Private school, nonsectarian
The Highlands School
Bel Air, MD · Grades 1 to 12 · 65 students
Can a 529 pay for The Highlands School?
Yes. Federal law lets a 529 plan pay tuition at a private, public or religious elementary or secondary school, up to $20,000 a year per student. The Highlands School is a private school serving grades 1 to 12, so its tuition is the kind of cost this covers.
What a 529 can pay
- Tuition, up to $20,000 a year per student
- Curriculum, books and instructional materials
- Tutoring and classes outside the home
- Fees for SAT, ACT, AP and other exams
- Online educational materials
- Educational therapies for a student with a disability
What it can’t
- Registration, application and building fees
- Activity, field trip and technology fees
- Uniforms, sports and extracurriculars
- School meals and transportation
- Aftercare and summer camps
Ask The Highlands School which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.
What Maryland does with it
The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in Maryland.
No difference reported for K-12 tuition in Maryland
As of January 2026, Maryland is not listed as treating K-12 tuition differently from federal law. State rules change, and a deduction you took for contributing can have its own conditions.
General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works
Plan and track The Highlands School costs
Add this school to a free plan, see how it fits with college savings, and log each tuition bill, book and test fee so it is checked against the rules and ready for tax time.
More private schools in Bel Air
- Bridges Montessori of Towson, IncGrades PK to 6
- Bridges Montessori of Towson, Inc.Grades PK to 6
- Emmorton Baptist AcademyGrades K to 12
- Grace Classical AcademyGrades PK to 12
- Harford Day SchoolGrades PK to 8
- John Carroll SchoolGrades 9 to 12
- St. Margaret SchoolGrades K to 8
School details: Bel Air, MD · Private (nonsectarian) · Grades 1 to 12. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.