Equitable Tuition

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• Are there waivers available for the admission application, SSAT, and equitable tuition processing fees?

  Admission and SSAT Fees
  Guided by the USDA Income and Eligibility parameters, the Admission Office can offer reduced fees for the admission and SSAT fees. Please call us at 603-669-4524, option 3 for information.
  
  Equitable Tuition Fees
  Upon submission of a family's equitable tuition application, our process automatically evaluates eligibility and applies fee waivers for families who qualify. Families do not need to request or apply for a fee waiver from the school.
  
  
  

• Will applying for equitable tuition affect my child's chances for admission?

  The Derryfield School strives to place the qualifications of the applicant at the heart of the decision-making process; however, with limited ability to offer lower range tuitions, the Admission Committee may be prevented from being able to offer admission acceptance to every qualified applicant. Students qualified for admission who do not receive equitable tuition are placed in our admission waitpool. 
  
  Applicants completing the admission and equitable tuition processes by February 1, 2020 stand the best chance of receiving a tuition that meets a family's financial profile, as well as admission acceptance. These families receive notification on March 10, 2020.
  
  After February 1, applications for equitable tuition will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The likelihood of receiving a lower range tuition after February 1 is diminshed.

• What happens if my child is placed in the admission waitpool because an equitable tuition cannot be offered?

  Students in the admission waitpool--because they did not receive an equitable tuition that met their family's financial profile--may still be considered for admission from March-June. As admitted families accept or decline Derryfield's offers, the school reaches back out to students in the waitpool to offer acceptance and an equitable tuition rate. Families will be contacted directly in these situations.
  
  Families may also wish to reconsider their resources and provide updated financial information to the Admission Office. Please note: If a family considers paying for tuition beyond their recommended level, they should be prepared to commit to that level, plus small increases, each year moving forward while enrolled at Derryfield.
  
  By June, students in the waitpool should plan to proceed with alternative plans. It's still possible, but unlikely, that students will receive equitable tuition offers in the summer months.

• Do you offer assistance for costs beyond tuition?

  Students whose tuition is less than 50% of full tuition receive the Student Activities Credit (SAC) which offers financial support for extracurricular items, and ranges from $60-$225, depending on the grade level. It covers such items as yearbooks, optional field trips, or team spirit gear.  While this grant will not cover 100% of these expenses, it does provide additional support for student involvement in our community.  The SAC amounts differ by year and by grade. Once the SAC has been depleted, families are responsible for all additional costs; we encourage parents to work with their children to determine an appropriate spending budget.
  
  Students whose tuition is less than 10% of full tuition qualify for financial support for their computers and textbooks, as well as Derryfield provided bus transportation.
  
  Derryfield offers meal subsidy (lunch only or lunch and breakfast) depending on a family's qualifications based on the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines.
  
  Students can also apply for assistance in paying for Derryfield's global trips. The global trip assistance form is located on the global program section of the Derryfield website.
  
  It is important to note that The Derryfield School receives no federal, state, or local assistance or funding. Many of these awards are the result of generous donations to The Derryfield Fund.

• Do you offer merit-based scholarships?

  The Derryfield School is pleased to offer a non-need Merit Scholarship program in support of our Mission and Core Values. Approximately 11% of our students receive merit assistance.
  
  For further information, please visit the Merit Scholarship section of the Admission website.

• How do non-working parents affect the equitable tuition formula?

  Recognizing that the family bears the primary responsibility for financing a student’s education costs, the Financial Aid Committee will impute a part-time salary for a non-working parent when there are no pre-school age children or others to care for in the home, and/or no medical or disability issues that prevent the parent from seeking employment.

• What is The Derryfield School's policy regarding parents experiencing unemployment?

  For families exeriencing loss of parental employment, Equitable Tuition is contingent upon submitting quarterly expense statement updates to The Derryfield School Admission Office. The Admission Office reserves the right to adjust any tuition during the school year when there is a change to employment status.
  

• What is The Derryfield School's policy regarding multiple children in tuition-charging schools?

  When determining a family’s tuition, SSS takes into consideration the total number of children in tuition-charging schools, including other undergraduate college and private school programs. These expenses may be more or less than a Derryfield tuition and as such, they each impact the Equitable Tuition formula differently. Derryfield cannot subsidize tuition associated with other schools where reduced tuition is unavailable, and reserves the right to adjust tuition based on any changes in a family to the number of children in tuition-charging schools.

• How does the equitable tuition process assess the situation of separated or divorced families?

  The Equitable Tuition Committee considers the financial resources of all parents and any step-parents. Both parents, custodial or noncustodial, are required to complete and submit a Parents' Financial Statement. If natural parents have remarried, we also consider the assets of the step-parent, always bearing in mind the primary obligations of that step-parent to his or her own children.

• Will my child continue to receive the same tuition from year-to-year?

  Families must complete the PFS and re-apply for Equitable Tuition every year. A student's tuition is reviewed and renewed based on the most current family financial profile, and for students who continue to meet the School’s requirements and expectations. Although the School endeavors to provide a tuition that a family can accommodate, slight tuition increases should be anticipated each year.

• If my child enrolls without reduced tuition, can we expect to receive reduced tuition in future years?

  Generally not, unless your family experiences significant or unusual changes in financial circumstances from the previous year. Derryfield recognizes that there are unfortunate events that change a family's ability to contribute to tuition, and Derryfield will work with families to formulate a plan for financing. If your child does not receive a reduced tuition and your family cannot afford to finance full tuition for the remaining years, we strongly recommend that your child does not enroll.