Need-Based Financial Aid

Our School’s Financial Aid Philosophy

All families, whether they are admission applicants or returning students, can apply for financial aid and will be given equal and fair consideration. Further, CH-CH and SSS believe that a family has an obligation to fund a child’s education to the extent which the family is able, and we recognize that all families – whether or not they are receiving financial aid – sacrifice to enroll their students at CH-CH.

Need Based Financial Aid at CH-CH

Along with over 2,000 private schools nationwide, we partner with School and Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands in our financial aid process, and we maintain policies and timelines that we expect all applicants to adhere to.

The PFS is a comprehensive application that will take some time to complete. Give yourself the time you need by not waiting until the deadline to begin. You’ll need your most recent tax return before beginning the PFS. We recommend that you review the materials that SSS has put together to help families on their website at sss.nais.org/parents. Even if you complete your admission and financial aid applications prior to the February 1 deadline, we will communicate decisions regarding both applications in March.

To begin your financial aid application, you will complete SSS’s Parent Financial Statement (PFS) via the SSS website https://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents. There is a $55 non-refundable fee to process your PFS online. Please also note that our school ‘code’ for SSS is 2278.

Should you have any questions directly relating to your financial aid application, if you would like a better understanding of our school’s policies, or would like to personally speak with someone at CH-CH regarding financial aid, do not hesitate to contact Shannon Fortin, Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Financial Aid, at 781-314-0862 or at sfortin@chch.org.

IMPORTANT: School policy states that if parents/guardians are divorced, separated or remarried, each custodial and non-custodial parent or guardian must complete a separate Parent Financial Statement and submit the above, required documents to be considered for financial aid; parents within the same household should complete only ONE PFS. A financial aid application is considered incomplete until all custodial and non-custodial parents/guardians have submitted the aforementioned information.

The Financial Aid Committee reserves the right to request additional information from families if such is necessary.

In making decisions regarding awarding financial aid, the Financial Aid Committee uses the information from the PFS as a starting point but also considers school policy, practices, and available budget. Each financial aid application is reviewed on an individual basis, and all applications are given equal and fair review. Families should understand that, due to budget constraints and the amount of applicants’ needs each year, CH-CH cannot offer financial aid to all qualifying families, nor can the School always meet a family’s demonstrated need.

The financial information that families provide to School and Student Services via the Parent Financial Statement results in what SSS calls a ‘Report of Family Contribution,’ which is a numerical amount that SSS feels a family can afford for their student’s education – SSS puts the information provided into an equation, and that number is simply reported to each school to which a family is applying for aid. This number acts as a starting point for our School to then make its financial aid decisions. Each school has different budgets, policies, and procedures, meaning that families should familiarize themselves with each one; further, families may receive varying awards from each school.

A family must qualify based on the School’s tuition to be considered for financial assistance, and families MUST reapply for financial aid each year by the said deadline in order to be considered. If a returning family previously receiving financial aid at CH-CH demonstrates a need each year and completes the application by the deadline, the School remains committed to supporting such students.

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

Q. What is your confidentiality policy?

All information received by the Financial Aid Committee is kept confidential within the financial aid office. Members of the Financial Aid Committee are the only members of the community privy to this information and it is never discussed outside of this group of individuals. Financial aid documents are stored in compliance with state and federal guidelines.
Q. How is our family's contribution calculated?

In making financial aid decisions, the Financial Aid Committee uses SSS, a service provided by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) to assist with creating an appropriate financial aid package for our families. The financial information that families provide to SSS via the Parent Financial Statement results in a ‘Report of Family Contribution,’ which is a numerical amount that SSS feels a family can afford for their student’s education – SSS puts the information provided into an equation, and that number is simply reported to each school to which a family is applying. Using this information as a starting point, the Financial Aid Committee evaluates each family’s situation individually while also considering school policy, practices, and available budget. At times the amount of an award may differ from that stated on the SSS report. Families should understand that, due to budget constraints and the amount of applicants’ needs each year, CH-CH cannot offer financial aid to all qualifying families, nor can the School always meet a family’s demonstrated need. While some families qualify for a substantial amount of aid, our policy is that a financial aid award will not exceed 90% of the total tuition.
Q. Do you offer financial aid to international families?

In some cases, financial aid may be available to an international family. If you are an international student and believe your family may qualify, please contact the Financial Aid Committee to discuss what options may be available to you.
Q. What if I have trouble filling out the SSS online?

If you are having technical difficulties with the SSS, please contact their support team directly at 800-344-8328. If you have questions regarding CH-CH policies, please do not hesitate to contact the financial aid office.
Q. Do I need to reapply for financial aid each year?

Yes. If a returning family previously receiving financial aid at CH-CH demonstrates a need each year and completes the application by the deadline, the School remains committed to supporting such students. Each year, returning families will need to reapply by completing a PFS as well as the current year’s tax documents. The Financial Aid Committee will reevaluate each family’s financial situation and make an award appropriate for that family. All returning families must be in good standing both academically and financially before they are granted an award for the next school year.
Q. What is your policy regarding parents who live in separate households?

The Financial Aid Committee requires both parents/guardians to submit a Parent Financial Statement and tax documents. If one parent is uninvolved in the child’s life and has been for some time, the family must provide us with a statement to this effect from a lawyer, school official, clergy member, or other third party who is aware of the situation in a professional capacity. Parents within the same household should complete only ONE PFS. A financial aid application is considered incomplete until all custodial and non-custodial parents/guardians have submitted the aforementioned information.

DUE DATES FOR FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION MATERIALS

For 2022-2022 Applications:

By 2/1/2022

Parent Financial Statement (PFS)
2020 tax returns and all schedules
2020 W2 forms
2021 W2 forms
2021 tax returns and all schedules
If self-employed, please submit: 2020 K1 and associated Business returns (1120s/1065)

Financial Aid Waitlist

Due to some restrictions in funding each year, CH-CH is unable to make a financial aid award to every student who is accepted and demonstrates need. CH-CH has a financial aid waitlist that families can elect to remain on should an award initially not be granted to a family. Should resources become available at a later time, families on the waitlist may then be considered. Families may request formal reconsiderations for financial aid by contacting Shannon Fortin, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at sfortin@chch.org.

New and Returning Families

RETURNING FAMILIES CURRENTLY ON FINANCIAL AID:
Returning families seeking financial aid must re-apply each school year in order to be considered, even if an award was made in the previous year. Returning families who are currently on financial aid will not be provided with a re-enrollment contract unless a completed financial aid application is submitted.

RETURNING FAMILIES APPLYING FOR THE FIRST TIME
Parents/guardians of returning students are required to complete the financial aid application and submit all required documents by February 1. Though any returning family may apply for financial aid, primary consideration is given to those families whom initially entered CH-CH as financial aid recipients and new admissions applicants.