The challenges of an independent education

Affording Pennfield

The Pennfield School is committed to creating a school community that is inclusive and diverse. We welcome families from all backgrounds and cultures and strive to help make Pennfield accessible for families with a range of socio-economic backgrounds. At Pennfield, we are deeply invested in your child.

We encourage families to reach out and talk to us about various financial options. We offer a 10-month payment plan, need-based financial aid, and discounts for siblings and  U.S. Active Duty military discounts. The Pennfield School recognizes the financial challenges of independent education, and we will work with you to help make our school an affordable option. Financial aid grants range from about 10%-60% of the cost of tuition, depending on a family’s contributing ability, the grade level, and the available funds.

The following three financial options are available, in the hopes of making a Pennfield education attainable for many families who might otherwise think it is out of their financial reach:

Online Pennfield Financial Aid FormDownloadable Financial Aid Form (pdf)Financial Aid Policy (pdf)

1. Different Payment Plans

  • Plan A: The Enrollment Contract returned with a $500.00 non-refundable deposit per child to hold a spot. The first payment of 50% tuition and fees are due in July, and the remaining 25% of tuition obligation is reflected on bills due in November and March.
  • Plan B: The Enrollment Contract returned with a $500.00 non-refundable deposit per child to hold a spot. Participation in SMART TUITION can place tuition payment on a ten-month basis, July-April.
  • Plan C: The Enrollment Contract returned with a $500.00 non-refundable deposit per child to hold a spot.  Payment can be paid all at once due in July.
All plans ask families to sign up with SMART TUITION. SMART TUITION processes and collects tuition fees for The Pennfield School.

2. Need-based Financial Aid

The Pennfield School offers financial assistance to families who qualify for support. We require new applicants to complete the following steps:

  • Complete the PFS (Parents’ Financial Statement) form online, found on the School and Student Service site (SSS) at https://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents. The Pennfield School’s code is 5325.
  • If you own a Business or Farm, we require that you complete the SSS Business – Farm Statement Form. This can be found at https://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents.
  • A copy of your 2018, or 2019 when they are complete, 1040 Income Tax Return, the 2018 W-2 Form, and all supporting schedules, including Schedule K-1 if you are a shareholder or a partner in a Partnership, submitted to SSS.
  • If you have a child in a tuition charging school, verification of amount of tuition paid for the current school year needs to be submitted.  For college tuition, use the IRS form 1098-T. Families must apply for financial assistance at all tuition charging schools in order to apply for aid at Pennfield.
  • In cases of divorce, unmarried or separated parents both parents need to submit a PFS and a copy of their 1040 tax return. Children living with grandparents or guardians will be reviewed case by case.
  • Complete “The Pennfield School’s Online Financial Aid Application” form.

SSS reviews the application and forwards a report about each family’s economic profile. The report includes a recommendation as to what the family can afford to pay towards tuition. The Pennfield School makes its determination regarding financial aid after taking into consideration the SSS recommendation, the individual circumstances of each particular family, and the amount of financial aid at Pennfield available in a given year.

Families reapply for aid each year if they want to continue to receive a yearly grant.  Families will typically receive a grant that is at least the same amount as the prior year unless there is a significant income change.  If a parent chooses to leave their job or change jobs for a decreased salary, Pennfield is unable to underwrite this difference with a larger financial aid grant the following year.

To be considered in the first round of financial aid grants for the 2020-2021 school year, financial aid paperwork for new families needs to be submitted to The Pennfield School’s Admission Office by Wednesday, February 12, 2020.  After February 12 financial aid will still be available and awarded on a rolling basis.

For questions concerning the PFS, please call SSS at (800) 344-8328. For all other questions, contact Kristin Emory in the Admission Office at (401) 849- 4646 ext 147 or by email at kemory@pennfield.org.

3. Scholarships

Visit the school’s homepage page to see if a non need-based scholarship is currently being offered. Families can apply for financial aid in addition to scholarships.