Financial Aid

Financial aid is awarded to families according to their level of need as determined by Kent Place School’s Financial Aid Committee, which uses the Clarity Financial Aid Application and the required supporting documentation. It is imperative that families complete the Clarity Financial Aid Application as thoughtfully and carefully as possible by the appropriate deadline (December 18: current families | January 17: applicant families). The Financial Aid Committee bases awards on the information supplied by each family. Clarity considers parents’ gross taxable income and nontaxable income, assets, liabilities, family size, and number of children in tuition-charging schools and colleges. After an allowance for basic necessities and required taxes, a determination is made about a family’s ability to pay tuition.

The maximum financial aid available for qualified applicants is 98 percent of tuition for Preschool–Grade 12. Kent Place strives to meet as much of a family’s demonstrated need as possible.

When evaluating financial aid need, consideration is made for a student’s sibling or siblings enrolled in other tuition-charging schools, starting with preschool and through the completion of undergraduate programs.

Note: Current families are required to apply for aid each year a student is enrolled at Kent Place. Should a family’s circumstances change, its aid package may be modified.
 

Financial aid application instructions are emailed to families who check the appropriate box on the Application for Admission. The Clarity Financial Aid Application must be completed and submitted online by December 18 for current families and by January 17 for prospective families. A copy of last year's federal income tax return, including all schedules and W-2 forms, must be submitted to Clarity within five business days of submitting the Clarity Financial Aid Application. In addition, by April 15 a copy of the parents’ current year Form 1040 (including all schedules) must be submitted to Clarity to confirm the financial aid award for auditing purposes.

Financial aid is allocated to students in the Upper School (Grades 9–12), Middle School (Grades 6–8), and, to a lesser degree, the Primary School (Preschool–Grade 5).

If you are unsure whether you will qualify, contact Adrianna DeGazon, Director of Financial Aid, at (908) 273-0900, ext. 623, for advice. Many factors enter into the determination of financial aid.

All applications for financial aid are held in the strictest confidence. The Admission Committee and the Financial Aid Committee operate as separate entities. 

All parents are required to submit the Clarity Financial Aid Application, as well as the supporting documentation. Financial need is determined by a family’s ability to meet educational expenses, not on a willingness to pay. All parents have an obligation to contribute what they can afford to the education of their children, regardless of any divorce or other agreements stating otherwise. The Financial Aid Committee will make an award only after considering the financial resources of all parents.

If a biological parent is not in contact with the student, Kent Place requires the custodial parent to submit a letter from a school official, member of the clergy, pediatrician, or attorney attesting to this in order for this application requirement to be waived.

The school is committed to supporting the continued attendance through graduation of a student receiving financial aid, provided the need for financial aid continues. Financial aid is recalculated every year using the information a family submits to Clarity, and families must reapply for financial aid each year. 

No. There are no extra requirements for students receiving financial aid. Every Kent Place student is expected to do her best and maintain the strong academic and personal qualities that warranted admission.