Tuition & Financial Aid

Affordability

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 2016-2017 school year totaled more than $10.3 million. Currently, 41.8 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).

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 pre-kindergarten, 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.

For consideration in the first round of financial aid decisions, families should complete their financial aid application by Jan. 4, 2019. Because funds are limited, it is crucial that families meet all financial aid deadlines. Learn more about the financial aid process.

Financial Aid Information Session

To learn more about financial aid at Penn Charter, attend an evening presentation. The financial aid process, deadlines and statistics will be discussed, with ample time for questions. The presentation is led by John Zurcher, Director of Enrollment Management and Lower School Admissions and Allan Brown, Director of Financial Aid. Attendance is not required to receive financial aid but encouraged particularly for first-time financial aid applicants.

The session will be held in the Roberts Choral Room in the Kurtz Center for the Performing Arts on November 13, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. No pre-registration is required.