Affording SFFS
Dear Parents,
The admissions process at San Francisco Friends School seeks to achieve a student body reflective of the incredibly rich diversity found in our city. Children of all backgrounds - ethnic, religious, racial, family structure, or otherwise - are considered for admission without regard to a family’s ability to afford tuition.
In keeping with values of the Quaker faith and Friends education, SFFS intentionally strives to ensure access to education for an economically diverse population. Tuition assistance awards this year were granted across a wide range of dollars, from less than 10% up to 95% of the cost of tuition. While awards must be determined within the framework of the school’s financial budget, the board of trustees aspires to the objective that Friends education be available to all children, regardless of financial circumstances.
San Francisco Friends School subscribes to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), a service widely used by independent schools, in order to receive an objective report of each family’s financial need. SSS processes the information provided by each family on the Parent Financial Statement, and calculates an estimate of a family’s ability to contribute toward tuition. San Francisco Friends School then determines awards based on this estimate as well as other considerations described in the Tuition Assistance Information section. All information submitted and subsequent considerations of a family’s financial situation will be kept entirely confidential.
Careful review of the materials and adherence to deadlines is essential in order for San Francisco Friends School to consider your application for tuition assistance. The Tuition Assistance Committee will not review an application until all of the information has been received. For returning families who have met the deadlines, we will send notice of tuition assistance awards on February 28, 2011. Families of new applicants will receive notice of awards with admissions decisions mailings on March 17, 2011.
Returning families who are currently receiving a tuition assistance award will need to complete a new application each year. It is the family’s responsibility to report any change in financial circumstances and upon review, the Tuition Assistance Committee will make necessary adjustments to a given award. Once an award is granted, and provided there are no major financial changes, a returning family can expect a commitment from San Francisco Friends School of approximately the same percentage of tuition each year. As tuition increases, a family’s dollar contribution will therefore increase proportionately, even with tuition assistance.
We are eager to help in any way possible. We realize that the tuition assistance application process is extensive and demands significant time on your part. Please bear in mind that the process is designed to gather the most information possible so that awards can be distributed most equitably. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions, (415) 565-0400 x136 or email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Sincerely,
Yvette Bonaparte
Director of Admissions