Financial Aid

Charles River School is committed to being a diverse and inclusive community. We offer financial aid to talented students based on need, providing access to children from a broad range of economic backgrounds throughout Greater Boston. We allocate a percentage of the operating budget as well as funds from our endowment to help qualified families defray some of the costs of an independent school education. Currently, 22% of our students receive financial aid.

Charles River School uses the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to process financial aid forms. To apply for financial aid, parents or guardians should:

Request a financial aid form from the Admissions Office by checking the appropriate box on the application form or by going to sss.nais.org.
Complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online or on paper and submit to the school and Student Service for Financial Aid by February 1.
Send the following to the Charles River School Financial Aid Committee, marking the envelope “Confidential”
- A copy of the Parents Financial Statement (PFS)
- A copy of your most recent Federal Tax return and schedules

If your most current income tax form is not available, please send your form from the previous year and submit the latest form when it is completed.

Please contact Susan Mantilla-Goin in the Admissions Office (508-785-8213) or Business Manager David Dean (508-785-8212) for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my family would qualify for financial aid?

Families with a wide range of income qualify for aid. The amount of aid offered depends on such factors as:

Family financial circumstances
The number of dependents
The number of children attending tuition-charging schools and colleges
Available financial aid funds.

It is assumed that each family should be able to maintain a basic standard of living as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in order to provide the necessary food, clothing and shelter for a household. As income goes up above this basic level, families have funds that permit discretionary purchases beyond necessary expenditures. As this so-called discretionary income increases, parents are expected to make progressively higher financial commitments to education.

How does the financial aid application process work?

Charles River School uses the services of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) to help assess a family’s financial need. This Service processes all financial aid applications and submits a report back to the school as to how much each family should be able to contribute toward education. Charles River School then allocates its resources as fairly as possible. The School and Student Service for Financial Aid does not award financial aid; Charles River School makes all awards.

Where do financial aid monies come from?

Funds for financial aid come almost entirely from the school’s operating budget, i.e. tuition revenue and fundraising events. A small amount comes from the school’s endowment. No government funds are involved in the financial aid process.

What is the timetable for applying for financial aid?

Financial aid applications should be submitted to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid by February 1. You should send a copy to the Charles River School along with a copy of your most recent IRS tax forms. You will be notified regarding financial aid when you are notified of your child’s acceptance or shortly thereafter.

If my child receives financial aid one year, will he or she automatically receive financial aid each of the following years?

You will have to complete a financial aid application each year. Charles River School usually continues to grant financial aid each year providing the family’s financial situation does not change significantly. It is our policy to provide funding first for currently enrolled students and then for new students.

Are the names of those on financial aid generally known?

No, all financial aid information, including the recipients, is kept confidential within the Financial Aid Committee.