List of 13 items.

• Who can apply for Tuition Assistance?

  Any student currently enrolled and new applicants may apply for Tuition Assistance. Tuition Assistance grants will be awarded to newly accepted students and current students enrolled for the following school year and whose tuition account is current. Families are encouraged to apply for Tuition Assistance after they have used as much of their own resources as possible. Approximately 20% of Clairbourn students receive Tuition Assistance, based on demonstrated need.

• How do I apply for Tuition Assistance?

  Access the FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) online application by visiting FAST or clicking on the “Apply for Tuition Assistance”. For new student applying to the school, applications and tax information must be received by February 15. Returning student applications and tax information must be submitted no later than February 28.

• Will I qualify for assistance?

  Every family situation is reviewed carefully and confidentially, and an individual decision is made based on all available information. Therefore, it is very difficult to offer general guidelines by which you can determine your own eligibility.

• What factors are considered?

  Clairbourn’s Tuition Assistance awards are strictly need-based with information provided by FAST and Tax Returns supplied by each family. Tuition Assistance awards are not given for academic merit or special talents. Qualified middle school students in grades 6-8 may apply for a separate Middle School Merit Scholarship which can be combined with Tuition Assistance. 
  
  Although family income level is an important consideration, many other factors enter into the decision-making process: number of children in the family, number of children attending schools for which tuition is paid, other family dependents, assets (including housing) and liabilities, unusual expenses, etc. The school will learn of these
  special considerations from the information you provide on the application.

• To what extent will I be expected to use my own resources?

  We begin the review of each family’s financial circumstances with the assumption that family resources will be used to the maximum extent possible. We anticipate that this will involve some degree of sacrifice. We ask that you give careful thought to the maximum amount of tuition that you can reasonably pay, and ask only for that which cannot realistically be paid from your own resources or those of your extended family.

• What is the size of a typical award? Is there a dollar limit?

  Because each application is reviewed individually, each Tuition Assistance Award is individual. Clairbourn is committed to helping as many qualifying families as possible to make a Clairbourn education possible.

• Will I be expected to repay the tuition assistance?

  No. Tuition Assistance is a grant, not a loan. If at some future date your family’s financial situation improves, we hope you will consider making a donation to the school to help enable other deserving students to attend Clairbourn. We also anticipate that each family
  who receives Tuition Assistance will make a yearly donation to the Annual Fund.

• What if I am separated/divorced/remarried?

  The non-custodial parent is expected to complete an online application. While recognizing that divorce can create challenging situations, it is expected that all available family resources will be committed to the Clairbourn education, from both the custodial and the non-custodial parent. It is also the school’s policy to consider the resources of a stepparent in making an award determination. However, unique or unusual circumstances will be considered.

• Must I reapply each year for assistance?

  Yes. Financial circumstances often change from year to year, and in order to allocate our limited resources wisely, it will be necessary for you to re-apply each year for Tuition Assistance. Many families keep a copy of their completed application to use as reference for the following year.

• Does tuition assistance affect my child’s chances for admission?

  No. Clairbourn maintains a need-blind admissions policy; that is, students are admitted on the basis of individual merit, not on the basis of ability to pay. The committee, which selects students, operates separately from the committee which allocates Tuition
  Assistance. Tuition Assistance requests are reviewed by the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees only after the admissions decisions have been made.

• Will my records be confidential?

  Yes. The Director of Business and Finance maintains strict confidentiality over Tuition Assistance files. Faculty, staff and students are not informed of Tuition Assistance decisions. Conversely, we ask that families keep their Tuition Assistance
  awards private.

• What if I do not qualify for sufficient Tuition Assistance?

  Several organizations offer various options specifically designed to meet tuition financing needs. Clairbourn does not endorse any organization or plan.

• Is there a payment plan option?

  The standard payment plan calls for payment of 60% of tuition on July 1 and 40% on January 1. You may wish to explore a monthly payment plan through the school, or a loan or payment plan through an outside organization.
   
  With the monthly payment plan, your tuition obligation is spread over 10 months with payments due on the first of each month beginning in June and ending the following March. 
  
  Families who make arrangements to pay monthly, are also required to participate in the Tuition Refund Plan (TRP Insurance). Families who have been approved for the monthly payment plan must also sign up for the school’s Automatic Payment Agreement where the payment will electronically be deducted from your designated bank account. 
  
  Please contact the Business Office for additional information. No other payment plan or loan options are offered by the school.