Home Affordability
We understand that choosing an independent school education is an investment of both time and resources. For the 2019-2020 school year, full tuition is $27,500 for K-5, and $29,800 for Middle School. Tuition for the upcoming school year is set by the Board of Trustees annually in January.
Park Day’s robust financial aid program ensures that the school enrolls a socio-economically diverse community of families. 35% of Park Day families receive financial aid. A family’s financial need is determined by an evaluation of their financial aid application through third-party provider School and Student Services (SSS), and supporting tax documentation. Grants range from 10% to 95%, with an average grant of 55%.
Apply For Financial Aid (Code 5669)
Tax Primer for Parents Completing SSS Parent Financial Statement
Step by step financial aid application help
Review the SSS overview carefully to learn more about information needed on the financial aid application. You will need detailed information from your most recent 1040, and also information about assets, debts, and monthly expenses.
All Park Day School financial assistance is based on demonstrated need. Park Day does not give scholarships for special talents nor academic merit. Although annual income is a significant consideration in the calculation of aid, many other factors figure in the decision-making process, including the number of children attending tuition charging schools, other family dependents, assets and net worth, and unusual expenses.
Contact 800-344-8328 or sss@communitybrands.com for questions about completing the financial aid application. All other questions, contact josie.agshapiro@parkdayschool.org or 510-653-0317 x101. School & Student Services by NAIS (SSS) has a comprehensive website with excellent resources for parents which we suggest you review prior to beginning the application.
All current and prospective Park Day School families may apply for financial assistance, regardless of their grade level or current financial assistance status.
No. Financial assistance is assessed separately from admissions decisions. Once admission decisions have been made the Financial Assistance Committee assesses financial need of those being offered enrollment.
Yes. Awards are given for one academic year. Because a family’s financial circumstances may change over time, we require all assistance recipients to reapply each year. A family whose financial situation remains relatively unchanged can generally expect the same percentage of their tuition to be covered by financial assistance from year-to-year. For current Park Day School families, all future financial assistance awards are contingent upon payment of the prior year’s account.
When a family accepts a contract for full tuition to attend Park Day School, this communicates that the family will be capable of covering all educational costs for the upcoming year and the foreseeable future. The school budgets accordingly and commits its limited financial aid funds to other families. Although Park Day maintains modest emergency funds for families that request aid subsequent to admission, those funds are strictly reserved for families that encounter significant financial reversals after matriculation.
Financial assistance applications are only reviewed by the Financial Assistance Committee. The school safeguards the confidentiality of financial assistance applications, records, and decisions while respecting the right of each family to discuss its own financial assistance outcomes in an appropriate manner.
For new students, financial assistance decisions are mailed with admission decisions in March. Current Park Day families receive financial assistance awards for the following year with their re-enrollment contracts in February.
Tuition covers most school expenses including morning care, nearly all field trips, books and supplies. We offer financial assistance to qualifying families for the After School Activities Program (ASAP) and for sports fees.
Log into the SSS Family Portal, open the My Documents tab, and use the specific “Upload” button for each document type required. If you have questions, please reach out to our SSS customer support at (800) 344-8328 for assistance.
Unfortunately, most financial assistance comes directly from school’s budgets. There are a few Bay Area organizations that may offer small amounts of tuition support.
Guardsmen Scholarship Fund (415) 856-0939
Independent Scholarship Fund (510) 632-1366 x144
BASIC Fund (415) 986-5650
To promote a fair and equitable process, each parent is required to submit a separate and complete financial assistance application when the parents maintain separate households. If the student’s parents do not live together, whether separated, divorced, or never married, each should complete a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) that is reflective of his or her own household and financial picture.
If one parents has remarried, the stepparent information should be included in the PFS as well, since the stepparent is a contributing member to supporting the household’s needs. Park Day School determines the ability to pay that each household exhibits and makes an award determination based on the combined determination.
If the non-custodial parent has little or no contact with their child for a significant period of time, and provides no financial support, the requirement may be waived. In such cases, the school requires a written statement about the parent’s absence from a non-family member (such as a family lawyer, clergyperson, social worker, or school official) who is aware of the family situation.
If the non-custodial parent is providing financial support and/or is in contact with their child, Park Day School requires their participation in the financial assistance process. Financial assistance is determined by parents’ ability to pay, not by their willingness.
In order for the school to treat families with stay-at-home parents equitably compared to families in which all parents work outside the home, Park Day School attributes a small income for stay-at-home parents to the financial assistance calculations.
Exceptions to this policy may occur if a parent is caring for a child not yet of school age, a child with a disability, a seriously ill child, parent, or grandparent or if a parent is disabled and cannot work. Please inform the Financial Assistance Committee in writing of these circumstances at the time of your initial application.
Park Day School relies on School and Student Services (SSS), supporting documents, and our financial assistance policies to determine each applicant’s demonstrated financial need. Many factors are considered when determining a grant amount, including income, assets, liabilities, family size, tuition obligations, and more. While Park Day School has a generous financial assistance program, each year we receive requests in excess of available funds. Financial assistance awards do not need to be repaid. Funding for the financial assistance program is 100% school-based; Park Day School receives no government funding.
Please contact (800) 344-8328 or sss@communitybrands.com for any questions about completing the financial aid application (your PFS), or uploading documents. If you have any questions related to process, policies, or admissions, please contact josie.agshapiro@parkdayschool.org or 510-653-0317 x101.