Tuition Assistance
Thank you for your interest in tuition assistance. Applications for tuition assistance for the upcoming school year will open on February 1st. For more information, please contact [email protected].
At Westbury Christian School, we believe a Bible-based college-preparatory education should be accessible to as many families as possible. That’s why we offer families whose student(s) completes the admissions process the opportunity to apply for need-based tuition assistance.
Our school uses FAST from Independent School Management (ISM) to process financial aid applications. FAST provides our school with a need-based financial analysis, allowing us to allocate our resources wisely and fairly. All information from FAST regarding a family’s request for tuition assistance is kept confidential. The FAST analysis assesses financial need based on a number of factors, including family size, number of children attending WCS, income and family assets. Applications to FAST requires a $60 fee and families who qualify for tuition assistance will be notified after completing the admissions process and receiving an acceptance letter.
Families who are awarded tuition assistance will receive discounts on the tuition portion of the annual cost to attend WCS, not including some fees that are required for all families. For more information about what is and is not eligible to be covered by tuition assistance, or for other related questions, contact the Financial Aid office at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tuition Assistance?
The Tuition Assistance Program is a program that reflects our commitment to providing access to Christian education for as many families as possible. The Tuition Assistance Program awards qualified families discounts on the tuition portion of the annual cost to attend WCS, not including some fees that are required for all families.
This is not a loan program. The amount of reduced tuition will never need to be “repaid.”
How does Tuition Assistance work?
Any prospective or current family with students in K-12 may apply if they are concerned about affording the full tuition rate. Our objective, third-party service—FAST-Financial Aid for School Tuition–assesses financial need based on a number of factors, including family size, number of children attending WCS, income and family assets. FAST uses these factors to determine a family’s ability to pay based on their “Estimated Family Contribution” (EFC). A family’s contribution to education is a reflection of “the ability to contribute, not the willingness to contribute,” which is standard FAST policy.
The Tuition Assistance Committee evaluates each application in a fair, consistent, and confidential manner, taking the time to understand the unique circumstance of each family. Once a decision has been made, families are notified of their awards.
How do we apply?
To see if your family qualifies, begin by completing the user-friendly online Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) application, which requires a $60 fee. Families who qualify for tuition assistance will be notified after completing the admissions process and receiving an acceptance letter.
While WCS is able to offer assistance to a number of families, the amount is limited. The first round of applications for returning families is March 1. After this time, applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
Is tuition assistance available for all grades?
No, tuition assistance is only available for students entering grades K-12. Pre-school students are not eligible for tuition assistance. The availability of tuition assistance may vary based on entering grade level, space in grade, number of applicants and budgeted funds. To be considered, FAST applications must meet the following deadlines:
Returning Families: March 1
New Families: June 15
Tax Document Deadline: April 16
Will applying for tuition assistance jeopardize the chances of my child being accepted?
No. Admissions applications and FAST applications are reviewed separately, and submitting an application for tuition assistance has no bearing on your child’s admissions status.
If we qualify for tuition assistance this year, will we pay the same amount in future years? Do we need to apply again?
Every family must reapply for tuition assistance each year by submitting a new FAST application and meet all stated deadlines.
Will my application be confidential?
All applications for tuition assistance are confidential. Westbury Christian considers all tuition assistance decisions to be confidential agreements between the school and the recipient family and expects both parties to treat them that way.
How do families in multiple households apply for tuition assistance?
Each parent/guardian household must submit a separate FAST application along with all tax documents and forms. Consideration of all available resources from both parents/guardians and their spouses is based on the principle that a family’s contribution to education is a reflection of “the ability to contribute, not the willingness to contribute,” which is standard FAST policy.
If a parent is no longer involved in the life of the child in any way, please email [email protected] to determine how to proceed.