Admission Tuition, Expenses and Financial Aid
Financing an Athenian Education
Tuition and fees provide only a part of the revenue required at most independent schools, and Athenian is no different. Twenty-one percent of Athenian's revenue comes from donations, interest from the endowment, summer programs and facility rentals. Athenian families are asked to participate in an annual giving effort as their ability allows. Athenian's largest expense is the faculty salaries needed to maintain average class size of 15 to 16 students. The teaching and mentoring facilitated by small classes are hallmarks of the Athenian education and experience.
Tuition and Fees 2007-08
Middle School
$19,680
Upper School
Domestic Day: $25,960
Domestic Boarding: $39,950
International Day: $26,960
International Boarding: $40,950
Additional costs for books, field trips and incidental expenses typically total $800-$1,200 per year. Tuition is billed in either two installments (May and July) or ten monthly installments (July through April).
The Financial Aid Program
Athenian offers need-based grants to offset the cost of tuition. These financial aid grants allow promising students, who could not otherwise afford to do so, to attend The Athenian School. This program supports Athenian's goals of providing an outstanding and distinctive college preparatory education to an academically talented, as well as socio-economically, geographically and ethnically diverse student body. Admission is need blind. The Admission Committee is not made aware that any applicant has applied for financial aid. Financial aid grants support approximately 20 percent of the Athenian student body. Financial Aid recipients can expect the amount they pay to remain the same each year unless their financial circumstances change.
How To Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid for 2008-09, you must complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) and submit tax returns to the Admission and Financial Aid Office. The priority filing date for all application materials is January 10, 2008. Late applications will be considered as remaining funding allows. Both natural parents and stepparents must complete a financial aid application.
• The Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) for 2008-09 should be completed online at https://sss.ets.org. Contact the Admission Office if you need a paper PFS. Note: The 2008-09 PFS will not be available until late October or early November 2007. To be considered for financial aid for the 2008-09 school year, use only the PFS specifically for 2008-2009 enrollment.
• In addition, submit signed copies of your completed and signed 2007 1040 forms to the Admission and Financial Aid Office. Include all attachments and associated returns.
Financial aid application details are provided below. Please contact the Admission and Financial Aid Office with any questions.
Important Information: Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)
• Along with most independent schools in the United States, Athenian uses the forms and methodology of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to evaluate financial aid applicants' ability to pay. SSS and The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) together sponsor this service.
• Carefully and closely follow the instructions. Be sure to explain all application items for which a required explanation is indicated and describe any special circumstances in the item for comments and explanations. Failure to follow these directions will cause your request for financial aid to be delayed until all the necessary information is provided. Failure to follow these directions may affect your likelihood of receiving financial aid.
• Parental divorce, separation or remarriage is a complex matter for financial aid. Athenian considers the finances of both natural parents. If a parent has been remarried for more than two years, we also consider the stepparent, bearing in mind the stepparent's obligation to his or her own natural children. In those cases, each natural parent (and his or her current spouse) must complete a PFS. All information is kept in strict confidence. One parent's information is never revealed to the other when natural parents are not married. Please contact Christopher Beeson, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, at christopher.beeson@athenian.org or 925-362-7225 to discuss special circumstances. If you have already submitted information to establish your unusual circumstance in previous years, you can assume your situation will be considered in the same way that it was for 2007-08 (unless your circumstances have changed).
Questions?
Please submit your questions regarding Athenian School admission to admission@athenian.org.
