For an Acadiana family at or under 250% of the federal poverty line, the most useful second layer after LA GATOR is a Tuition Donation Credit scholarship from a school tuition organization. It only works at a school that takes STO students, and in these eight parishes that list looks very different inside and outside Lafayette Parish.
How the layers stack
- LA GATOR first. $5,243, $7,626 or up to $15,253, paid through Odyssey.
- STO scholarship second. Under Act 403 an STO award is applied after LA GATOR, and the two together cannot exceed the school's actual tuition and fees. STO awards are capped at the lesser of tuition and fees or 80% of the state per-pupil amount for K-8 and 90% for high school. Families qualify at or under 250% of poverty ($80,375 for a family of four) if the child was in public school, is entering kindergarten or already held a state scholarship.
- School and parish aid third. Parishioner rates, sibling discounts and need-based aid.
- Tax benefits last. The state tuition deduction applies to what you paid yourself.
Participation by parish, 2024-25
| Parish | Approved schools | On the STO list |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | 24 | 8 |
| Acadia | 6 | 5 |
| Evangeline | 1 | 0 |
| Iberia | 4 | 4 |
| St. Landry | 7 | 4 |
| St. Martin | 3 | 3 |
| St. Mary | 6 | 3 |
| Vermilion | 2 | 2 |
Lafayette Parish is the outlier. 8 of its 24 approved schools were on the list, and several of the largest Catholic elementary schools and St. Thomas More were not. The state list does not say why a school is or is not on it, so ask the school about 2026-27.
Every STO school in the eight parishes
Lafayette Parish
- Carencro Catholic Elementary School (Carencro, grades PK-8)
- Episcopal School of Acadiana (Lafayette lower campus) (Lafayette, grades PK-5)
- Gethsemane Christian Academy (Lafayette, grades PK-8)
- Holy Family Catholic School (Lafayette, grades PK-8)
- John Paul the Great Academy (Lafayette, grades PK-12)
- Lafayette Christian Academy (Lafayette, grades 8-12)
- Teurlings Catholic High School (Lafayette, grades 9-12)
- Westminster Christian Academy (Lafayette) (Lafayette, grades PK-12)
Acadia Parish
- Notre Dame High School (Crowley, grades 9-12)
- Our Mother of Peace School (Church Point, grades PK-8)
- Rayne Catholic Elementary School (Rayne, grades PK-8)
- St. Francis School (Iota, grades PK-8)
- St. Michael School (Crowley, grades PK-8)
Iberia Parish
- Acadiana Christian School (New Iberia, grades PK-12)
- Catholic High School (New Iberia, grades 4-12)
- Highland Baptist Christian School (New Iberia, grades PK-12)
- St. Edward School (New Iberia, grades PK-3)
St. Landry Parish
- Family Worship Christian Academy (Opelousas, grades PK-12)
- Opelousas Catholic School (Opelousas, grades PK-12)
- St. Ignatius School (Grand Coteau, grades PK-8)
- Westminster Christian Academy (Opelousas) (Opelousas, grades PK-12)
St. Martin Parish
- Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade, grades 6-12)
- Evangel House Christian Academy (St. Martinville, grades 6-12)
- St. Bernard School (Breaux Bridgee, grades PK-8)
St. Mary Parish
- Central Catholic School (Morgan City, grades PK-12)
- Hanson Memorial School (Franklin, grades 6-12)
- St. John Elementary School (Franklin, grades PK-5)
Vermilion Parish
- Maltrait Memorial School (Kaplan, grades PK-8)
- Vermilion Catholic (Abbeville, grades PK-12)
Source: LDOE, Tuition Donation Credit Program 2024-2025 Participating Nonpublic Schools.
Order of operations
- Apply for LA GATOR in the spring window.
- Apply to more than one STO using the same income papers.
- Get each school's all-in cost and aid form.
- Take the award letter to the school and ask for the balance in writing.