Homeschool benefits and savings in Cambridge

The City of Cambridge Scholarship is a one-time award, $3,000 each in 2025, paid straight to your student's college or training program. Any Cambridge resident of any age who is attending, admitted to, or has applied to an accredited school beyond high school can apply; the 2026 round closed March 4, 2026. Other options include recreation and camp discounts.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Cambridge City Scholarship

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Cambridge

   The award is for Cambridge residents, and the city says all ages may apply, so a homeschool graduate, an older sibling, or a parent returning to school can each apply.

2. Is headed to accredited postsecondary study

   Your student must be attending, admitted to, or have a pending application at an accredited institution beyond the high school level before the May award date.

3. Has not won before

   The scholarship is granted one time only, so past recipients cannot apply again.

4. Shows need and involvement

   A six-member committee of Cambridge residents ranks applicants on academic achievement, financial need, community involvement and extracurricular activities, and special circumstances.

What it is worth

The City of Cambridge reports 86 awards of $3,000 each in 2025 and $3.85 million across 1,519 scholarships since the fund began in 1993.

One scholarship in 2025

$3,000

Total awarded in 2025

$258,000

Scholarships awarded since 1993

1,519

Total awarded since 1993

$3.85 million

Awards per person

One

The city has not posted the 2026 award amount, so ask the Finance Department what the next round will pay before you plan around $3,000.

From applying to payment

1. Before you apply

   Gather your documents

   You need the completed application, a high school or college transcript, an evaluation from a counselor, advisor, clergy member, teacher, professor, or professional associate, and a financial aid questionnaire.

2. By the deadline

   Apply online

   Submit the application through the city's online application portal with the required signatures. The 2026 deadline was March 4, 2026, and the 2027 dates are not posted yet.

3. May

   Awards are announced

   The Scholarship Committee reviews, ranks, and selects recipients for the May award date.

4. 2026-2027 school year

   Funds go to the school

   The city pays the scholarship directly to your student's institution for use during the 2026-2027 academic year.

What it pays for

Covered

• Costs at an accredited college or postsecondary program
• The 2026-2027 academic year

Not covered

• Cash paid to your family
• A second award for past recipients

The money goes to the institution, not to you, so it shows up as a credit on your student's school bill.

Who to contact

The Finance Department runs the scholarship fund and answers questions about eligibility, documents, and deadlines.

Scholarships@cambridgema.gov 617-349-4220 City Scholarship page

Cambridge Recreation Scholarship

Who qualifies

1. Child is 3 to 12

   Only children ages 3 to 12 are eligible for scholarship assistance.

2. Proves Cambridge residency

   Proof of residency must come with the scholarship request form.

3. Documents household income

   Report the income of every adult in the household in writing and include a copy of your 2025 tax return. Leaving out or under-reporting income disqualifies the request.

4. Within the yearly limit

   Each child can receive no more than two scholarships between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, and only two children per family can get help each semester.

What programs cost

The War Memorial Recreation Center's Fall 2026 guide lists these resident fees for 10-week Saturday sessions; a scholarship pays part of the fee.

Children's swim lessons, ages 5-12

$90

Higher swim levels, ages 5-14

$100

Pee Wee Tennis, ages 4-7

$90

Gymnastics, ages 2-4

$95

Gymnastics, ages 5-8

$100

Kenpo Karate, two checks

$200

The guide says only that partial scholarships are available, not what share they cover, so ask the War Memorial office what you will owe before you mail the forms.

How to apply

1. Before you register

   Pick a program and fill out both forms

   Complete the registration form and the Recreation Department Scholarship Request Form at the back of the season's guide.

2. When you apply

   Mail the forms without payment

   Mail both forms with proof of residency, income documents, and a copy of your 2025 tax return to Vladimir Pierre, Fall 2026 Registration, 51 Inman Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. Do not send a check yet.

3. After confirmation

   Pay your share

   If your child receives a scholarship, you will be asked to pay when your confirmation arrives, by check made payable to the City of Cambridge.

4. Each semester

   Apply again

   Scholarships are granted per semester, with up to two per child in the July 1 to June 30 year.

What it pays for

Covered

• Part of the fee for War Memorial youth programs
• Swim lessons, tennis, gymnastics, and karate for ages 3-12

Not covered

• Children 13 and older
• More than two scholarships per child a year
• More than two children per family each semester

Good to know

• Use it for War Memorial Recreation Center classes

  The scholarship form is part of the War Memorial Recreation Center guide, which lists youth swim lessons, tennis, gymnastics, and Kenpo Karate. The fall 2026 classes run on Saturdays from September 19 to November 21.

Who to contact

The War Memorial Recreation Center front office answers questions about programs, registration, and scholarship requests.

warmemorial@cambridgema.gov 617-349-6279 War Memorial programs

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Massachusetts

Obtain approval of your home education plan from the resident district before instruction begins or withdrawing a child of compulsory school age. Renewal and reporting follow the district’s homeschool policy.

Massachusetts sets these rules:

• Subjects: The approved plan must provide instruction in the studies required by law, equal in thoroughness, efficiency, and progress to the local public schools. Districts review content, materials, instructional time, methods, and evaluation.
• Testing: Assessment methods and reporting follow the locally approved plan. Massachusetts does not impose one statewide annual standardized-test requirement.
• Records: Keep the progress evidence and reports required by your approved district plan; the state does not prescribe a single homeschool portfolio format.
• Teachers: State educator-licensing requirements for public schools do not apply to home instruction.

Read the Massachusetts homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Massachusetts

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