Financial Aid Process

A Brookwood education is a significant investment in your child’s future and we are committed to supporting this choice by offering payment plans that meet their family’s needs and through our financial aid program.

For the 2019-20 academic year, Brookwood awarded more than $2.9 million in financial aid to approximately 47% of our student body. These need-based grants ranged from 10%-95% of Brookwood’s tuition.

Our financial aid program is available by application to students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. While Brookwood typically receives more requests for aid than the school can support each year, we encourage all interested families to explore the value of a Brookwood education.

Completing your financial aid application

We partner with School and Student Services (SSS) by NAIS in our financial aid process. To begin your financial aid application, you will need to complete the online Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). You can begin the PFS as early as November 1, 2019. The deadline to submit the PFS for returning families is December 15 and for applicant families, it is February 1.

The PFS is a comprehensive application that will take some time to complete. We recommend giving yourself the time you need by starting well in advance of the deadline. You will need your most recent tax return before beginning the PFS. We also recommend that you review the wide range of materials that SSS has put together to help families with the financial aid process.

Please note: we realize that many families will not have completed 2019 taxes by the February 1 deadline. If that is the case, submit the 2018 paperwork and your 2018 W2s, and send in the 2019 taxes as soon as they are completed. If a Financial Aid award is granted in this case, it is done so contingent upon our receipt of the taxes. This documentation is required in order to make a final award of financial aid.

If you have questions about completing the PFS, please contact SSS customer service at (800) 344-8328 or sss@nais.org.

Required supporting documents

Brookwood requires that you submit the following supporting documents to SSS in addition to your completed PFS:

2018 W-2s and/or 1099s (if applicable) and 2018 Federal Tax Return including all supporting schedules must be submitted by February 1, 2020
2019 W-2s and/or 1099s (if applicable)
2019 Federal Tax return, including all supporting schedules and forms, must be submitted by May 1, 2020

Please be sure to list Brookwood School as a recipient of the Report of Family Contribution (RFC). Our school code is 1888.

Award notifications

We will communicate decisions about financial aid in mid-January for returning families and mid-March for applicant families. To make our decision, we use the information from the PFS as a starting point but also consider our school policy, practices and available budget.

Resources available through NAIS

Family Guide to Financial Aid

Applying for Financial Aid

Parents’ Financial Statement Workbook and Instruction Booklet

Financial Aid FAQs

Will my child’s admission be affected if we apply for
financial aid?

The Admissions Committee meets to review all completed applications to determine which students are qualified for our program. The Financial Aid Committee then meets to determine which candidates the school is able to offer to financial aid to. Each year, we have more families who qualify for need-based aid than can be funded. Admissions is offered to those students who the school is able to offer an award to; in the case that a student is admissable but the school cannot provide funding, the student is placed on an admissions financial aid waitlist.

What determines whether or not a student qualifies for financial aid?

All financial aid grants are based on demonstrated financial need. Each request for aid is assessed individually; Brookwood uses School and Student Services by NAIS (SSS) to process financial data. The need assessment is based on family income and certain expenses, assets and liabilities, family size, parents’ age and the number of children attending tuition charging schools. Each year families qualify for more financial aid than is available. Those families who do not receive aid will be placed on an admissions financial aid wait list.

After receiving a financial aid grant, do we need to reapply each year?

Yes, because family finances can change, families must apply for financial aid each year. Unless there is a significant change in a family’s financial situation, the Financial Aid Committee strives to award a level similar to the previous year’s grant.

Does Brookwood offer merit scholarships?

No, Brookwood does not offer merit scholarships. All Brookwood students are admitted on merit and all financial aid awards are need-based.

Do financial aid grants cover the full cost of tuition?

No. The Financial Aid Committee makes the grant decisions for each family based on need. There are no students at Brookwood who receive a “full ride”; each family contributes financially according to their ability to do so.

How do I apply for financial aid if I’m separated
or divorced?

Both custodial and non-custodial parents are required to contribute to the cost of a Brookwood education based on demonstrated ability. The non-custodial parent must also complete all aspects of the financial aid application process including submitting SSS forms and federal tax returns.

Ready to take the next step?

Contact Admissions