Is My Child Eligible for an ESA in SC?

To be eligible students must meet all the following:

Be a resident of South Carolina;

Be in kindergarten through 12th grade (not exceeding age 22);

Have a household income that does not exceed 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. For priority application status, household income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. See below:

Persons in Household	Household Income, 300% FPL	Household Income, 500% FPL
1	$46,950	$78,250
2	$63,450	$105,750
3	$79,950	$133,250
4	$96,450	$160,750
5	$112,950	$188,250
6	$129,450	$215,750
7	$145,950	$243,250
8	$162,450	$270,750

These numbers are calculated based on the 2025 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines. The income considered for your application is your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), found on line 11 of your 1040.

For households over 8, add $16,140 for each additional person to calculate 300%. Add $27,500 for each additional person to calculate 500%.

If a family is expecting a baby to be born in 2025, that baby can be counted as a household member for the purposes of determining income eligibility (medical documentation will need to be submitted with your application).

Priority Applicants:

If your student meet one or more of the following criteria, they are eligible for early priority in the ESTF application cycle.

Sibling(s) of current ESTF students (can apply starting Nov. 1, 2025)
Children of active duty military (can apply starting Jan. 15, 2026)
Household is at or below 300% of the federal poverty line (can apply starting Jan. 15, 2026)
Student attended public school during the previous school year (2025-26) (can apply starting Jan. 15, 2026)

How ESTF Works:

1. DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Using the criteria above, determine if your student is eligible to receive a ESTF scholarship for the 2026-27 school year. Reach out if you have questions or check out our FAQs page if you aren’t sure.

2. FILL OUT THE APPLICATION

Families can apply for these $7,500 scholarships through FACTS. Spots are limited and accepted on a rolling basis, so apply soon! You will need the following documents to apply:

– Proof of guardianship (tax return with dependents listed, birth certificate, etc.)

– Proof of income (2023 or 2024 tax return documentation. If you don’t file taxes, you’ll need to provide other documentation of your household income)

– Proof of residency (driver’s license or state-issued ID, utility bill, etc.)

3. PICK A PROVIDER

Private schools and other education service providers are currently applying to accept ESTF funds. You can log into your ClassWallet portal to see the most up-to-date list of provider options. Note that private school education service providers are not currently being listed on the ClassWallet portal, as legislation pends to allow ESTF to be used for private school tuition. If there is a school in your community you wish to see on the list, call them and ask them to get signed up as an education service provider! Once you are accepted to the program, you will receive an email from ClassWallet with more information and trainings on how to use your education scholarship account.

4. TRANSFER FUNDS

Once you are approved and pick your education service provider, you can direct payments from your education scholarship account to make payments and purchases for your child’s education. Funds will be loaded into your accounts in four installments throughout the year.