Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition, 2009-2010
| | |
| Upper School | Grades 9-12 | $24,380 |
| Middle School | Grades 6-8 | $22,020 |
| Lower School | Grade 5 | $19,220 |
| Grade 4 | $19,220 |
| Grade 3 | $17,080 |
| Grade 2 | $17,080 |
| Grade 1 | $17,080 |
| Kindergarten | $16,020 |
| Pre-Kindergarten | $15,000 |
Financial Aid
Penn Charter operates on the founding Quaker principles of equality and diversity. To help realize William Penn's vision of education for all, the school maintains a significant financial aid program. Financial aid for the 2009-2010 school year totaled $4.9 million. Currently, 31 percent of our students receive need-based financial aid.
At Penn Charter, “need” is defined as the difference between the family’s resources and the child’s tuition expenses. To evaluate need, Penn Charter uses formulas created by School and Student
Services (SSS), which is part of the National Association of Independent Schools. Parents applying for financial aid must complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) and send it with a processing fee to SSS.
Admissions decisions are made separately from and prior to financial aid decisions. Any student who applies to Penn Charter may apply for financial assistance. Penn Charter imposes no income ceiling or minimum for families applying for financial aid. Because Penn Charter maintains a balanced allocation of financial aid, funds are most likely to be available to new students entering kindergarten and grades 6, 7, and 9. At other grade levels, financial aid is either unavailable or very limited.
Current families may apply for financial aid regardless of their child's grade.
Families that indicate an interest in financial aid receive materials from the school beginning in December. Because funds are limited, it is crucial that families process the application forms as soon as possible and meet all financial aid deadlines. Applications containing all the materials listed below, and received by Jan. 15, 2010, will be processed in the first round of financial aid decisions. Applications completed after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis as long as funds are available.
The following are the steps in the financial aid process:
- Apply for admission to Penn Charter and indicate an interest in financial aid on the application form. The school will respond with a packet of financial aid materials, mailed beginning in late November or early December.
- Complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at sss.nais.org or by mail and submit it with a processing fee to SSS. Estimate financial data where necessary, but complete the PFS as soon as possible, as grants are made on a first come, first serve basis.
- By Jan. 15, 2010, send the following to the Penn Charter Financial Aid Office:
- a copy of your most recent tax return and all schedules (likely 2008)
- a copy of your final pay stub for 2009 that shows cumulated income for 2009
- if you anticipate a marked difference between your anticipated income in 2009 or 2010 as compared with the previous year, then a note of explanation would be helpful.
- Send the Penn Charter Financial Aid Office a copy of the 1040 tax form and all supporting schedules for 2009 by March 1, 2010.
All of these documents are used by Penn Charter in determining whether to offer a grant and, if so, how much.
Please contact Director of Financial Aid Allan Brown at 215-844-3460 ext. 147 or
abrown@penncharter.com with questions or requests for additional information.
