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ORME'S MISSION
In a Southwestern, college-preparatory environment, The Orme School develops sound character, intellectual growth and curiosity, and an appreciation of our diverse cultural heritage and natural environment.
The nurturing of each student's physical, aesthetic, and spiritual life is emphasized through high expectations and a strong sense of personal and community responsibility.
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Financial aid is awarded on the basis of need, regardless of race, creed, or national origin, and is determined by the family's financial situation and the availability of funds in the School's financial aid budget.
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Evidence of good academic effort and citizenship is required of all applicants. Grants are for one year, and the applicants must renew their request for assistance annually. The School cannot guarantee that a student who is admitted will receive the requested aid.
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All students requesting financial aid must receive an application from the Admissions Office, Credit Application, and IRS Form 4506 to be completed and submitted to the designated Student Service location for Financial Aid Review along with the processing fee.
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New students must submit two years of income tax returns from both parents; returning students need only one year.
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Please contact the Admissions Office for additional financial aid information.
- NEW!! Link to Sallie Mae - federal loans for private school tuition!
ORME'S FINANCIAL AID PHILOSOPHY
Orme School is committed to providing access to all qualified students, regardless of their financial situation. Orme anticipates approximately $1 million will be available for the 2009-2010 school year. One in four students receive financial aid at Orme School. Since financial aid grants do not have to be repaid, they help to bridge the gap between what a family can afford and the cost of their student's education.
While the cost of an Orme School education should not be a barrier to applying to or attending Orme, it remains the family's responsibility to cover the cost. Orme uses the standardized calculation from School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) as a guideline for determining what each family can contribute to an Orme education. You are encouraged first to explore the possibility of an Orme education for your child, then to consider the issue of cost and how to fund his or her attendance at the time of enrollment. All families interested in applying for financial aid should follow the procedure and timeline outlined in this manual.
Orme School does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, nationality or ethnic origin in the administration of its financial aid program. It admits students and hires faculty members, administrators and all other employees without restrictions or limitations based on disabilities, race, color, creed or country of origin.
CONFIDENTIALITY
The Financial Aid Committee maintains strict confidentiality over financial aid files. Faculty and students are not informed of financial aid decisions. The School trusts that the family will keep the same discretion regarding awards and decisions.
FINANCING AN ORME SCHOOL EDUCATION
There are 3 financing options available to parents considering enrolling their child at Orme.
- Financial Aid Award: Orme anticipates approximately $1 million available in financial aid money for the 2009-2010 school year for families that demonstrate financial need. Families interested in financial aid should carefully review the information in this document and adhere to the stated deadlines. Financial aid awards do not have to be repaid.
- Loans: PrepGate is a loan program to which families may apply in order to receive assistance with tuition. This loan is to be repaid at a low interest rate. Sallie Mae also offers a loan for private education. A link to their website is provided on the main Admissions page.
- Tuition Payment Plan: Families may elect to pay the tuition in 9 or 10 monthly installments starting in April or May prior to the start of the school year.
GLOSSARY OF TERMINOLOGY USED IN THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS
IRS Tax Form 4506 - This form is published by the IRS. Please sign (but do not date) a copy of this form and submit it to the Admissions and Financial Aid Office with your signed tax return. This form allows Orme School to request your tax return from the IRS if necessary. This form is available at www.irs.gov.
Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) - Form that families complete to apply for financial aid. Many independent schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area use this form. Parents applying to more than one independent school may complete one PFS and list the names and codes for each school to which they apply.
PrepGATE K-12 education loan - This program offers a low interest loan and a 20-year repayment schedule for assistance with K-12 tuition.
School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) - Organization used by independent schools to standardize the process of determining financial aid awards.
Tuition Payment Plan (TPP) - TPP offers parents an opportunity to pay the tuition in 9 or 10 monthly installments (April/May - January). Once your child has been admitted to The Orme School, you may contact the Business Office for additional information regarding this program. There is a fee associated with the use of this service.
TUITION PAYMENT OPTIONS
There are three payment options available to families:
- One payment option: Pay the entire tuition in July 2009.
- Basic payment option (two payments): The first payment (60% of tuition) is expected in July of 2009 and the second payment (40% of tuition) is expected in December of 2009.
- Ten Month payment option: Payments are made over a 10-month period using Tuition Payment Plan (TPP). Monthly payments are made starting in April or May for the following school year. Please contact the Business Office for additional information.
FINANCIAL AID DECISIONS
Financial Aid Committee
The Financial Aid Committee is composed of the Head of School, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, a member of the Admissions and Financial Aid Office and the Dean of Studies. The purpose of the Financial Aid Committee is to determine which students will receive financial aid. The Financial Aid Committee will also review a student's file in the event of an appeal.
TIME TABLE FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID AT THE ORME SCHOOL FOR APPLICANT FAMILIES:
Late October 2009
Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) is mailed to parents of applicants who have informed the Admissions and Financial Aid Office of their intent to apply for financial aid for the 2008-2009 school year.
January 31, 2010 Deadline for mailing the PFS form to SSS in Princeton, NJ.
Make a copy of the PFS for yourself.
Send a check along with the PFS to SSS.
February 14, 2010 Deadline for mailing the following documents to Orme's Admissions and Financial Aid Office:
Complete Federal Income Tax Returns (1040) with all required schedules for 2007 and 2008.
Business/Farm Statement (This form will not be sent automatically to you. Therefore, you must request it from Orme's Admissions and Financial Aid Office. Please complete this form for all businesses that you own.)
Copies of your W-2's.
IRS forms 4506 (Please sign, but do not date.)
