Financial Aid
The IDEAL School of Manhattan has a financial aid program that is available to qualified candidates. Information and required financial aid forms are included in our admissions packages when requested and can also be obtained by calling the school. The financial aid evaluation is made independently of the admissions decision and does not affect a candidate's eligibility for admission. Financial aid is offered to accepted students on the basis of financial need and the availability of funds. There are no merit-based financial aid awards. The IDEAL School of Manhattan requires families applying for financial aid to submit the School and Student Service for Financial Aid Parents Financial Statement and their current year's federal tax return. Applications for continued assistance must be filed annually. Priority in financial awards is determined to serve the overall goals of the school and promote diversity of the student body. Preference is given to returning students, siblings, and children of employees. Aid will be applied proportionately to periodic tuition payments but can be withdrawn if the family is not current in all payments to the school.
Financial Aid FAQs
What is the timeline for requesting financial assistance?
A request for financial assistance should be submitted when the application for admission is received by the school, no later than December 1st. Please note that deadlines must be strictly met in order for the School to consider a request.
What factors are taken into account when determining a family's eligibility for aid?
Many factors are taken into consideration including household income, assets, ownership of primary or secondary homes, the number of children in the household, and more. Families should utilize and explore all of their own financial alternatives first before seeking financial aid from the school.
If parents are divorced, separated, or never married, who must submit financial information?
Both parents are required to submit financial information including the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) form and their most recent income tax returns. We believe it is the responsibility of parents to pay for the educational expenses of their children to the extent they are able and we will consider the assets and obligations of both parents when determining aid awards. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to ask the noncustodial parent to fill out this form.
Is financial assistance available for auxiliary programs such as The Extended Day Program and Summer Academy?
Families receiving tuition assistance from the school also receive financial assistance with other school expenses such as fees for extended day supervised activities and the Summer Academy. We believe that it is important for a student and their family to be able to participate in all aspects of school life and, whenever possible, tickets for fundraising events are offered to families receiving financial aid at a reduced price.
What is the SSS, The School and Student Service for Financial Aid?
The SSS is an affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and is a service that assists independent schools in processing requests for financial assistance. Parents submit the PFS form to SSS and the company estimates how much a family can afford to contribute to their child's education. This information is then forwarded to the school and we use it as one of the primary tools for determining aid awards. Requiring all financial aid applicants to submit this form enables us to have a consistent and fair process for determining a family's need for aid. All financial information and all financial assistance decisions are confidential. The PFS can be submitted online to SSS. Our SSS school code is 4255.
The IDEAL School of Manhattan does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation in the administration of its educational policies, admissions process, financial assistance, and other school-administered programs.
