Financial Aid Policy

The following is a statement of the policies, which govern financial aid at Buckingham Friends School.

1. All information submitted for financial aid purposes is held in the strictest confidence.

2. No application for financial aid may be considered unless and until the applicant provides all information requested by the Tuition Aid Committee.

3. All “Report of Family Contribution” forms received from School and Student Service for Financial Aid shall be reviewed and recalculated with appropriate adjustments.

4. In the case of divorced or separated parents, financial resources of both natural parents will be considered, and therefore, both parents must provide complete financial information before the Tuition Aid Committee will consider aiding a candidate. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to ask the non-custodial parent to fill out the PFS form and to ask the non-custodial parent to furnish a copy of his/her tax return to the School. An extra PFS form for the non-custodial parent may be obtained from the Business Office; however, if the non-custodial parent completed the PFS form last year, the School will send a PFS form directly to that parent. Parents are assured that all information submitted will be kept in strictest confidence, and that such information will not be shared with either family. We will not be able to review an application until the required information is complete.

5. In cases where a non-custodial natural parent’s whereabouts is unknown, or when that parent has made no contact with the student for a period of years, and has given no financial support to the student during that time, the Tuition Aid Committee may waive the requirement of financial information from the non-custodial parent.

6. The Tuition Aid Committee may refuse to grant financial aid if the applying family has an overdue account with the School.

7. In the case of two parent families where only one parent works, and if there are no dependent children or parents at home, or if the non-working parent is not disabled, the School will make an adjustment to increase income by the equivalent of a full-time minimum wage.

8. An adjustment will be made to compensate for the cost of living index for the Philadelphia area.

9. The first $40,000 of net worth will not be considered in the calculation of need.

10. Buckingham Friends School subscribes to the “Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration” advocated by the National Association of Independent Schools. A copy of these principles is available for review in the School’s business office.

11. The amount of financial aid offered will vary from one family to another because each family’s needs are looked at individually. Financial aid could be as high as 100% of tuition, but only in rare and exceptional cases. The Financial Aid Committee expects each family to contribute the maximum amount they are able towards tuition.