Our school offers need-based financial assistance. “Financial need” is generally defined as the difference between what it costs a student to attend our school and what a family can afford to pay. There is no “income cutoff” or any other simple method to determine whether a family will qualify for need-based aid. St. Michael’s Country Day School encourages you to begin the admissions application process and apply for financial aid at the same time.
Admission and Financial Assistance decisions are made independently from one another. The Admission Committee makes its decisions without regard to financial matters.
All applications for Financial Assistance are held in the strictest confidence. Only the Financial Assistance Committee members have access to those records submitted.
Each year, a family must reapply for Financial Assistance and their individual circumstances will be evaluated by the committee. Assuming a family’s circumstances remain unchanged, every effort will be made to continue supporting that family at a level consistent with the prior year. Family information detailing extenuating circumstances not included in required forms may be forwarded in a letter or email to Sandy Merten, Director of Enrollment.
We recognize that you have the freedom to make choices regarding your financial status. If only one parent works outside of the home, the Financial Assistance Committee will add to the income of the family per school policy. An exception to this policy might occur if the parent at home is caring for a preschool-aged child, a child with special needs, a seriously ill child, parent or grandparent, or if there are other special circumstances. You should present these possible exceptions at the end of the PFS before submitting the form.
We believe that all parents have an obligation to contribute to the expense of educating their children. Assets and incomes of all natural and adoptive parents will be considered in making a financial aid award. All parents and guardians must complete the PFS and submit the required documents in order for the school to gain a realistic picture of family resources. The Financial Assistance Committee will not be bound by a claim that one parent is not responsible for educational expenses.
If the custodial parent has not heard from the non-custodial parent for a period of time to be determined by the Financial Assistance Committee or the involvement of the non-custodial parent is not in the best interest of the student, the above requirements may be waived. A letter of explanation and verification from a third party such as a minister, attorney or social worker may be required.
If either parent has re-married, we will consider the assets and earnings potential of the step-parent in conjunction with the natural parent and keep in mind the step-parent’s responsibility to his or her own children.
Please contact the Director of Enrollment, Sandy Merten, at smerten@smcds.org.
Education:
B.A., University of California Los Angeles
M. Ed., Pepperdine University
There is an atmosphere at St. Michael’s of high expectation – teachers who speak passionately about their role in educating the next generation of student leadership in the community and in the world; trustees who view St. Michael’s as the finest school in Newport and who aspire to build the finest school in the country; parents who make sacrifices and commitments to help create a dynamic, inspiring community for their children; students who sense the importance of these years in determining their character and future success.
Email: click here
Phone: 401.849.5970
Fax: 401.849.7890
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