Anonymous wrote:We won’t qualify for financial aid, but can’t afford private either. Our income is high but we support our families back home. DD does very well academically. Does any school in DC offer financial aid based only on merit? Thanks

It's not common, but there are a handful of schools that offer merit-based scholarships at some grade levels (e.g., 9). If it's important to you, it's worth asking admission offices directly. It's certainly not an unreasonable question.

Unless your income is very high (around the mid-six figures), don't assume your family won't qualify for aid. Many with high incomes do qualify after other factors are weighed. For example, it's possible that SSS would not give you credit for money sent back home, but some schools may be willing to consider your support of family members in the equation because they find it admirable or simply because it's an expense. (I don't have any actual experience with this scenario; I'm just offering a reasonable hypothetical.) And there is nothing unethical about a school offering more aid to a family that it wants to attract. If yours is one, you may be able to secure more aid than the SSS calculations would seem to merit.

Overall, what is loosely called "financial aid" is a fungible resource, and it may depend on factors outside any family's control — for example, if a school's overall tuition reductions for a graduating class are heavy (because of faculty remission, learning support that the school underwrites, financial aid), there may be more available for incoming students than at other schools whose graduating students' tuitions are more lightly discounted. It's a balancing act everywhere.

Good luck.
Peter
_____________________

Disclaimer: The anonymity here makes me uncomfortable; it's too easy to write uninformed, personal, or mean-spirited posts if people don't identify themselves. For that reason, I have an account so you know whose words you're reading. I have more than 20 years' experience as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. I have read hundreds of admission files, and I have counseled hundreds of students in finding their next schools in the DC area. If you don't like something I've said, you're in good company — there's a long line of past students and parents ahead of you. If you want to chat further, please feel free to contact me offline: peter <at> peterbraverman <dotcom>

Anonymous wrote:The catholic schools provide merit. Several scholarships each year. Maximum amount is usually $20k for the 4 years.

I didn't realize it could be that much. OP, this is based on High School Placement Test scores at Catholic schools.

I'd advise you to apply for aid. You can document your support for your family in the package. If they really want your child, they'll find a way. You just never know how it will shake out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small amount at a few of the Catholic schools. Mostly based on test scores.

It’s based on whether they want your kid or not - is she academically bright? Does she play the harp or speak a rare language? Play a sport well? Does she need the scholarship? They aren’t going to give it to a wealthy girl that doesn’t need it. And yes - test scores matter too I’m sure. My DD got one and she had high test scores but the school can give out the scholarships as they see fit.

It’s only $5000 though and you still might need to come up with $25,000 more if you don’t receive financial aid as well.

I disagree with this. DS was offered two merit scholarships at Catholic schools. It was grades and test based. One published criteria and the other does not. However they are not based on need. We didn’t apply for aid (lucky to not need it). We put back the scholarship + a few thousand into the annual fund each year. It was made clear that that wasn’t the expectation. We are happy to do it. That said, neither was a huge amount. One was $10k over four years and the other was $12k. I do know the girls schools have bigger merit scholarships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We won’t qualify for financial aid, but can’t afford private either. Our income is high but we support our families back home. DD does very well academically. Does any school in DC offer financial aid based only on merit? Thanks

Maybe it’s time to stop sending quite as much.

I take this to mean perhaps supporting family home in another country. OP, don’t assume you won’t get financial aid. They look at the whole picture

Anonymous wrote:We won’t qualify for financial aid, but can’t afford private either. Our income is high but we support our families back home. DD does very well academically. Does any school in DC offer financial aid based only on merit? Thanks

Maybe it’s time to stop sending quite as much.

Anonymous wrote:Small amount at a few of the Catholic schools. Mostly based on test scores.

It’s based on whether they want your kid or not - is she academically bright? Does she play the harp or speak a rare language? Play a sport well? Does she need the scholarship? They aren’t going to give it to a wealthy girl that doesn’t need it. And yes - test scores matter too I’m sure. My DD got one and she had high test scores but the school can give out the scholarships as they see fit.

It’s only $5000 though and you still might need to come up with $25,000 more if you don’t receive financial aid as well.

Small amount at a few of the Catholic schools. Mostly based on test scores.

The catholic schools provide merit. Several scholarships each year. Maximum amount is usually $20k for the 4 years.

No, this does not happen. They put their financial aid money towards need based aid. The only exception is athletic recruitment.

The answer to OP is no. This doesn’t exist unless you are a nationally ranked athlete they really want, and not always even then. If you have the money, you’ll pay it.

Aim for public high school magnet programs.

Anonymous wrote:Why do you want to move to private?

Several reasons, the main one is that she is not challenged in her classes. No good facilities, from lack of labs to athletics facilities. She is currently an 8th grader.

Why do you want to move to private?

Stick with public school. Your kid is doing fine.

We won’t qualify for financial aid, but can’t afford private either. Our income is high but we support our families back home. DD does very well academically. Does any school in DC offer financial aid based only on merit? Thanks