FAQ’s: Tuition Assistance
What kinds of tuition assistance does St. Philip’s Episcopal School offer?
St. Philip’s Episcopal School awards tuition assistance based on a family’s ability to pay as determined by Independent School Management Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) and a review of the family’s financial records. Awards are applied against tuition expenses for a given year and require reapplication each year. Awards are not intended to cover 100% of the cost of attending St. Philip’s; all families are expected to contribute to the cost of their child’s tuition.
How does our family apply for tuition assistance at St. Philip’s?
To apply for tuition assistance you must submit a number of tax documents and complete a FAST application as outlined on the St. Philip’s Tuition Assistance webpage. In order to be considered in the first round of tuition assistance decisions.
These materials must be filed online no later than January 15, 2020.
What happens if a student’s parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried?
In the case of divorced, separated, or unmarried parents, St. Philip’s considers the assets and income of both natural parents, if living, before making any award, and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses. Both the custodial and non-custodial parents must complete a separate FAST application.
Is tuition assistance guaranteed every year?
Reapplication for tuition assistance is required every year, and continued assistance requires that your family’s financial circumstances have not changed substantially and that all tuition assistance application materials are completed on time. Your tuition assistance award may increase, decrease, or remain the same depending on changes in financial circumstances from year to year. It is extremely important that families adhere to all deadlines.
Both parents are expected to contribute to tuition. If a parent chooses not to work, St. Philip’s will typically consider the earning power of a non-working spouse if there are no legitimate, documented reasons for the spouse to be unemployed.
At St. Philip’s we are blessed by families and individuals who support our school by contributing to the Annual Fund, which allows the school to bridge the gap between tuition revenue and the cost of educating our students.
Participation in this fund is critical to achieving our mission and allows us to provide superior student programming and faculty professional development. We request that all families participate in this effort at a level that fits their budget so that the school can achieve its mission and participation goals.