I don’t know if the teachers know or care. But I’m sure it’s obvious to other kids and parents when we roll up to school in our 13-year-old Honda amidst the line of Teslas, BMWs, Mercedes, etc. Our house is tiny and we don’t jet off to Aspen or Paris for school breaks. But my kid’s friends don’t care. If your child’s friends are true friends, they won’t care either.

I think the only place it makes a difference with the school is at initial admissions. Once they have accepted you and allotted you the aid, there is no difference that I can see.

Just don’t go around sharing that you are on FA. For some kids it will be obvious, but many it’s hard to tell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FA is an exercise in cross subsidization. Not every child can be on FA. The model simply doesn't work unless full pay families subsidize the FA. From an economic viability perspective full pay families are more important to independent schools.

From a big picture standpoint, yes. But once a family has been given FA, as an individual, that child is no less (or more) important than any given full-pay (or at least full-pay non-VIP) child. The school does not treat students on FA differently than full-pay students.

This was our experience. We were on FA for seven years and have been off it for two years. Absolutely no difference on an individual level. I don’t think individual teachers know or care about how tuition is getting paid, whether it be via financial aid, earned income, or inherited wealth. That’s just not their focus.

Do you think your experience would be the same if things were reversed? Full pay for seven then FA for two?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FA is an exercise in cross subsidization. Not every child can be on FA. The model simply doesn't work unless full pay families subsidize the FA. From an economic viability perspective full pay families are more important to independent schools.

From a big picture standpoint, yes. But once a family has been given FA, as an individual, that child is no less (or more) important than any given full-pay (or at least full-pay non-VIP) child. The school does not treat students on FA differently than full-pay students.

This was our experience. We were on FA for seven years and have been off it for two years. Absolutely no difference on an individual level. I don’t think individual teachers know or care about how tuition is getting paid, whether it be via financial aid, earned income, or inherited wealth. That’s just not their focus.

Sometimes indirectly. It matters in disciplinary measures if the parent is influential at the school like a donor or board member and presumably parents with kids on financial and are usually not.

It can also be an issue with sports teams and with leadership positions that are appointed by faculty. This isn't every school but DC saw this happen first hand at her school which is one of the ones people talk about as being one of the "top" schools in the area.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

What do you mean by "most" instead of everyone?

I posted that. Some snobs will care.

Possibly among the students. Although if OP has been full pay and is now looking to start FA, I suspect the financial situation isn’t so dire as to be outwardly obvious to OP’s child’s peer. The teachers, staff, and admin still will not care or treat the child differently.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

What do you mean by "most" instead of everyone?

I posted that. Some snobs will care.

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

That doesn't happen until college.

- someone who worked in a cafeteria including cleaning for work study

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

What do you mean by "most" instead of everyone?

I would assume, like most things in this world, some people just suck.

Anonymous wrote:Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

What do you mean by "most" instead of everyone?

Yes OP-- they will want your kid to work in the lunchroom cleaning up rich kids stuff. Your kid will wear a scarlet letter " P" for poor. Not really...most people wont care.

Anonymous wrote:FA is an exercise in cross subsidization. Not every child can be on FA. The model simply doesn't work unless full pay families subsidize the FA. From an economic viability perspective full pay families are more important to independent schools.

From a big picture standpoint, yes. But once a family has been given FA, as an individual, that child is no less (or more) important than any given full-pay (or at least full-pay non-VIP) child. The school does not treat students on FA differently than full-pay students.

FA is an exercise in cross subsidization. Not every child can be on FA. The model simply doesn't work unless full pay families subsidize the FA. From an economic viability perspective full pay families are more important to independent schools.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you seem really concerned that someone might be aware of your FA status. This says more about how *you* view a perceived financial “failing” than anyone at your school. The school does not care. Please, whatever you do, do not let your child get the impression that you feel inferior about your money situation, because they *will* internalize that and start to feel bad about themselves compared to other students they view as being “better” because they have more money.

The school does. not. care.

OP here. You're likely at least somewhat correct, and thank you, I will not let my child(red) get that impression