Financial Aid Question? How much can you earn and qualify???

[Anonymous]

Hi,
My husband and I are federal employees making decent salaries (240k combined, before taxes/deductions/etc.). We have a pre-schooler who is cognitively testing as a very bright little girl with physical problems (medical issues/chemo patient).

To us, our household expenses seem huge (medical care, nanny, etc.). Our older child will start public school this year. We live in the BCC cluster.

We are thinking of sending our younger child to private school and I guess looking at the "hot" ones on this board (Sheridan, Norwood, Harbor, Green Acres, just naming a few).

I was just wondering if anyone in our situation ever gets financial aid or do we make too much money? We were always planning on doing public but are fearful of huge class sizes.

[Anonymous]

There is positively NO one single answer. Each school has its own aid policies and practices, based solely on that school's priorities and finances. There is no uniformity (and no legal requirement for uniformity) of any kind, unless a particular school's policies are wildly, provably discriminatory (and parochial schools are allowed to discriminate in favor of the affiliated sect).

[Anonymous]

I would think that if you can document your medical expenses, you might get some aid. It couldn't hurt to apply and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

I am an independent school director of admission and financial aid. Every family is different. Even ones that makes 200K plus can in some cases qualify for financial aid. When we review applications we take a lot into account and can do our own calculations based on extenuating expenses. What we look out for are those families that look for aid, but take international family vacations, own expensive cars or own homes out of their pay grade. Schools are and should not be in the business of subsidizing a family's life style.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Our HHI is half yours and we didn't qualify for aid, but we only have one kid and don't have medical expenses. My best wishes for your daughter - I hope she is getting better and thriving.

[Anonymous]

Just to keep in mind--our school gives a little more to returning families rather than new families. That said, they base it on real expenses and extenuating circumstances, which you have. Best of luck, OP.