EDUCATION MATTERS—SANFORD SCHOOL'S PRIVATE SCHOOL BLOG

At Sanford, we understand that private school tuition costs may cause families to not consider this educational opportunity. This video offers a brief, clear explanation of how tuition assistance works at Sanford School. We approach tuition assistance in a personalized way —if your child is the right fit for our school, we want to help make a Sanford education affordable. Check out the video. You can't afford to miss it!

If you have found a private school that was the right fit for your child but didn’t think it was the right fit for your wallet, think again. A private school education can be far more affordable than you might think. Here are some tips to make a private school tuition work within your budget:

If you love the advantages a private school offers but you’re afraid of the high price tag, Sanford School can help allay your fear. During the past decade, there has been a national shift in the income ranges of families applying for help with tuition costs. At Sanford School, a preschool through grade 12 private school, more than 50% of students receive some form of tuition assistance. The two most common types are need-based financial assistance and merit scholarships.

There are several ways to make a private school education an affordable option. 

One way is through need-based financial aid.
Prospective families are often surprised to learn that many higher-earning private school families receive some form of tuition assistance simply because the tuition costs are so high. For many (or most) families, it is a true sacrifice to send a child to private school.

A second option to help make tuition more affordable is through merit scholarships.
These scholarships do not take financial need into account. They simply allow your child to shine. Private schools approach merit scholarship awards in a variety of ways. Some schools will base decisions on standardized admission test scores. Others may look at a child’s academic success in the school they currently attend. Still, others may choose to look at the bigger picture. Luckily, we understand this and want to help. 

Why choose a PRIVATE SCHOOL?

• Seemingly endless and individualized opportunities in arts, athletics, club activities, and leadership
• Exciting and engaging academic programs
• Small class sizes of motivated students
• Teachers who love their work and care deeply about each student
• State-of-the-art facilities on beautiful campuses.

While many children would thrive in an environment like this, often the high tuition cost is a significant obstacle for families—how can we pay for private school before our child even goes to college?

Private school admission offices across the country often hear the same sentiments...We would love to have our children at your school. We think they would thrive in this type of learning environment. We just don’t know how we could ever afford it .

“She feels so well prepared. Her adjustment has been easier than her peers.”

These are the words private school educators love to hear—that one of our graduates has made a smooth transition to college, and we have prepared her well for this next step .

How Can You Afford a Private School Education?

The big question for many families considering private school is - how can we afford a private school education? There are two ways private schools typically offer tuition assistance. The most common is need-based financial aid where families complete a financial aid application that is separate from the application for admission. The school then evaluates the application to determine how much the family can afford to pay toward tuition. Financial aid awards are given as grants and do not have to be repaid. Often, financial aid awards are renewable until the student graduates from the school.