Tuition Assistance FAQs

41% of Waynflete families receive tuition assistance.

Awards are need-based grants which subsidize tuition for a family. Re-payment is unnecessary. 

Tuition assistance is applied to tuition and includes textbooks. Co-curricular activities and most sports are free of any costs.

Expenses a family may incur include:

Transportation: Rates vary. A cost sheet is available from Waynflete's Admission Office.

Afterschool Program (Early Childhood-Grade 8): Rates vary. Please contact Waynflete's Admission Office for further details.

Academic Tutoring: Waynflete's Academic Support Center provides tutoring for students who, in the School's judgment, need additional assistance in meeting the School's rigorous academic standards. Rates will be discussed in the early stages of implementing an academic support plan.

It may. Families applying for tuition assistance enter a more competitive applicant pool. Waynflete annually receives more requests for assistance than can be fulfilled.

While Waynflete has an annual tuition assistance budget of $5 million, the School annually receives more requests for assistance than can be met. Families are asked to apply for tuition assistance only after they have considered all of their other available resources.

Waynflete uses School and Student Services (SSS), a "need analysis" offered through the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). By filing a thorough and accurate Parents' Financial Statement (PFS), the SSS methodology is an important starting point for the School. Variables include household income, assets, debt, number of children in a tuition-charging school, age of parents, unusual expenses, and national economic factors (tax rates; cost of living; etc.).

Waynflete and SSS believe a family has the primary obligation to finance their child’s education. When offering tuition assistance, the School’s intent is to meet each family’s demonstrated need to the extent available funds allow.

The Waynflete Tuition Assistance Committee individually assesses a family’s financial situation. In addition to the SSS guidelines, assessment by the Committee is completed with degrees of professional judgement and in accordance with the School’s mission and policies.

The application for tuition assistance (PFS) asks how many children in a family will attend a tuition charging school. When calculating Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), available funds are divided by this figure.

Waynflete expects families will apply for assistance at each of the private schools their children attend and will take into account differing levels of tuition. Copies of tuition assistance awards from other schools may be requested.

Yes. One form may be used for multiple applicants. The application for assistance (PFS) should be carefully completed by parents in this regard.

Families receiving tuition assistance must reapply. Requests are reviewed each year. If financial circumstances remain consistent, a family can expect their award to be annually renewed for at least the same amount as the previous year. If a significant change in need is experienced, a family’s award may be adjusted.

To better understand calculated need each year, families are encouraged to review their Family Report available on the SSS website after an application is filed.

Waynflete’s first commitment is to maintain awards of families already receiving financial assistance. Currently enrolled families interested in submitting a tuition assistance application for the first time should contact the Admission Office prior to completing any paperwork.

The Tuition Assistance Committee requires each biological/custodial parent to separately submit a Parents Financial Statement (PFS) and supporting paperwork. If a biological/custodial parent is remarried or cohabitating, spouses or partners should be included on that parent’s PFS and supporting paperwork should be submitted. When determining an award, the Tuition Assistance Committee will consider all biological/custodial parties.

As needed, families can provide the School with important context on their PFS or by directly speaking with a member of the admission office. Under following circumstances, Waynflete will consider waiving the requirement of receiving paperwork from a parent:

1.       Documentation that states the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown.

2.       Documentation that the non-custodial parent has given no financial support and has had no significant contact with family in the recent past.

Documentation will be accepted from a lawyer, member of the clergy, doctor or any such objective person outside the immediate family

The application for tuition assistance (PFS) asks if parents are a full proprietor of, or partner in, one or more businesses or farms. Parents who are self-employed should answer "Yes" and complete all subsequent questions that appear. A copy of the most recent Federal income tax returns should be submitted, with all related Schedules. If applicable, a corporate tax return should also be submitted.

For current families, awards will be finalized at the start of the re-enrollment period. For newly accepted families, tuition assistance awards are included with letters of acceptance.

The Tuition Assistance Committee reviews tuition assistance files which are complete. Families who do not submit paperwork by stated deadlines may experience a delay in any tuition assistance award.

Families who apply and do not qualify for assistance are notified as soon as possible.

Federal tax returns are a critical part of the School’s review process. Taxes for the previous calendar year should be submitted with a tuition assistance application (PFS). Copies of most recent W2 or 1099 Forms should be submitted as soon they are received in January. A complete copy of latest tax return should be submitted as soon as possible, and by the April 15 filing deadline.

In this case, confidentiality has been broken. Tuition assistance is a private agreement between Waynflete and an individual family and discussing details of an award with another party is a breach of that privacy and the School's policies. Most families are unaware of every detail of another's financial picture and all the variables the Tuition Assistance Committee considered in the award process.

If a family feels pertinent and factual information about their own resources and/or financial picture might have been overlooked or misunderstood by the Committee, they may contact the Admission Office.

Awards are primarily based on income already earned. The Parents Financial Statement (PFS) does ask for projected earnings. When determining awards, Waynflete will work to consider projected changes in income.

We keep in mind parents may make decisions they feel will financially benefit them in the longer-term, if not immediately. Meanwhile, the School is typically unable to account for voluntary reductions in household income or resources.

Families facing extenuating circumstances may directly speak with a member of the Admission Office when completing their application for tuition assistance (PFS Form).

In general, property is unprotected when calculating tuition assistance. Rental income as well as the value of a property generally strengthens a financial picture.

The Tuition Assistance Committee will fully review a family's financial profile, including provisions made for retirement, and make decisions in accordance with the School's polices and sense of fairness.

Families facing extenuating circumstances may directly speak with a member of the Admission Office when completing their application for tuition assistance (PFS Form).

The Tuition Assistance Committee will carefully review personal and corporate tax forms, including profit income, debt and all held assets. As paperwork is reviewed the committee will ask for any needed clarification.

The Tuition Assistance Committee follows School and Service (SSS) guidelines. On the Parents Financial Statement information about a student’s financial assets is requested. A student contribution may be determined by dividing the value of the asset by the number of years remaining in school, including college.

Savings, investments, trust-funds, 529 Plans, or other assets will be carefully reviewed and considered when determining tuition assistance awards.