Demystifying Financial Assistance

It is important to emphasize the significant role that financial assistance plays in our school’s promise of inspiring greatness for a better world. At LJCDS, we pride ourselves on identifying students of character, who possess a strong work ethic and desire for greatness in any realm that inspires them. Our financial assistance program allows us to identify the next generation of scholars, artists and athletes of character, regardless of their financial background.

Fundamentally, financial assistance enriches the experience of every member of the LJCDS community. It allows us to create a community of learners from many different backgrounds who will test each other’s assumptions, cultivate one another’s strengths and open each other's remarkable young minds.

Even with our proud history of helping make an LJCDS education financially accessible for students, misconceptions about tuition assistance and affordability discourage outstanding families from exploring our school as an option. I approach discussions about financial assistance as being not merely procedural in nature; the conversation also needs to be strategic. I address the importance of a process that is based on LJCDS values, as well as a deliberate approach to stewarding and allocating finite financial assistance resources. Ultimately, we need to help families manage both the practical and philosophical steps of what to expect as recipients of financial assistance at LJCDS.  

What is financial assistance at LJCDS? And, of equal importance, what is it not?  

Financial assistance is a decrease of tuition costs based on a family’s demonstrated financial need. Although sometimes referred to as a financial assistance grant or scholarship, LJCDS does not award merit scholarships (i.e. a monetary award based on either academic or extracurricular merit). All students who receive assistance come from families that qualify according to the School & Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) program. Financial assistance for all independent schools is based upon need calculated using the algorithms provided by SSS.

No minimum GPA must be maintained for a student to remain a recipient of financial assistance, although students must remain in good academic and disciplinary standing and the family must meet their financial commitments to the school to re-enroll. This is a standard that is true for all LJCDS students and families, regardless of financial need or circumstance, to re-enroll.

Once a family receives a financial assistance award, we are committed to supporting that student and family throughout their tenure at LJCDS. That said, families must reapply each year to demonstrate that given year’s financial need. Unlike higher education, LJCDS financial assistance awards are neither grants nor loans, and therefore do not need to be paid back to the school.

Current and prospective parents often ask me if they should even go through the process of applying for financial assistance. This question may arise because, based upon their incomes, they are genuinely unsure if they would qualify to receive assistance. My response is always the same; if there is any question in your mind about your ability to meet LJCDS’ tuition obligation, you can apply for financial assistance and let the process determine the outcome.

We acknowledge that attending LJCDS requires a significant financial investment. We also know that a child’s future is not about a dollar figure. We respect that families have budgets and, as a result, it’s our goal to try and help families work that budget so that they can afford an LJCDS education for their child. 

Financial Assistance at LJCDS