Affording Parish

While household income is the most significant factor in determining whether a student will qualify for tuition assistance, tuition grants are also significantly influenced by the amount of family assets and debts, unusual expenses, family size, the number of children in tuition-charging schools and the tuition at each grade level. Given the number of factors that affect the grant calculation, as well as the unique circumstances of each family, it is impossible to predict how much tuition assistance a student will qualify for. However, the following table offers examples of students who received tuition assistance for the 2020-2021 school year. These examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to assume or estimate a specific grant for your student.

Using the first line as an example, 11 families with incomes ranging from $0 to $50,000 applied for tuition assistance, and all 11 families received tuition grants. Those grants ranged from $16,965 to $31,960. The amount of Parish tuition the families in that income range paid was between $500 and $7,000 per child. Please note that Parish does not offer full-tuition grants. The minimum tuition contribution is $500.

*Please note that to qualify for a larger award in this range, families typically had more than one child in a tuition-charging school.
**Please note that to qualify for any award in this range, families typically had multiple children in tuition-charging schools.

Returning students must reapply every year – check myPARISH portal for details on how to apply. Applications for tuition assistance for returning students are due November 30, 2020.

New applicants:

1. Complete your admission application by January 8, 2021 and be sure to check the box for tuition assistance.

2. Complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at School and Student Services (SSS) by February 8, 2021. Be sure to have the PFS report sent to Parish Episcopal School, code 5660. SSS charges a $55 fee to process the PFS. For families who qualify based on their financial information, the fee will be waived by SSS when the PFS is submitted. When asked on the PFS how much you can contribute toward your child’s educational expenses, please do not answer $0. Parish does not offer full-tuition grants. Carefully consider what you are able to pay toward tuition, rather than what you would like to pay.

3. Submit required tax documents to School and Student Services. Your application is not complete and cannot be processed without the following documents:

• Signed copy of 2019 personal tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) including all schedules
• 2019 W-2s
• Signed copy of 2018 personal tax return (Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ) including all schedules
• 2018 W-2s
• Copy of most recent paystub for each salaried parent
•  Signed copies of 2019 and 2018 business tax returns and accompanying schedules for each business owned by a parent (Form 1040 Schedules C and E for sole proprietors, Form 1065 for partnerships, Form 1120 for corporations and Form 1120S for S-Corps).

Returning students:
Applications are due November 30, 2020
Decisions will be sent February 1, 2021

New applicants:
Applications are due February 8, 2021
Decisions will be sent March 13, 2021

New sibling applicants:
Applications are due November 30, 2020
Decisions will be sent March 13, 2021

Tuition assistance is provided in the form of tuition-reducing grants for tuition and fees. Grants are not discounts, but actual dollars credited to the student’s tuition account. They are not loans and do not need to be repaid. Parish also offers supplemental support for students who qualify for the highest level of tuition assistance to help defray some of the costs of attendance over and above tuition.

The majority of tuition assistance is provided to students in 5th – 12th grade. Tuition assistance is not available for PreK and is limited to half of tuition for Kindergarten.

Other than three named scholarships for students who demonstrate significant financial need, Parish does not offer merit aid or academic, athletic or arts scholarships. Tuition assistance applicants will be notified if they meet the criteria to apply for a named scholarship.

Parish does not offer full-tuition grants. When asked on the application how much you will contribute toward your child’s educational expenses, please do not answer $0. Carefully consider what you are able to pay toward tuition, rather than what you would like to pay.

Tuition assistance is determined by a family’s ability to pay (rather than willingness to pay) and the availability of funds each year. In requesting tuition assistance, families should carefully plan, budget and adjust spending to demonstrate that an independent school education is a family priority.

Parish works with School and Student Service (SSS), a third-party organization, to collect and analyze families’ financial information. Families applying for assistance should disclose all resources, including 529 plans, income from cash-based businesses, gifts from family members, etc.

The School uses the amount calculated by SSS that a family can afford to pay toward tuition as a starting point. When determining the final grant, the School takes many factors into account, including the number of children in tuition-charging schools, unusual expenses and extenuating circumstances, as well as discretionary spending such as vacations, club memberships, club sports, financial support to other family members, charitable contributions and vehicle expenses. (If a family applies to multiple schools that use the SSS Parents Financial Statement, they could receive differing amounts of tuition assistance because schools have varying tuition assistance policies and budgets.)

In keeping with the principle that each family bears the primary responsibility for financing a student’s education, for families requesting tuition assistance, both parents should be fully employed to the best of their abilities. With a few exceptions, an imputed income will be added for any able parent who is not providing income when calculating a family’s ability to pay.

Yes, families must reapply for tuition assistance each year. The amount of assistance will vary from year to year based on available funds and the family’s changing financial situation. As a family’s income grows, tuition assistance will decrease accordingly. Should a family’s financial situation weaken, the School will endeavor to increase the level of assistance if funds are available.

Yes. In order to treat all applications for tuition assistance equitably and to gain a holistic picture of a family’s ability to contribute toward tuition, any parent with any custodial rights must file an application and provide the required documents for a child’s application to be considered. If a parent has sole custody, the School may request a copy of the custody agreement. All information is strictly confidential, and no parent will have access to another parent’s financial information.

Tuition assistance grants are awarded to the student. The family then determines how the tuition balance will be paid. The school is not bound by divorce agreements, court orders or assertions that one parent is unwilling to pay educational expenses.

Remarriage of either parent creates a new family unit with new relationships. Financial information and required documents from step-parents must also be included in the tuition assistance application.