The Bodine School

Financial Aid

The costs of operating a school with a specialized mission and small class size like The Bodine School are quite high. The school must rely on a combination of tuition and fundraising to fund its operations. Families are strongly encouraged to apply for financial aid if financial need exists. For more information about the financial aid program at The Bodine School, contact our Business Office at (901) 754-1800, extension 303. Please note that a request for financial assistance information does not influence the decision to accept or decline a student for admission to The Bodine School: we offer a "need-blind" admission policy.

Introduction

The Bodine School is a member of the School Scholarship Service (SSS) which assists schools in making financial aid decisions. A financial aid program provides financial assistance to students who cannot afford to enroll otherwise. This assistance is offered without regard to race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Basic Principles

1. Once a student becomes a candidate for admission, the amount that his/her family is expected to pay is determined by financial need and the availability of funds.
    
2. The fairest way of determining the financial need of a family is to require the parents of each applicant to submit a detailed financial statement.
    
3. Financial aid at The Bodine School is awarded year by year. Each year the Scholarship Committee asks the parents of students on scholarship to fill out a new confidential statement if they wish an award for the coming year. The committee then recomputes what the family should pay according to the new financial data presented.

Procedure

1. The Parents' Financial Statement is used to determine financial need, if any. Parents who apply for Financial Aid should request a financial statement from the school business office. It should be completed and sent to the School Scholarship Service (SSS) in Princeton, NJ. All supplementary financial information (a copy of the most recently filed Federal Income Tax Return) should be send directly to The Bodine School. This information should be addressed to the School Scholarship Committee to ensure that only the committee will receive the confidential information.  For a copy of The Bodine School's Financial Assistance Policy Manual, click here.
    
2. Delays in filing a financial statement can make a considerable difference in the amount awarded due to the scarcity of funds at later dates.

Computation of Aid

The procedure used in determining the amount of need is closely modeled on that developed by the College Scholarship Service and resembles to some extent that used with Form 1040 in computing the Federal Income Tax. The committee considers a family's net income before taxes and to some extent their net worth. These figures are balanced against taxes, educational expenses of other children, unusual debts and medical expenses, etc.

Funding the Program

Since approximately one out of three students admitted each year receives aid, there is a great need for contributions to our financial aid program. Because of the generous support of our donors, we have been able to meet the need of a large number of children who would not have otherwise been able to attend the school. However, more support is needed each year as tuition and enrollment increase.

You can Sponsor A Student with a donation to our Financial Aid Program. Your gift will help to ensure that all students in need of the special services provided by The Bodine School can receive the education they deserve. Donations to this fund will be used exclusively for student assistance. Contributions are tax deductible, as allowable by law.