current families

San Francisco Friends School adjusts a student's tuition to match their family's economic situation. The Adjustable Tuition Committee reviews each family's financial and personal circumstances along with an independent tuition estimate from the School and Student Services organization. Tuition adjustments are sent to current families in the first week of March.

Applying for an Adjusted Tuition involves two equally important processes:

PART A - Completing the Parents' Financial Statement on the SSS website.

PART B - Submitting a complete set of financial documents to the SSS website.

Applications will only be considered when fully complete.

PART A - Completing the PFS

Families must complete the PFS (Parents' Financial Statement) located on the School and Student Services site (SSS). The SSS is an independent organization that analyzes family incomes and assets and estimates how much a family can contribute to educational expenses. This estimate is then reported to the school.

The PFS will ask you about family size, total income, savings, investments, debt, medical and dental expenses, any unusual expenses, and other assets, such as home equity. The guidebook for completing the PFS can be downloaded here.

SSS has helpful informational webinars for parents that can be viewed here. The short webinars explain different aspects of the PFS.

Fee: $60

Due: January 31, 2023

School Code: 3061

Please note: For divorced, separated, or unmarried parents, each parent/step-parent/guardian is required to complete a separate Parents' Financial Statement.

Call SSS at 800-344-8328 with any questions about the PFS (M – F, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST; Sat, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST).

PART B - Submitting documents to SSS

We use an ONLINE system for document management. Please upload your documents directly to SSS via their secure portal.

Tax forms, W-2s and other documents can be uploaded through the SSS website—complete instructions are available on the Managing/Uploading Required Documents tab on the SSS website. The system saves older documents and we will only require the most current forms.

For families who received an Adjusted Tuition last year:

Please submit signed copies of the following documents to SSS by February 7, 2023:

2022 Federal Tax Returns (including any Schedules)
2022 W-2 or 1099 forms
Copies of 2 most recent pay stubs (if not self-employed)
SFFS Household Expenditures statement (download here)
Notice of layoff/furlough and any related severance payment, if applicable
Notice of unemployment compensation benefit, if applicable
Documentation of Business Revenue loss or closure (e.g., business income statement /notice of closure), if applicable

*If you are a majority partner in an LLP or corporation, submit IRS Forms 1065 & 1120, submit copies of 2020 and 2021 corporate tax returns and all supporting detail: i.e. IRS Forms K-1s, 1065 & 1120

For families new to Adjusted Tuition, you must include the following:

Please submit signed copies of the following documents to SSS by February 7, 2023:

Completed Parent Financial Statement (PFS)
2021 and 2022 Individual and Business tax returns with all schedules
2021 and 2022 W-2s or 1099s
SFFS Household Expenditures statement (download here)
Copies of 2 most recent pay stubs (if not self-employed)
Notice of layoff/furlough and any related severance payment, if applicable
Notice of unemployment compensation benefit, if applicable
Documentation of Business Revenue loss or closure (e.g., business income statement /notice of closure), if applicable

For families appealing their current Adjusted Tuition award, you must include the following:

Updated Parent Financial Statement (PFS) in the SSS system; update 2022 estimates in all categories.
Updated SFFS Household Expenditures statement and short answer questions
Most recent pay stub
Notice of layoff/furlough and any related severance payment
Notice of unemployment compensation benefit
Documentation of Business Revenue loss or closure (e.g., business income statement /notice of closure)

Please note: Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Bay Area provides free tax preparation to low- to moderate-income individuals, families and seniors. Click here for a list of tax sites.

*Please submit any supplemental information about your financial circumstances by email to kplough@sffriendsschool.org or letter directly to the Business Office (Attn: Kim Plough). We encourage you to tell us as much as you can about your family. Although Adjusted Tuition may make it possible for a student to attend SFFS, we understand it will also require the families to carefully plan and budget in order to make tuition a financial priority. Sharing your families plans, budgets and constraints will help us best understand your family's specific situation.

Instructions for providing documents to SSS:

You may upload or mail the documents to SSS. Please do NOT include state taxes or worksheets.
In the case of separated or divorced parents, both households must submit all financial information.
To submit documents to SSS, upload documents directly to SSS, following the instructions on the Managing/Uploading Required Documents tab on the SSS website.

QUESTIONS?

Kim Plough
Director of Finance and Operations
415-565-0400 x121
kplough@sffriendsschool.org

Yvette Bonaparte
Director of Admission
415-565-0400 x136
ybonaparte@sffriendsschool.org