 12th grade students.
- Tuition funds are loaded into “Class wallet” quarterly (July, Sept, Dec and Feb). Families are notified and can then upload the school invoice for tuition charges and the SC ESTF program pays the school. Families only owe the difference after the bill is paid. No payment in advance and receiving of reimbursement. Families cannot pay out of pocket and then be reimbursed.
- Once in the ESTF program, the student will remain in the program if the parent’s income remains within the limits, the child does not leave a private school to attend public school in his resident public school district and the child remains a student in SC. The student is “grandfathered” until graduation from high school, though a renewal application within the portal will still be required each year. Parents must annually re-certify that they still meet the income limitations and still reside in SC.
- If a student receives the SC ESTF scholarship, their siblings can enroll during phase 1 if they are starting KG or enrolling in an approved school.
The scholarship is not taxable per the legislation. The statute says that “funds received pursuant to this section do not constitute taxable income to the parent of the scholarship student or to the student.”
Enrollment dates for the 2026-2027 school year:
- November 1, 2025 – Current 25-26 recipients can enroll for the 26-27 school year
- Sibling(s) of current (25-26) ESTF students)
- January 15, 2026 – Applications open 8am for priority groups meeting one or more of the following criteria
- Active-duty Military children
- Student attended public school during the previous school year (25-26)
- Household is at or below 300% of the federal poverty line
- February 9, 2026 – Applications open at 8 am - General applications
- Anyone not listed in priority groups above for January 15, 2026, deadline.
- Household income is below 300% and not above 500% of the federal poverty line.
Additional Information:
- You will need your income tax forms and birth certificate information to enroll online.
- If you need to go on a wait list – do this as often some people drop out, move out of SC and funds become available to the next in line.
- Note: The Federal Poverty line metric increases annually for inflation, so parents can expect a slight increase to the eligibility numbers in future years of the program. Make sure to check annually for the new eligibility threshold in case your household income becomes within the limits of the program.
- A child may not receive both an Exceptional SC scholarship (scholarship for special needs) and an ESTF scholarship.