Admissions

The fee you will pay to SSS is $24 for the first school to which you apply, and $13 for each additional school. You will mail a check to SSS along with your Parent Financial Statement (PFS).

Financial aid is assistance provided by a school to reduce the cost of an independent school education. Generally, schools provide financial aid in the form of outright grants. This assistance is given to families who show financial need, defined as the difference between a child's educational expenses and the family's resources. Schools using the School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid rely upon a standard methodology to assess the financial strength of a family, that is, the resources available to contribute toward a child's educational expenses. The vast majority of independent schools in Seattle use SSS to help make their financial aid awards.

For the academic year 2008-2009, tuition at the Bush School will be as follows:

This year Bush is providing financial aid to 15% of our students, and the awards for the 2008-2009 academic year ranged from a low of $4,295 to a high of $23,196, with the average award being $17,497. In addition, grants are made to cover the costs of additional expenses (such as books or field trips), at the same percentage at which tuition is covered.

The Bush School, along with most other independent schools, believes that the family has the primary responsibility for financing their child's education to the extent they are able. We also believe that families should have already tapped all their resources before applying for financial aid. We expect that families have spent some time assessing their financial situation and have determined how much they can afford to pay. We believe, in fact, that every family should contribute at least a certain amount of money toward expenses. Once these amounts have been determined, the family can decide whether or not to apply for aid.

A good rule of thumb is: if in doubt, apply. It costs very little, and because so many factors are considered (more about this later), it is always worth trying. It is important to understand that there is no specific income level at which a family no longer qualifies for financial aid.

Financial aid is awarded in the following priority order by category of student:

• Current students already receiving aid, including faculty and staff children
• Current students who have received aid in the past
• New faculty and staff children
• Other new students who have been admitted to the school
  

SSS processes the information you provided on the PFS according to established standards and procedures. Your financial situation will be evaluated, and an estimated family contribution for education will be determined. The result of the evaluation is printed on a Report of Family Contribution and sent to Bush as well as to any other schools to which you are applying. In processing your application, SSS takes into account many factors, including:

• Income (both taxable and nontaxable)
• Assets (home equity, savings, bonds, etc.)
• Expenses (medical, etc.)
• Indebtedness (some types are allowable, some are not)
• Family size
• Age of parents (to allow for retirement savings)
• Number of children attending tuition-charging schools

SSS considers these factors and provides every family with a living allowance based upon family size. This allowance protects a certain amount of income after a variety of expenses are already subtracted from a family's income. This process helps determine a family's discretionary income. A portion of this discretionary income is then suggested as the family contribution for education. The more discretionary income a family has, the higher the family's contribution.

Not all of your assets are considered in the methodology. A portion is set aside as an allowance for retirement purposes, based upon the age of the older parent. The greater your assets, the greater your family contribution. A family that has a large amount of assets is seen as having greater long-term financial strength and security than a family with a similar income but less assets.

The amount of assets that the child has will be taken into account. That amount will be divided by the number of years he or she has left in school and college and added to the parental contribution for education. The sum of these two amounts equals the suggested family contribution for education.

The Financial Aid Committee will review the Report of Family Contribution along with your Federal tax information and any other information you provide. We may recalculate the suggested family contribution based on this information, on school policy, and on the availability of funds. Your contribution will then be subtracted from the educational costs for the year, and this will determine your financial need.

Not entirely, because there is more demand for financial aid funds that we can provide. We also require that every family contribute a minimum amount toward tuition. This amount will vary depending upon the family's situation. While we cannot meet the full need of all families applying for aid, we hope that by providing aid for a substantial percent of the cost, more families will be able to attend The Bush School.

The members of the Financial Aid Committee will see this information when they review your application. Otherwise, we strictly maintain the confidentiality of all the financial information you provide.

No. Financial aid to a family may be denied if the application is incomplete. We will attempt to advise you if we have not received certain materials, prior to considering your application, to give you a chance to submit the remaining materials.

We offer several payment plans that may help make payments easier on your family's budget. We can also provide you with information about low-interest educational loan programs. You should also look for other forms of financial assistance that may be available through your place of employment, community organizations, or local foundations.

The Bush School believes that primary responsibility for paying for the child's education rests with both parents. Financial aid is based on ability to pay, not on willingness to pay. Therefore, it is the responsibility of all parents to complete all steps in the application process.

No. You must reapply for financial aid every year. As long as your family's financial situation does not change drastically, you should continue to qualify for assistance.

No. The expectations of students on financial aid with regard to academic performance and all other aspects of school life are the same as for students who are not on financial aid.