A Phoenix education is a substantial investment in your child’s future, but financial need should not discourage you from applying for admissions. The Phoenix School provides a needs-based financial aid program in order to help make a Phoenix education a possibility for qualified applicants regardless of their families’ financial circumstances. Our goal is to enroll a student body that represents a cross section of the greater North Shore area. The Phoenix School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, or sexual orientation.

A completed financial aid application is required of all families requesting financial assistance. The Financial Aid Committee reviews each request individually, using the information received from SSS and other supporting information you have provided, and makes awards based on the financial aid budget set by the Board of Trustees. Admissions decisions are made separate from financial aid decisions.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

• Parent may request financial aid materials by checking the financial aid box on the admissions application or by contacting Phoenix directly.
• We will mail you the School Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) Parents Financial Statement (PFS) to be filled out. Send the completed PFS with the processing fee to SSS by January 30th. You may also fill out your PFS online by going to www.nais.org and click on PFS Online. Always keep a copy for your records.
• Send a copy of your completed PFS form to The Phoenix School along with your 2007 federal tax form 1040, current W-2 forms, and 1099’s by February 15th.
• The Financial Aid Committee will review each request in late February and make its decision. You will be notified along with the admissions decision in early March.

Frequently Asked Questions about Financial Aid

Q. Is my family eligible for financial aid?
Q. What determines whether or not a student qualifies for financial aid?
Q. What is SSS and what role does it play in determining a financial aid award?
Q. What if we have not completed our tax return by the February 15th deadline? Will this delay a financial aid decision?
Q. How do I apply for financial aid if I am separated or divorced?
Q. How do we apply for financial aid if I/we are self-employed?
Q. After receiving a financial aid grant, do we need to reapply each year?
Q. If we have not previously received financial aid, is it possible to receive aid in future years?
Q. Does The Phoenix School offer merit scholarships?
Q. Do financial aid grants cover the full cost of tuition?
Q. Does The Phoenix School offer a payment plan?
Q. Where does financial aid funding come from?

Is my family eligible for financial aid?

Financial aid is monetary assistance provided by The Phoenix School to reduce educational costs to families based on financial need. Eligibility is based on many factors, so you should always investigate the possibility of receiving financial aid if you feel you cannot pay all the costs yourself. There is no specific income level at which a family is no longer eligible for aid.

What determines whether or not a student qualifies for financial aid?

All financial aid grants are based on financial need. Each request for aid is assessed individually. The Phoenix School uses SSS (School and Student Service) to process financial data. The need assessment is based on family income and expenses, assets and liabilities, family size, and the number of children attending tuition charging schools. Each year families qualify for more financial aid than is available.

What is SSS and what role does it play in determining a financial aid award?
NAIS’s School Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, NJ is a service used by over 90% of independent schools to calculate the amount of money a family can contribute towards education based on the information you provide. SSS will analyze the information on the PFS to estimate your family’s ability to contribute to educational expenses and send a report to the School. Phoenix will use this information along with the other material you provide as part of our assessment.

What if we have not completed our tax return by the February 15th deadline? Will this delay a financial aid decision?
No, you should complete all of the required forms for SSS, and send them off to Princeton, NJ by January 30th. The Financial Aid Committee will accept last year’s tax return as a basis, and the financial aid award will be contingent upon receiving a copy of your completed tax return for 2007. We also require a copy of the parents’ 2007 W-2 forms at the time of application in the event that your taxes have not yet been completed.

How do I apply for financial aid if I am separated or divorced?
In the case of divorced or separated parents, both parents are expected to complete financial aid applications. The income and assets of both parents are taken into consideration. All individual financial information is held in the strictest confidence.

How do we apply for financial aid if I/we are self-employed?
You may request a SSS Business/Farm Statement that is required of owners of businesses applying for financial assistance. This form should be completed and returned directly to the school(s) where you are applying for aid. Do not mail this form to SSS.

After receiving a financial aid grant, do we need to reapply each year?
Yes, because family finances can change, families must apply for financial aid each year. Unless there is a significant change in a family’s financial situation, the Financial Aid Committee strives to award a level similar to the previous year’s grant.

If we have not previously received financial aid, is it possible to receive aid in future years?

Phoenix is strongly committed to the continuation of its students’ enrollment. We recognize that a family’s financial circumstances may change over time. Any Phoenix family facing unexpected financial need is encouraged to engage in the financial aid process.

Does The Phoenix School offer merit scholarships?

All Phoenix students are admitted on merit. There are no financial rewards for merit.

Do financial aid grants cover the full cost of tuition?

No. The Financial Aid Committee makes the grant decisions for each family based on need. Each family contributes financially according to their ability to do so.

Does The Phoenix School offer a payment plan?

Yes. Families may opt to pay their tuition in 10 equal monthly installments (June-March) or in two payments in June and January. There is a non-refundable deposit due upon acceptance of the Reservation Agreement.

Where does financial aid funding come from?

In fact, all of Phoenix’s students are the beneficiaries of a form of financial assistance, as actual tuition does not cover the cost of educating a student each year. The school’s Annual Fund, parent fundraisers, and grant income all combine to make up the balance. The school’s operating budget provides 100% of the financial aid funding.