Leave and Earning Statement (Military Families only).
Copy of Trust Agreement, if student has assets in a trust fund.
Business Tax Returns for 2007 and 2008, if you own a business.
Please note that no awards will be finalized until the required documentation is received by the Admissions and Financial Aid Office at Orme School. All tax returns must be signed. DO NOT SEND TAX RETURNS TO SSS.
January 2010-March 2010
Financial Aid Committee meetings scheduled.
Early March 2010
Financial Aid Award letters mailed out to applicant families of Form III (ninth grade) applicants.
Mid-March 2010
Financial Aid Award letters mailed out to applicant families to the Lower and Middle Schools.
April 4, 2010
The Financial Aid Award acceptance letter, the enrollment contract and required deposit must be submitted by this date.
Beyond April
Financial Aid Awards will be made on a funds available basis.
Orme School reserves the right to request additional financial information from you at any time.
FAQS
What does SSS do?
SSS uses a methodology to compute a family's ability to pay for educational expenses for all their children. Most independent schools in the area use SSS.
How is the Family Contribution calculated?
The family contribution is determined through a methodology developed by the SSS. This methodology takes into consideration gross taxable and non-taxable income, assets, liabilities, family size and the number of students in tuition-charging schools or colleges. After allowances for basic necessities and required taxes, a portion of the remaining funds are considered available for education on a sliding scale.
What is the range of aid that is given?
Orme School financial aid awards range from a small percentage of the tuition to almost full tuition. All families will pay some tuition.
Do I have to reapply each year for Financial Aid?
Yes. Each student's need is recalculated annually. Therefore, parents are required to complete the PFS form along with the other required documentation each year.
What kind of financial aid awards can my family expect in the following years?
Assuming that your family's financial status does not change dramatically, funding will generally be renewed at previous levels of funding.
Are students ever asked to take jobs at Orme School to help pay for their education?
No. The identity of the students receiving financial aid is confidential.
Are there any merit awards available at Orme School to applicants?
Yes. All incoming 9th graders are eligible for our Academic Scholarship. Applicants must take the SSAT. To qualify for the scholarship, a student must score in the top 5% of SSAT grades. There are three levels of scholarship. The scholarship is renewable annually contingent on the student's grades and active participation as a member of the Orme community.
Will applying for financial aid have an impact on the admissions decision for my child?
No. Admissions decisions are made first. Financial aid decisions are made after a student has been accepted.
Does the financial aid award cover books and school trips or other costs beyond tuition?
No. The financial aid award covers the cost of tuition. Extra costs which may include school trips, music lessons, athletic fees, and books are not included. Some of these are reduced for families on aid by a percentage of aid received.
If only one parent works outside of the home, will the student be considered for financial aid?
Orme recognizes that families have the freedom and the responsibility to make choices regarding their financial status. However, if only one parent works outside of the home, the Financial Aid Committee will add to the income of the family. An exception to this policy would occur if the parent at home is caring for a pre-school-aged child, a child with a disability, a seriously ill child, parent or grandparent, or other special circumstances. Please make this known to the Financial Aid Committee in writing when applying for financial aid.
If one or both parents decide to attend graduate school, how will that decision impact the financial aid award?
The Financial Aid Committee would expect that the parent enrolled in graduate school will continue to earn income and has arranged to fund his or her education without depending heavily on family resources. If a parent chooses to attend school full time, and is thus unemployed, the Financial Aid Committee will add to the income of the family.
If I am single, divorced, or no longer living with my child's other parent, what information will the Financial Aid Committee require in order to determine an award?
Each situation is unique and will be handled on an individual basis. However, the Financial Aid Committee expects that both parents will contribute financially to their child's tuition. Your child's other natural parent would be expected to submit a completed PFS from to SSS as well as all of the required documentation to Orme's Financial Aid Office in order for us to gain a realistic picture of family resources.
If the non-custodial parent refuses to comply, the Financial Aid Committee will determine whether or not the family will be eligible for an award. If the custodial parent has not heard from the non-custodial parent for a period of time to be determined by the Financial Aid Committee, forms may not be required. However, a letter of verification from a third party (minister, attorney, social worker, etc.) will be required. The Financial Aid Committee requests a copy of the divorce decree; however it may choose not to abide by it.
If I am living with someone who is not my child's biological parent or I am remarried, how will the Financial Aid Committee review my child's file?
In this situation, we will require financial information from all adults involved in the applicant's life.
If my child lives with his guardians, what information will the Financial Aid Committee require?
Children who are living with guardians will be reviewed on an individual basis. However, if the parents are still living and are claiming their son or daughter on their tax return, the parents and guardians must complete the PFS and submit it to SSS. If other family members have custody, they must also complete the PFS. The Financial Aid Committee will also need copies of proof of custody.
Our family needs financial support beyond the level Orme can provide. Are there other financing options available?
Families may apply for an educational loan through PrepGATE. For more information, contact the Admissions and Financial Aid Office and a brochure will be mailed to you. There are also loans available through Sallie Mae. A link is provided on the main Admissions page.
If we can not pay the Family Contribution noted in the Award Letter, is there an appeal process?
Yes. Please submit written documentation that you feel may provide the Financial Aid Committee with additional insight into your financial picture. This gives the Financial Aid Committee further understanding of your financial circumstances. The Financial Aid Committee will respond within 15 days of receiving your appeal letter and/or documentation.
I still have questions regarding the application process for financial aid. Whom should I contact?
Please feel free to contact our Admissions and Financial Aid Office at (928) 632-7601 or admissions@ormeschool.org.