Anyone making a 6-figure salary (combined or not) receiving financial aid?

[Anonymous]

Not exactly. In Catholic schools, they fully advertise the discounted tuition for multiple students and everyone is eligible. There is no application process -- you simply get the multiple-student rate. The Archdiocese offers financial aid that folks can apply for -- my sister applied for it (she has two kids and a six-figure salary) and was denied. Upon following up, it was discovered that you have to have a salary around $40k or less to qualify for financial aid (at least on the elementary level). Catholic high schools offer more financial aid programs and scholarships to ensure adequate diversity since tuition in area Catholic HSs starts at upwards of $15k (and that doesn't include books and other fees).

And I can't imagine anyone making $200k getting financial aid for their kids.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, Sidwell Friends actually has a financial aid calculator -- you type in how big your family is (in the OP's case = 6) and your income (OP = $200k+) and the response is: NO FINANCIAL AID for this category.

[Anonymous]

but is your family is nice enough, you'll get it over others with no such luck. The law says to offer equal opportunity which schools do, not to give it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I echo the sentiments of the PP. I am one of 4 and my parents put us through Catholic elementary and high schools and they never got a break other than having the reduced tuition rates for multiple kids in the same school (ie: when 3 of us were in elementary school, let's say using today's tuition rates that instead of paying $6k per kid or $18k for three kids, they paid something like $15k). The break isn't as big as you would think. Having said that, I know a family with 6 kids that I went to school with and their daughters worked in the cafeteria at HC high school in exchange for a deeper tuition discount.

With the logic of, "but it's expensive sending 4 kids to private school even with a $200k salary..." then it would make sense that families with 2 kids and a salary of $100k should get a break too -- and then everyone would get a break. It just doesn't work that way. And if you are struggling now with elementary school tuition, just wait until you get HS tuition bills -- which are typically two to three times more than elem school.

Correct. I think that a family with two kids and 100K in income should get financial aid--they cannot afford 50K in tuition costs.

[Anonymous]

"Correct. I think that a family with two kids and 100K in income should get financial aid--they cannot afford 50K in tuition costs."

Good luck with that argument

But then everyone would essentially be eligible for financial aid. Which school(s) are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FWIW, Sidwell Friends actually has a financial aid calculator -- you type in how big your family is (in the OP's case = 6) and your income (OP = $200k+) and the response is: NO FINANCIAL AID for this category.

No, it says "No financial aid families at Sidwell in this category". But if you put in family of 4 and #200,000+, it comes up with average grant of $10,000. So it apparently is based on families currently receiving aid, not on a theoretical figure.

My guess is that, for families with this income, only families who will really have trouble paying would even apply for aid. So, for most families with an income above 200,000, they would not necessarily get anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly. In Catholic schools, they fully advertise the discounted tuition for multiple students and everyone is eligible. There is no application process -- you simply get the multiple-student rate. The Archdiocese offers financial aid that folks can apply for -- my sister applied for it (she has two kids and a six-figure salary) and was denied. Upon following up, it was discovered that you have to have a salary around $40k or less to qualify for financial aid (at least on the elementary level). Catholic high schools offer more financial aid programs and scholarships to ensure adequate diversity since tuition in area Catholic HSs starts at upwards of $15k (and that doesn't include books and other fees).

And I can't imagine anyone making $200k getting financial aid for their kids.

Well, in all fairness, most Catholic schools have a much lower tuition than the private independant schools people here are talking about.

My son's Catholic school charges $6,000 tuition each year for non-parishioners. We can pay that with no financial aid on a $100,000 HHI.

We could NOT pay 4 times that, however. Without financial aid, $24,000 tuition would be impossible for us. Even if we were making $150,000 a year, $24,000 would just not be possible.

[Anonymous]

Catholic HSs are $15-25k+ and they do not offer financial aid to most folks -- and when they do, it's to ensure diversity (racial, not socieconomic). And most Catholic HSs do not offer reduced tuition for multiple kids in HS (but elementary schools do).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..., but when you have four of them, you are making a financial decision ....
Please don't expect others to pick up the cost.

Isn't every child worth the same? Should education be something that depends on parents income level?

Every child is entitled to a free education. It's called public school. You want private school? Fine and dandy. Just pay for it. By yourself. Having children you can't afford and expecting everyone else to subsidize your life is called welfare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:..., but when you have four of them, you are making a financial decision ....
Please don't expect others to pick up the cost.

Isn't every child worth the same? Should education be something that depends on parents income level?

Every child is entitled to a free education. It's called public school. You want private school? Fine and dandy. Just pay for it. By yourself. Having children you can't afford and expecting everyone else to subsidize your life is called welfare.

Excuse me, but every child is entitled to MUCH more than what DCPS has to offer. Just because all families can't pay $25K a year, doesn't mean their child deserves any less. Personally, I think these private schools know that & are taking advantage of the situation. I think they are ALL way overpriced!!

[Anonymous]

note to self:
if we ever apply to a private school, don't tell anyone we qualify for aid - the attitudes on this and the other thread about financial aid are shameful

[Anonymous]

To the PP: I don't think you can make that sweeping generalization. I think the reaction has been sparked by the fact that the OP makes $200k+ and thinks she should qualify for FA. It's sort of ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every child is entitled to a free education. It's called public school. You want private school? Fine and dandy. Just pay for it. By yourself. Having children you can't afford and expecting everyone else to subsidize your life is called welfare.

Why so harsh?
We are talking about education here. It is something that it supposed to be for everyone. Public school does not meet the needs of everyone. Why judge?

[Anonymous]

Posts like this make me crazy. I wonder if this is the same poster who posted to the email list serve about how terrible it is that the truly poor parents get subsidized child care, when she doesn't.

Selfish, selfish, selfish.

I make $80k a year and can't pay my mortgage and daycare for my two kids. I am losing my house. Nobody is going to subsidize my daycare. I often wonder how the truly poor, the working poor, possibly get by.

I am not trying to flame. I am expressing exasperation with the selfishness of people who make a lot of money and then go looking for handouts. I think they have a really warped perspective on life.

I bet the OP will still be taking one or two nice vacations this year, possibly in her vacation home!!!

[Anonymous]

I don't have a strong view on this (unlike many people on this thread) but I think that the views that it is "selfish", etc. for the OP to apply for financial aid don't make sense given that some schools actually give aid for people in her situation. I am talking about the reference to the Sidwell calculator ($10,000 for a family of 4, $200 HHI). So if this is true then maybe the schools are inflating their tuition (as someone else suggested) since there are plenty of people who wouldn't bat an eye at paying even more 40k, 50k, etc. for private school tuition. And then they offer aid for people who cannot afford the inflated tuition.

I have no idea whether tuition is actually inflated, but it seems plausible if aid is offered to families making 200k- just a thought.