Berkeley Parents Network: Financial Aid for Private K-12 Schools

Berkeley Parents Network

Financial Aid for Private K-12 Schools

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Financial Aid for Private K-12 Schools

Financial Aid Eligibility- Elementary School

Jan 2007

Hi! We are in the process of applying for financial aid for our son (only child) who will be starting kindergarten next Fall. We feel like we look ok on paper (about $90k income, we own 2 properties and have investments), but realistically wouldn't be able to afford the $15,ooo/per year tuition without at least 50% assistance. I am asking for any advice, additional resources, and experiences with the system. Do you have a similar situation, and have you received or been denied aid? I should note that our son is biracial (1/2 African American)... not sure if it makes a difference. Thank you for your thoughts. Anon

With your income and assets, I think they are going to expect you to pay more than what you want to pay. You should fill out the SSS form that most schools use and request a family report. You will get it just a few days after you send in your info, especially if you do it online. That will tell you what they think you can contribute. Each school then decides on their own how much to really give you. But just for reference, I just filed and qualified for a pretty low contribution and I make WAY WAY less than you. Basically, they do not expect you to just let your investments sit untouched. You have to pay what you can. You also need to find out how much your school offers in financial aid. For example, if 50% is the maximum they give, someone much poorer than you is probably going to get that amount before you do. good luck

Can't afford private school

March 2004

In searching for a kindergarden for my son I thought I would look at the private schools even though we can't afford it. I was curious what they had to offer that public schools didn't and if they were so much better. Well, I fell in love with Tehiya Day School and knew it was the perfect match for our family. The problem is we really can't afford it. Our income covers our expenses with a little left over for a camping vacation and some fun activities maybe once a month. We have some savings, not much, and no prospect in the future of becoming well off. I suppose if we give up our minimal leisure activities we could somehow swing it but is it worth it? Our son might be happy in the school but we wouldn't be able to afford anything else - especially the after school activities. We do live in Albany, however and I did like the schools, but not as much as Tehiya. Has anyone had this dilemna? I'd love to hear how people feel about not being able to offer a private school education to their children and those that live in Albany who considered private school but ended up at the public school and have been happy. I was also concerned about ''bullying'' especially among boys and thought that private school would offer a more protective environment and thus less of the school yard antics. ''wanting the best'' mom

I, too, fell in love with Tehiyah Day School! It is a wonderful school and an especially wonderful community. I know that it is a school worth some level of sacrifice. Please talk to Amy Friedman, Tehiyah's Director of Admission about your worries and how much you love her school immediately (before all the contracts are due next week and all of the aid is gone). Tehiyah, in their committment to community, ''will make the money work out when we know that a student and family is a good match for us.'' (Tell Amy that Wanda suggested you to call!)

Also see Albany School District's API scores in this past Wednesday's Chronicle...impressive, if you believe that standardized scores make all the difference. Good luck with your school selection. Wanda Wanda

Have you even looked at your public schools? I find that people are willing to completely blow off thier public school without ever having seen it or visited it and without much information on which to base their assumptions that the school is not going to be okay for their kid. My child goes to Crocker Highlands in Oakland, and it is amazing how many people assume because its in Oakland, it is no good (btw, must brag, it scored a 9 out of 10 in the recent State rankings).

Everybody wants ''the best'' for their kid,but what does that really mean? There are academics but also other factors one must look at. When we looked at private school, I was concerned about the lack of diversity (mostly socio-economically) and how it would be for my kid to always be the one who had the smallest house, and didn't go skiing in Tahoe for a week every winter, and all those social pressures which can be difficult to handle, especially as kids get older. And if you are on the edge about being able to afford a private school, I'm doubting you will have the money they will expect you to donate on top of the big tuition fee you will pay. I am jealous somewhat of what some of the private schools can offer my child, like a huge garden, and the ability to discuss certain issues (like gay rights), but you know what? I can provide that to my child in so many other ways, that I dont' need to rely on a school to do it. So I would encourage you to really look at your public schools and have a different paradigm about what really makes a good school experience for your kid. With a little work and lots of school involvement, you can make it what you want it to be! Hilary

I'm not sure that private schools are any better about bullying than public schools. A lot of kids are just mean. My son was bullied even at a very small private school (though it was not Tehiya). He had a wonderful classroom teacher at Albany's Cornell school, but he was still bullied at recess, and spent most of his time in the library, the safe haven. That had also been his strategy at the private school. Albany Middle school is even worse because there is less supervision and it's a horrible age for meanness. I do think the bullying has more to do with my child's personality and inability to deal with teasing than anything else. But I am seriously concerned with some of the things I hear about the goings on at Albany Middle School right now, and if I could afford to switch him to private school, I'd definitely look into it. He seems to be concerned for his own safety, at times, which is how I remembered feeling in the berkeley public schools, back in the 70's, and what I so hoped to protect him from, in moving to Albany.

