The Board of Trustees has adopted the policy of funding most of the school’s annual operating expenses with tuition dollars. This decision means that tuition controls, in large part, the quality of the education Trinity is able to offer. While recognizing that some sacrifice is appropriate for something as crucial as children’s education, the Board acknowledges that financial assistance will be necessary to build and maintain the sort of student body Trinity School aspires to have. Consequently, since the beginning of the school in 1995, significant funds have been devoted to tuition assistance.

In order for us to allocate our resources wisely and fairly, we have enlisted the help of Independent School Management's FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) program. ISM's FAST does not decide whether financial assistance will be given or how much to give. The FAST service provides to the school a need-based financial aid analysis, which includes a recommendation of what a family should reasonably contribute toward tuition. All information from FAST is kept confidential.

While no financial aid procedure can be entirely equitable—there are simply too many individual factors and extenuating circumstances—the process that has been established has served Trinity well. Please read the Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid, published by the National Association of Independent Schools, as they have implications for both the school and parents. Trinity School intends to be guided by these principles to the extent that resources and conditions permit.

1. How and when do I apply?

Follow the directions below. It is critical that financial aid applications be complete and that applicants meet the deadlines in the admission schedule published each year by the Admission Office.

• Parents are asked to access the FAST Program Web site specifically for Trinity School applicants. Once there, click on the button in the middle, left to start your application. All your financial information should be entered directly through the secure server.
• Complete the requested information. There is a $25.00 application processing fee that must be paid via credit card at the time the application is submitted. Qualifying families may obtain application fee waivers from the Trinity Business Office.
• Until you click the "Submit" button, you have not released your application, so you may continue to enter information. Once you click "Submit," your application is complete and available for consideration.
• In addition to completing the application, you must also submit the following directly to FAST:
  • a copy of your most recently-filed IRS federal tax return, including all schedules, and
  • copies of your year-end income documentation supporting your estimate of current-year income. This could include year-to-date pay stubs, W-2 forms, Form 1099, etc.
  • Mail directly to: Independent School Management, Attn: FAST Processing, 1316 North Union Street, Wilmington, DE 19806-2594

2. What is your policy regarding families where parents live in separate households?

We expect both parents to finance their child's education to the extent they are able. Therefore, in these cases we require each household to complete the financial aid application. The FAST system is secure and the information from each parent will be held in the strictest confidence. A financial aid award cannot be made without financial aid information from/about both parents.

3. What if my tax return is not ready by the deadline?

Our financial aid is typically in the first quarter of the calendar year. We recognize that your tax return for the recently completed year may not yet be filed. Therefore, we ask you to estimate your current-year income using year-end pay stubs and your most recent filed tax return.

4. How is our family's contribution calculated?

The ISM FAST program determines a family’s income available for tuition using factors such as household income and expenses, state and federal taxes, and number of children in tuition-charging schools and colleges, as well as assets and debts. The formula determines the portion of your family’s discretionary income that could be made available for tuition.

The Financial Aid Committee then makes adjustments, based upon case-by-case family information and Trinity School-specific policies. Budgetary constraints may mean that an award from Trinity School may not match 100 percent of a family’s demonstrated need and may require a family to use more of its resources than anticipated.

5. How is the financial aid package determined?

All financial aid awards are made on the basis of a family’s demonstrated financial need, and awards are reserved for families who have no alternative to requesting aid. The cost of tuition, minus the family’s calculated contribution, represents the amount of financial aid a family is eligible to receive. Once this amount is determined, the Financial Aid Committee reviews all information submitted and calculates the award amount based upon demonstrated need, following established NAIS guidelines.

Applications for financial aid will not be considered if any previous tuition balance remains unpaid.

Trinity School awards need-based financial aid on the basis of demonstrated and documented need up to a maximum of 50% of tuition unless there are extenuating circumstances, which are evaluated on a year-to-year basis. Financial aid is awarded per student and is not transferable within the family.

Trinity School requires families to meet financial aid deadlines (available on our website) in order for financial aid decisions to be made on a fair and equitable basis. Late applicants may still apply, but funds may not be available.

New applicants must complete the admissions process and be offered an enrollment space before an application for financial aid can be acted upon by the Financial Aid Committee.

6. How much financial aid can we expect?

The average financial aid award per student for the 2007-2008 school year was $3,606 for students in grades K-10.

7. Does Trinity School offer any scholarships?

At this time, Trinity School has no standing scholarship funds available. On an increasing number of occasions, however, scholarship funds are gifted to the school. It is the policy of the school to allocate any available scholarship funds on a need-demonstrated basis and in the spirit of the donor’s intentions. Scholarship funds are supplemental to the school’s financial aid resources; however, the application procedures for and administration of scholarships follow the same guidelines as other need-based financial aid described above.

8. When and how will we be notified of our aid award?

Parents will be notified of aid decisions by letter according to the admission schedule published each year by the Admission Office.

9. Do we have to apply every year?

Yes, you must complete a new application for aid each year. You can expect that your financial aid will be renewed, provided you continue to demonstrate similar need.

10. If my child enrolls without receiving aid, can we apply for aid in future years?

Students who enroll without financial aid during their first year should not expect to receive aid in following years. Trinity School expects that families who begin paying full tuition will continue to do so. However, if there has been a significant change in your financial status, you are encouraged to apply for financial aid. The Financial Aid Committee will accept and review your application.

11. Does Trinity School offer loans to assist families with tuition?

Trinity School does not offer loans. Many commercial banks offer favorable rates and terms for education loans. The Business Office has information available regarding educational loans.

12. Contact information?

PROCEDURES FOR TRINITY SCHOOL:

It is Trinity's desire to extend financial aid offers before families are required to sign and secure contracts, whether reenrollment contracts or new contracts. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. The most frequent cause of such delays is late application for financial aid. Families may contact Trinity School’s Business Manager to request extensions, but these cannot always be granted.

There are many ways to contribute to the life of the school. Trinity welcomes parents, grandparents, and friends of the school to actively donate their time and expertise in many ways, all of which propel us to greater heights.

Each year the Board of Trustees of Trinity invites families to make a financial gift to the Annual Fund, if they are able. As is true in other independent schools, tuition does not cover all the costs of educating a child. The Annual Fund makes up the difference between tuition and operating costs and thus allows for a more moderate tuition. Our goal for the 2006–2007 Annual Fund is to raise $180,000 with high participation from the Trinity community.

Another opportunity for giving is Trinity’s second Capital Campaign, which funds the construction of our South Classroom Building, our Student Activity Center, and additional parking. Thank you for considering investing your time and resources in our children’s future and the future of this school.

Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill
4011 Pickett Road, Durham, NC 27705
919.402.8262 voice + 919.402.0762 fax

© 2003 Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill