Wheeler Awarded $1.2M Multi-Year Grant to Support Underserved Students
November 9, 2026
Head of School Mark Anderson P’27 is proud to announce that Wheeler is the recipient of a $1.2 million grant from The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI), a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates educational opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged children.
The grant will fully fund two students at Wheeler – including tuition, fees, and all other school-related expenses – from kindergarten through 8th grade. Wheeler will then cover the full cost of their Wheeler Upper School education, ensuring full financial assistance all the way through graduation.
Through partnerships with independent schools like Wheeler, TCEI provides wraparound support that enables students from low-income families to enter top educational environments beginning in their earliest school years. Their model, which emphasizes privacy, dignity, and full inclusion, helps students reach their academic potential and develop a deep sense of belonging in their school communities.
“As a school that has high expectations for its students while providing them with equally high levels of personalized support, our mission directly aligns with that of TCEI,” says Mr. Anderson. “We are grateful and excited to receive such a transformational grant from the organization.”
Wheeler is just the 15th school selected across the United States – and only the second in New England – to partner with TCEI, following a comprehensive and competitive application process.
“We are proud to join a cohort of exceptional independent schools that want to be accessible to a socioeconomically diverse population of students,” says Director of Enrollment Anna Curtis P’36, P’38. “This grant will build on our own commitment to financial aid, and will allow us to open the doors even wider to bright and curious students who could not otherwise afford a Wheeler education.”
The two students who will be the initial beneficiaries of TCEI’s grant will be part of Wheeler’s incoming kindergarten class next fall. We look forward to welcoming them to our community and supporting their growth throughout their educational journeys at Wheeler.
