Tuition Assistance Information
Westside School offers need-based tuition assistance to families of students in grades kindergarten through fifth. The program exists to help any admitted student, with demonstrated need, have the opportunity to attend the school.
The school’s Tuition Assistance Committee administers the financial assistance process. We use the services of School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey, for the computation and evaluation of need. All matters regarding financial assistance are completely confidential.
How does a family apply for financial assistance? Contact the Westside School office for the appropriate forms. The completed Parents’ Financial Statement should be sent to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey, by February 26, 2010. Remember to enclose the $20.00 processing fee and include the four-digit code number (1796) for Westside in Item 7A of the Parents’ Financial Statement.
In addition, a copy of your most recent, signed IRS 1040 tax form with supporting schedules and W-2’s, and, if applicable, the Business/Farm Statement, should be submitted along with the Westside School Tuition Assistance Application form to the Westside Office by February 26, 2010. (If your family does not file a tax return, please notify the Admissions Office.)
All information related to the parents’ financial circumstances will be treated confidentially. The requested forms will only be used to arrive at a fair determination of financial need.
How is financial need determined? Financial need is defined as the difference between what it costs to attend Westside School and a family’s ability to pay. The Report of Family Contribution (RFC) is sent to us (and to the family for an additional $12.00) by SSS. It provides the committee with a general assessment of a family’s ability to pay for education. Major factors in determining financial need include, but are not limited to, income, assets (including home equity, college funds, and investments), number of dependents, and the number of children attending tuition-charging institutions, excluding daycare and graduate school.
The Tuition Assistance Committee may recalculate the RFC in the following cases: a family’s reduction in income, divorce or separation of parents, a non-working parent, and loss of income or unusual expenses. The RFC does not bind the committee to any specific award.
Grants All assistance is awarded as grants that do not require repayment.
Do I have to apply for tuition assistance before I know my child has been admitted? Yes, because the timelines for admission and tuition assistance overlap and our goal is to inform you of our tuition assistance decision in time for you to meet the admission acceptance deadlines.
Does applying for tuition assistance influence the admission decision? No. Tuition assistance files are reviewed and awards made only after a student is admitted. However, in order to receive a decision on tuition assistance at the time of acceptance, financial assistance requests must be made by February 26, 2010.
If parents are requesting tuition assistance for more than one student at Westside, are there special instructions? Parents need to file only one Parents’ Financial Statement.
Is tuition assistance automatically renewed each year? No. We require that families receiving tuition assistance reapply each year. However, as long as the student remains at our school, tuition assistance will be renewed each year according to demonstrated need. Changes in such things as income, family status, or the number of children attending tuition charging institutions may result in increases or decreases in an award. Every application is reviewed annually.
What happens if the parents are divorced or separated? In the case of divorce or separation, the Tuition Assistance Committee will consider the resources of both natural parents, if living, before making any award. Therefore, each parent is required to complete a tuition assistance application. If either parent has remarried, the committee may take into consideration the income and assets of the new blended family.
How and when will I be notified of my award? Families applying for tuition assistance will receive a letter or phone call from the Tuition Assistance Committee informing them of their award. Families will be informed of tuition assistance decisions by March 18.
What payment plans are available? Westside offers several payment plans that will be more fully described in the admissions packet.
I still have questions. Who can I call? For further information or assistance, please call the school office at 206-932-2511 or the Director of Finance, Julie at juliej@westsideschool.org.