Tuition Assistance Application

Applying for tuition assistance

Falmouth Academy's tuition assistance program is designed to make a Falmouth Academy education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Falmouth Academy is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts. The application is reviewed by our Affordability Committee and provides a guideline for making tuition assistance decisions. To make our decision, we use the information from Clarity as a starting point but also consider our school policy, practices, and available budget.

All families applying for tuition assistance must submit a tuition assistance application every year. For prospective families applying for admission and tuition assistance, your admission application must be completed before your tuition assistance application will be determined. Our initial deadline for receiving applications and relevant supplemental documents is February 1 for new families and January 15 for returning families. Applications received after the deadline are reviewed if funds are available.

The process

List of 6 items.

1. Prepare to apply

Review Clarity's Family Application Guide. This guide will walk you step-by-step through the Clarity application. For parents who are separated or divorced, Falmouth Academy requires each parent/family to submit an application (including IRS Form 1040, W-2’s).
2. Complete your application

The entire tuition assistance application process will be completed at app.clarityapp.com and will take approximately 30 minutes.

START YOUR TUITION ASSISTANCE APPLICATION
3. Pay for and submit your application

After completing all the fields of the application, you will choose your method of secure payment of $60. Once you submit your application, your information will be sent to Falmouth Academy.
4. Submit required tax documentation

Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Falmouth Academy requires you to upload additional tax documentation including W-2s and IRS Form-1040.
5. Questions?

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
6. Awards

For families that complete the tuition assistance application by the deadline, awards are made available to accepted students on their enrollment or re-enrollment contracts. For returning students, that is in February. For new students, that is on March 10 or when you receive your acceptance decision.

Falmouth Academy’s Affordability Committee holds financial information submitted by parents in support of tuition assistance applications in strict confidence. All awards are confidential agreements between the recipient family and the school’s Affordability Committee. Please understand that similarly, families are asked to maintain confidentiality as well and are expected not to discuss tuition assistance information with anyone other than the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management or the Director of Finance & Operations.

Affordability & Tuition Assistance FAQ

List of 10 items.

How do I apply for tuition assistance?

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
What is Falmouth Academy’s access code?

Please contact the Admission Office if requesting to submit an application prior to October 1 or after February 1.
When should I apply for aid? Is there a deadline?

You should begin to apply for tuition assistance at the same time you are applying for admission. You can apply online beginning October 1 at https://app.clarityapp.com.

The deadline for returning families to apply is January 15. Prospective families need to complete the application by February 1. Missing the application deadline significantly reduces the likelihood of receiving tuition assistance.
How many students receive tuition assistance at Falmouth Academy?

Approximately 50% of the student body is receiving some level of tuition assistance.
Is it worth applying if I am not sure our family will receive aid?

There are many factors other than income that may affect tuition assistance decisions. Falmouth Academy is committed to meeting the financial need of a wide range of families of different socio-economic levels.
Must I reapply for aid every year?

Yes, every family must reapply for tuition assistance every year. A family may expect to receive the same proportion of tuition assistance if the family's financial circumstances remain essentially the same. A significant change in a family's application may result in a change in the award offered.
What if I have more than one student at a tuition charging school?

If more than one student in a family attends a tuition-charging institution, Falmouth Academy requires that families apply for assistance at each of the institutions their students attend. Falmouth Academy cannot subsidize tuition for other tuition-charging schools of any type. It is important to note that Clarity computes the total funds available for education, and then divides that amount by the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. Copies of awards (from other institutions, elementary through college) may be requested.
What is the process for parents who are separated or divorced?

For parents who are separated or divorced, Falmouth Academy requires each parent/family to submit an application through Clarity (including IRS Form 1040, W-2’s).

If the non-custodial parent refuses to submit the necessary information to Clarity, the application for tuition assistance will not be processed. In cases where the non-custodial parent is in no way involved in the upbringing of the student, the requirement of these forms may be waived by the Affordability Committee. In this event, the custodial parent is required to submit a letter verifying the family’s situation from a third party, such as an attorney, minister or social worker, or a copy of the divorce settlement pertaining to one parent being exempt from contributing to educational expenses.
What expectations does Falmouth Academy have regarding my family’s financial contribution?

Sending your child to Falmouth Academy is a choice. While we do not want parents and guardians to experience economic hardship as a result of their student's enrollment, we do expect sacrifices to be made in order to maximize a contribution.

Falmouth Academy assumes that all adult family members will work to contribute to the investment in a Falmouth Academy education. To that end, when a parent or guardian chooses not to work, and there are no preschool children at home, income equivalent to one current school tuition is added to the calculation of need.

Exceptions may be made if the parent or guardian is caring for a disabled or critically ill child, parent, or grandparent.

Parents or guardians returning to school or changing jobs as a personal choice must realize that a resulting decrease in their family income cannot be underwritten by tuition assistance provided by Falmouth Academy.
When are tuition assistance awards made?

Awards are communicated along with admission decisions on March 10 for newly accepted students.

For returning students, tuition assistance awards are announced to families on the enrollment contract in February.

Tuition Assistance Application Timeline

October 1
Applications for the upcoming school year opens through Clarity

January 15
Application deadline for current families. Families must submit prior year's taxes with the submission of their application.

February 1
Application deadline for prospective families. Families must submit prior year's taxes with the submission of their application.

PLEASE NOTE: Tuition assistance review begins in January for returning students and February for new students. Review continues thereafter if funds are still available. Missing the tuition assistance application deadline significantly reduces the likelihood of receiving tuition assistance. Families are notified of a tuition assistance decision with their enrollment contract.

If you have any questions about the school’s tuition assistance program, please call the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at 508-457-9696 or email at admission@falmouthacademy.org.

Falmouth Academy adheres to the NAIS Principles of Good Practice with regard to its tuition assistance process.

Falmouth Academy does not discriminate in its admissions and tuition assistance programs, hiring process, and all other school programs. Falmouth Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or any other category protected under state or federal law.

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, please call the business office at 508-457-9696 or for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.

Falmouth Academy

7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth, MA 02540
Phone: 508 457 9696
Email: info@falmouthacademy.org