How to Get a Scholarship to a Private High School

Because the cost of a private high school can be nearly as great as that of college, it is unaffordable for many families. The process of applying for scholarship aid has been streamlined through the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS). More than one in six students at its member high schools get scholarship help, with average grants covering more than half of a school's cost.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Apply to a private high school with a significant endowment for student financial aid if your ability to get scholarship help will be an important part of your ability to pay. Most private high schools advertise the percentage of their students who receive scholarship aid and the average grant size.

2. Connect early with the financial aid office of each private high school to which you intend to apply to request a scholarship application package.

3. Submit any preliminary financial aid application that the school uses at the same time you submit your application for admission.

4. Complete your federal income tax return by late January. The SSS requires that a completed federal income tax return be filed by February 1 as the primary supporting documentation for the Parents' Financial Statement, which is available from SSS Online (see Resources below).

5. Submit one Parents' Financial Statement with supporting documents for multiple schools through the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).

6. Include the numerical code on the Parents' Financial Statement for each private high school where you will apply. This will ensure that your financial information and financial aid formula will be submitted to all applicable schools.

7. Inform coaches or others at the school that you will be trying to get financial aid, if they have taken an interest in your attending the school. While most financial aid is need-based, it never hurts to have someone on the inside put in a good word for you.

8. Inquire about the existence of any special scholarships that may apply to your circumstances. For instance, some schools offer special scholarships to residents of the towns in which they are located.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have multiple children who will be attending private high schools or private elementary schools, a single Parents' Financial Statement will suffice for all.

• The possibility that one or more of your children may be attending college could greatly improve your chances of obtaining a scholarship to a private high school.

• Don't be shy about asking about financial aid. Nearly every school has a financial aid office that is ready to help you through the process.

Resources

• Parents' Financial Statement forms from SSS Online