Tuition Assistance plays an important role at Friends’ Central School. Our commitment to economic diversity allows us to strengthen our student body by funding talented students with limited financial means. The request for tuition assistance does not affect one’s application for admission to the School. However, each year, the demand for tuition assistance far exceeds the allocated budget. Therefore, not all students in need of tuition assistance who are offered admission will be awarded a grant.

Friends’ Central is excited to be partnering with Clarity to process our tuition assistance applications. Clarity offers a streamlined and user-friendly application process that can take as few as 20 minutes to complete. It is also mobile-friendly, so you can complete your application on your phone or tablet! Furthermore, your 1040 and W2 documents from 2023 are automatically transferred from the IRS when you complete the verification step. 

The School’s goal is to provide the same level of tuition assistance to a student as long as the student is enrolled at Friends' Central School, provided the financial need remains documented and the student is in good standing. If a family’s financial circumstances change substantially, assistance is adjusted. Tuition assistance grants are issued annually, and families must reapply each year they seek tuition assistance. If the student’s parents are separated, divorced, or never married, we require all parties to submit a Clarity application and supply all required paperwork, including tax filings. The school reserves the right to request custodial and financial support documentation depending on the family situation. 

Grants will only be issued when a family is in good financial standing and all components of the Clarity application are submitted, including tax and other supplemental forms. When there are impactful changes in a currently enrolled family’s financial situation due to a loss in employment or change in family structure, we will do all we can to make it possible for the child to receive the tuition assistance needed to remain at Friends’ Central. Newly enrolling families should be forthright about their ability to pay, as tuition assistance will not be increased without a significant change to family income or circumstance. Additionally, if a family's ability to contribute to the student's education increases, the level of assistance awarded will decrease accordingly.

The School anticipates that families who initially enroll without tuition assistance will continue to support their child’s education at Friends’ Central without assistance. Students who initially enroll without receiving tuition assistance must be enrolled for a minimum of two years before they are eligible to apply for tuition assistance. However, in the event of significant unforeseen circumstances altering a currently enrolled family’s financial situation, an application for tuition assistance can be submitted for consideration. 

All tuition assistance awards are confidential agreements between the recipient family and the school. Families may not discuss tuition assistance information with anyone other than a member of the tuition assistance committee. Friends’ Central reserves the right to revoke tuition assistance if it becomes known that this expectation has been breached. 

To begin your Tuition Assistance application for the 2025-2026 school year:

For applying families: application due December 2, 2024

The 2025-2026 Tuition Assistance application opens on August 1. To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and costs $60. Friends’ Central’s school code is 1845. With Clarity the process is more streamlined and straightforward and you will not need to upload any additional documents unless prompted to do so. Most families will only need to upload their most recent pay stub(s). Your 2023 1040 and supporting schedules will be received directly from the IRS. More information on how to complete the application can be found here, or in the Quick Guide here. 

In consideration of the differing financial situations of our families, there are three ways to satisfy the tuition bill:

• Families who pay tuition in full by July 15 are eligible for a 1% discount.

• Parents may choose to pay two-thirds of the tuition by July 15 and defer payment of the last third until January 1, through FACTS Management Services.

• Parents may choose to pay the tuition in 10 monthly installments through FACTS beginning in June preceding the school year.

All payment plans will be billed and administered by the FACTS Management Company. If you have questions regarding tuition billing or payments, please contact Michelle Barbera in the Business Office or call 610-645-5050.