Greens Farms Academy

An Independent Co-Ed Day School For Grades PreK-12

Affordability

100 of the 715 students receive a financial grant

The average grant is $32,000.

The value of a GFA education

Many people begin their research about independent schools by looking at the tuition figures. As a school who values community, we work very hard to make GFA affordable: 100 of the 715 students receive a financial grant, and the average grant is $32,000. The total FA budget is $3.1 million. We encourage you to consider the application and financial process in tandem. We consider your child’s application without regard to the financial aid status. Financial aid is distributed on a need basis.

Please consider the simple financial aid application process and contact Ann Miller or Russ Friedson if you have any questions.

Financial Aid Guiding Principles


  • Only families who demonstrate financial need are considered for aid.
  • GFA Admission decisions are need-blind. Once the admission decision is made, the student will be considered for available financial aid.
  • In the case that there are not enough funds available to support every accepted applicant, we first fund the students we believe will contribute most positively to our student body. Sometimes a financial aid grant may not meet a family’s full demonstrated need.
  • GFA carefully guards confidentiality of financial aid grants. We expect GFA families to do the same.
  • Financial aid awards are reviewed annually on the basis of the family’s current financial status. Typically, if your financial status has not changed, your grant will remain the same.
  • In the case of divorced or separated parents, assets of all responsible parties are considered in determining family need.

Please direct questions to the financial aid committee (financialaid@gfacademy.org).


Helpful Links

School and Student Services (SSS)

RSVP for Financial Aid Workshop

The total FA budget is $3.1 million.

Applications are considered without regard to financial aid status.

Tuition 2018-19

Pre-Kindergarten:

$29,630*

Lower School:

$40,860*

Middle School:

$42,900**

Upper School:

$45,270**


*Includes lunch, class trips, and instructional materials

**Includes lunch and class trips, but not books and laptops

Each year all families will be asked to support Annual Giving. As tuition alone does not cover the full investment GFA makes in each student, the school relies on Annual Giving to provide 6% of the operating budget each year.

From time to time GFA will conduct a capital campaign. Capital giving funds major strategic objectives, including new facilities, program, and endowment.

Donations to Annual Giving and Capital Campaigns are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

INCLUDED IN TUITION

  • Lunch
  • Athletic equipment
  • Comprehensive college counseling program

FAQs

How do I apply for a financial aid grant from GFA?

To learn more about the application process for financial aid grants, you should follow the link to SSS. One of the most important aspects of the financial aid application process is meeting deadlines. Note that the financial aid application must be completed by January 31, 2018.

While the SSS website has webinars, FAQ and live representatives who can answer your confidential questions about the financial aid application process, some families prefer to attend the GFA financial aid information session on December 5 at 7:00 PM. While this meeting is not required for financial aid applicants, and your attendance has no impact on whether you will receive financial aid, you are welcome to attend to meet the financial aid committee and ask questions. We will provide this meeting as a webinar in case you were not able to attend.

My taxes will not be completed by the financial aid application deadline of January 15. How should I proceed?

Many families do not complete their IRS1040 tax filing until April 15. There, GFA only requires your IRS W2 and previous tax filing. When you have completed your IRS1040, please upload to your SSS account.

What is the IRS 4506T form?

GFA requires all families to complete the IRS form 4506T, signed and undated. At the end of the financial aid period, GFA randomly audits financial aid applications by submitting the form to review the actual tax form submitted to the IRS.

I am divorced and my ex-spouse has no responsibility for my child’s education according to the court order.

GFA’s policy is that both parents of divorced and/or separated families contribute to the cost of the GFA education, without regard to any additional court adjudication. Parents and step-parents on both sides are required to complete the SSS financial aid application.

If a parent is no longer in the life of a child, the other parent is able to complete an appropriate form that stipulates that the parent is no longer involved in the life of the child. This parent would not be expected to be present at any campus events, including athletic or arts events, or graduation ceremonies.

I have never applied for financial aid before at an independent school. Do you have any tips or advice?

The SSS site has many tools and resources available to families applying for financial grants. We encourage you to take advantage of these resources. In addition, please feel free to contact Ann Miller, Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid, with any questions about the financial aid process (203.256.7525).

If my family receives a financial aid grant, does that mean I will get the grant for the following years as well.

GFA is committed to supporting your family while you are a student at GFA. In order to effectively do this, we ask your family to apply for the financial aid grant every year. Unless your financial circumstances have changed, you will likely receive the grant the following year.