The Stanwich School Financial Assistance Program

The following are the necessary documents to apply for Financial Aid at The Stanwich School for the coming academic year. All funds are available on the basis of demonstrated financial need.

STEPS TO BE COMPLETED BY TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012

1) Obtain SSS Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) from The Stanwich School Admissions Department or go online to www.nais.org/financialaid/sss for electronic version of the PFS. For parents who are separated or divorced, both the custodial and non-custodial parents are required to complete and file a SSS Parents’ Financial Statement.

2) Compete the form and, if using paper form, send the original completed SSS Parents’ Financial Statement(s) to:
The School and Student Service of Financial Aid
P.O. Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-0449

3) All applicants should send to The Stanwich School Business Office:

- A copy of the file SSS Parents’ Financial Statement(s) (electronic or paper)

- For new families applying for aid, a signed copy of your complete and filed 2010 1040 income tax form plus all schedules. For parents who are separated or divorced, both the custodial and non-custodial parents are required to provide copies of their tax return.

- If available by January 17, a signed copy of both parents complete and filed 2011 1040 income tax form plus all schedules.

- A signed but undated copy of the IRS tax form 4506 Request for Copy of Tax Return.

STEPS TO BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN MARCH 5, 2012

1) Send to The Stanwich School Business Office:

- Copies of all Official 2011 W2 or 1099 forms.

- A signed copy of both parents complete and filed 2011 1040 income tax form plus all schedules. (Please note that no application is considered complete until the 2011 tax return is received).

- In the case of owners of businesses, federal tax returns and supporting schedules for those entities are required to be submitted. You may also be required to complete a Business/Farm Statement (provided by the Admissions Office).

NOTE: All of the forms listed above are required in order to ascertain the ability of a parent to assume the financial obligation of tuition. No grants will be made nor contract issued until all forms are received, and it is essential that they be filed on time. It takes from three to four weeks for SSS to process their applications. Decisions on awards must be made in March in order to inform renewal and new students of the aid they can expect. Late applications may result in a significantly reduced grant due to scarcity of funds.

Basic Principles:

The financial assistance application process is designed:

1) To provide an equal and fair means by which to evaluate financial need.
2) To allow qualified students from families with limited financial means to benefit from an independent school experience.
3) To enrich The Stanwich School community with capable students from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

Non-Discriminatory Policy:

The Stanwich School is committed to admitting children of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin and any religious preferences to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Stanwich School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or any religious preference in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Assumptions:

• The fairest way of determining the financial need of a family is to require the parents of each financial assistance applicant to submit a detailed financial statement in writing. This process is consistent with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid.

• Every Stanwich School family contributes towards the cost of educating their son or daughter in some way. In most cases, it is assumed that both parents will hold full time employment to fund these educational costs to the best of their abilities before seeking financial assistance from the school. It is assumed that families who apply for aid will not have extensive assets or memberships in clubs that require recurring dues and fees.

• First priority for financial assistance grants goes to The Stanwich School students who have been enrolled at the school for one or more years. As funds become available for new students, they will be distributed based on need, merit and timely completion of necessary application forms.

• Financial assistance is granted for one year at a time. New application forms must be filed yearly. The amount and number of financial assistance grants are subject to the availability of funds. Completion of all required forms by January is a prerequisite for consideration in the first round of candidates.

• The procedure used in determining the amount of need is closely modeled on that developed by the College Scholarship Service. The Committee considers a family’s net worth. These figures are balanced against taxes, educational expenses of other children, unusual debts and medical expenses. In general, financial assistance grants are awarded to those families with low incomes and substantial need. Grants will vary in size. Full scholarships may be granted. If financial circumstances improve, it is assumed that the parent will notify the Headmistress and will take responsibility for an increased amount of their child’s tuition and fees.