ATLANTA--The Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) have a tiered schedule of tuition and fees.

The most favorable rates apply to "participating parishioners" in Charlotte Catholic parishes, a designation that comes from the pastor of the family's parish who signs an appropriate form.

The 1995-96 tuition rate for participating parishioners is $2,232 for elementary and middle school and $3,932 for high school. In addition an annual capital contribution is required of $600 per family to support the present and future building needs. A multiple child discount program is available to participating parishioners of 10 percent discount for the third child in the family, 25 percent for the fourth and 35 percent for fifth or subsequent children in the MACS system.

Participating parishioners are also eligible to apply for tuition assistance from a fund created through contributions from parishes within the MACS system by a formula based partially on parish offertory. Parishes outside Mecklenburg County also contribute to the fund based upon the number of parishioners attending MACS schools. In 1995-96 the parishes will contribute over $1.2 million to MACS for the tuition assistance program.

Everyone is provided appropriate forms to apply for tuition assistance without needing to request them. Forms are submitted to an outside tuition aid organization selected by the diocese, which analyzes the forms anonymously, and applies criteria to determine need and apply available funds in an equitable manner. There is also a second smaller fund available for families who have received maximum aid through the tuition assistance program and need additional assistance.

Those designated participating parishioners also have a higher priority of admission to schools over non-participating parishioners and non-Catholics if the schools are full.

The tuition rate for non-participating parishioners and non-Catholics is $3,705 for elementary and middle school and $5,446 for high school. The annual capital contribution is $600 per child in the MACS system and a separate tuition assistance fund is maintained. This tuition assistance fund is self-funded.

All applicants to the MACS system regardless of parish membership pay a book fee of $150 per student in elementary and middle school and a course-determined book fee in high school. A registration fee of $50 per student is also applied at all schools in the MACS system. --Gretchen Keiser