Having said all that, I really think the biggest benefit of private school is the quality of the education and smaller class sizes, rather than any particular kindness on the part of the other students or parents. People are people, and some of those aren't so nice, whether they have money or not. A religiously based school like Tehiyah might have a different culture. You may find that in the older years there is less emphasis on sexuality and fashion among the students, but I don't really know that either. concerned public school parent

Both my kids go to Tehiyah and while we do not have financial aid (they think we make too much money) I know many people who have received very generous financial aid without much difficulty. It's worth applying, the worst that could happen is you'll be turned down. Are you absolutely sure you can't afford it? That's what we thought but when we sat down and worked things around our budget we found that we could do it, though it would be tight. Are there any relatives you can ask for help? Since we've been there the tuition has gone up every year (sorry, that may sound discouraging). I know this isn't the direct answer to your question, but I'm hoping it'll give you another way to look at the possibility. Good luck. June

I feel you should be realistic about what you can afford. Unless someone changes jobs or takes on more work, it sounds like Tehiyah is cost-prohibitive for you. That of course, would just be the tuition but what about all of the 'extras' i.e. fundraisers, activities, keeping up with the ''Jones''' and all that the other families may be able to afford. Remember too that the Bay Area is just going to get more expensive. Since you live in a great school district I would give that a go first. Volunteer there when your child starts and that way you will see just what goes on each day. I actually quit my job to be around more when my child started kindergarten to help with the transition, reading, learning, etc.. instead of stressing out over high tuition costs. It's not easy but I think (and hope) we have the same result in her education in the long run. HL

Dear Parent: You sound really devoted to your child but your posting leaves out whether a Jewish education is an important part of wanting to make sacrifices to send your child to Tehiyah. If so, then no the Albany schools are no replacement. If, however, you think that there is no ''bullying'' at Tehiyah or independent schools, you might want to know that the quality of boy bullying in my son's class, and some other instances in some other grades, would sadden you. And Tehiyah in our experience is pretty resigned about it.

I am not sure what you mean by ''worth it,'' but know that our experience after having two sons in two different independent schools in El Cerrito is that a good public school may be doing a better job of meeting consistent curriculum and state-mandated curriculum better than independent schools. At both Tehiyah and the other independent school that my other son attends we are finding huge holes in the curriculum and very different qualities of teacher (uneven teachers can happen in public school as well, I know).

If the Jewish aspect was not important to us, my kids would likely be going to public school in Orinda or Moraga. And I also worry that my kids don't have any real built-in friendships on our street because everyone is in different public or private schools. I sure liked that part of my childhood where I had close friends as neighbors. Good luck to you. Realistic mom

If you really like tehyihah or any other private school I would encourage you to apply for financial aid. We just received our acceptance and rejection letters from private schools for kindergarden. We were in the boat of thinking that we had too much money to receive financial aid but also couldn't figure out how we would pay for private school, short of refinancing our house or me going back to work. (Right now I'm at home with our 4 year old and her younger sib.) We did receive financial aid from Head-Royce and I know another family in the same boat who received financial aid from Park Day. Each school has different amount of resources for financial aid and a different set of criteria for whom they make awards. It's worth a talk with the admissions directors of schools you are interested in. But it appears that some of these schools are making good on their commitment to provide aid to ''middle income'' (in the Bay Area definition of that term!)families. It's certainly worth a try, and if you do not get enough aid, at least you have another good option in the Albany Public Schools. anon.

It's much easier to fall in love with a private school than to pay for one. And Tehiyah is particularly lovable. Have you asked about the possibility of financial aid? Most private schools have scholarship programs and I'm pretty sure that Tehiyah does. If they can't offer you assistance with tuition, you have a hard choice, but not an impossible one. You are lucky to have a better public school option than most of us do; Albany public schools are supposed to be among the best. If the lifestyle compromises required to pay for Tehiyah would make your family unhappy, don't make them -- go with the public schools. Ann

If your child has special needs / learning differences / might need an IEP (individualized education plan) then I would advise that you give public school a serious consideration. We have not had good experiences at Tehiyah with regards to the teachers' and the administration's ability and willingness to modify the program for children with learning differences. We have had to spend a lot of money on outside services, tutoring and therapy, etc. some of which would be provided by BUSD if we were enrolled in public school. So if finances are a concern for you, the possibility of these extras should be factored in to your decision. There is a lot of variability amongst the teachers at Tehiyah, some have been helpful, some ineffectual, and some actually damaging to my child's self esteem. We have received a lot of lip service when advocating for changes, but in my experience the school does not ''walk the talk''. Tehiyah parent

[Editor] See Tehiyah Day School reviews for a response to this discussion.

April 1998

A Better Chance does offer aid to disadvantaged and minority students to high school. I don't know their phone, but you should be able to get it from information. Myriam

You know, some of the Montessori schools offer scholarships of various kinds. Nia House in Berkeley has a good scholarship program, although a long waiting list. Growing Light Montessori offers discounts to single parents and other sorts of scholarships as well. Generally there are waiting lists for this type of thing; but then again, this is probably going to be an ongoing issue for your daughter. Might be worth getting on some waiting lists. -- Mary Carol

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