Support for Costs Beyond Tuition

Affording the cost of a transformational education includes expenses beyond tuition. At Friends Seminary, we understand this reality and are committed to helping our FRIENDS families offset these expenses. All students, regardless of economic background, have complete access to the Friends Seminary experience.

ADMISSIONS

We provide…

APPLICATION FEE WAIVERS for students in placement programs, for students who demonstrate financial need, and for students applying for attrition grades. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.
REDUCED ISEE AND SSAT TESTING FEES for Grades 5-11 applicants with qualifying incomes. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.

ACADEMIC AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

We provide…

REQUIRED TESTING AND EVALUATION for students at their percentage of financial aid. Division Heads must recommend and approve these services. Refer questions to the Divisional Office.
REQUIRED TUTORING AND SUPPORT SERVICES for students at the percentage of their financial aid (up to $200/week). Division Heads must recommend and approve these services. Refer questions to the Divisional Office.
CHAPMAN ACADEMIC CENTER (7:30 AM - 4:30 PM) faculty assistance, peer tutoring, and independent study for all students Grades 7-12 for no additional cost. Refer questions to the Divisional Office.

PROGRAM SUPPORT

We provide…

BOOKS included with tuition for all Grades K-8 students, and free of charge for US students who receive 90% or more financial aid. We also provide assistance for required materials (calculators, Apps, etc.) to students receiving 90% or more financial aid. Refer questions to the Divisional Office.
TECHNOLOGY iPads free of charge for K-8 students. Students receiving financial aid who are new to the Upper School receive one-time financial assistance based on their percentage of financial aid to purchase their own laptop as part of the Upper School technology requirement. Refer questions to the Technology Department or to Divisional Offices.
ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT including uniforms and required equipment at no charge to all students. Aid is available to students who demonstrate financial need for required equipment beyond uniforms on Varsity and Junior Varsity teams. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS that can be loaned or rented for the school year on a case-by-case need basis to students with demonstrated financial need. Any unexpected maintenance and tuning is covered at a percentage of financial aid. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.

MEALS

We provide…

free breakfast and lunch to all Friends students, and we invite all in the community to join us for breakfast in the mornings beginning at 7:30 AM.

TRANSPORTATION

We provide…

FULL OR HALF-FARE METROCARDS for all students residing in NYC depending on age and distance. Refer questions to the Upper School Office.
FREE NYC BOARD OF EDUCATION BUS SERVICE for all Grades K-6 students residing in Lower Manhattan or Upper East Side. Refer questions to the Lower School Office.
INDEPENDENT WEST SIDE BUS SERVICE (AM only) for students residing on the West Side. Fee required; no discount. Refer questions to the Admissions Office.

SCHOOL TRIPS

We provide…

MUSIC TRIPS at a percentage of aid discount (up to 75%) on the total cost of the trip (transportation, food, fees, and lodging, if applicable) for students who receive financial aid. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.
ATHLETIC RELATED TRAVEL AND CAMPS at a percentage of aid discount (up to 75%) on the total cost of the trip (transportation, food, fees, and lodging, if applicable) for students who receive financial aid. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.
GLOBAL EDUCATION IMMERSION TRIPS (GRADES 9-12) at a discount based on a student’s percentage of aid (up to 75%) on the total cost of the trip (transportation, food, fees, lodging included, if applicable). This aid package is guaranteed for one international and one domestic trip for students who receive financial aid. Students who do not receive financial aid but demonstrate financial need can also request support for these trips. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability
SCHOOL SPONSORED STUDENT ACTIVITY
at a discount based on a student's percentage of aid (up to 75%) on the total cost of the trip (transportation, food, fees, lodging included, if applicable). Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.

COLLEGE PREP

We provide…

COLLEGE BOARD EXAM FEE ASSISTANCE AND WAIVERS for students who meet the federal guidelines. Refer questions to the College Counseling Office.
DISCOUNTED SAT/ACT TEST PREP TUTORINGthrough the School’s partnership with Zinc Educational Services. Grade 11 students who receive financial aid receive their percentage of aid toward the total cost of services. Refer questions to the College Counselling Office.
COLLEGE TOURS at a discount based on a student’s percentage of aid (up to 75%) on the total cost of the trip (transportation, food, fees, lodging included, if applicable). This aid package is only guaranteed for one college tour in a student’s career at Friends. Aid for additional trips may be available on a case-by-case basis. Additional financial support may be available through the tour company. Refer questions to the College Counselling Office.

SPECIAL EVENTS

We provide…

SCHOOL FUNDRAISER TICKETS at a discounted rate for families receiving financial aid or in other situations of financial need. Refer questions to the Advancement Office.
FRIENDS AFTER THREE (F.A.T.) SPECIAL EVENTS at a reduced rate for Grade K-8 students at their percentage of financial aid (up to 75%). In the past, special events have included movie nights, pajama parties, and other social events for Friends students. Refer questions to the Extended Programs Office.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION EVENTS at a discounted rate for families receiving financial aid or in other situations of financial need. Refer questions to the Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.

EXTENDED PROGRAMS

We provide Financial Aid toward…

EARLY BIRD PROGRAMMING (7:45–8:25 AM; Grades K-4) Supervised play and breakfast before the school day begins. Students receive a discount based on their percentage of financial aid (up 75%) on the total cost. There is no charge for students (a) receiving more than 90% financial aid; (b) who take the NYC Yellow Bus or West Side Bus; (c) whose parents are attending a pre-authorized Parents Association meeting. Refer questions to the Extended Programs Office.
FRIENDS AFTER THREE (F.A.T.; 3:10-4:30PM; Grades K-6) F.A.T. offers a diverse range of after school programming that families may opt-into from once a week to every school day. Students receive a discount based on their percentage of financial aid (up 75%) on the total cost, and those who receive more than 90% financial aid may attend free of charge. Please note: several F.A.T. activities require additional vendor fees, and a family’s percentage of aid discount does not apply to these costs. Refer questions to the Extended Programs Office.
EXTENDED DAY (4:30–5:30 PM; Grades k-6) Extended Day offers an additional hour of supervision and a nutritious snack after F.A.T. programming concludes.Students in Grades K & 1 have free play, quiet games, or crafts & art activities, while students in Grades 2-4 receive homework support or organizational guidance. Students receive a discount based on their percentage of financial aid (up 75%) on the total cost, and those who receive more than 90% financial aid may attend free of charge. Refer questions to the Extended Programs Office.
CHILDCARE DURING PARENT MEETINGS free of charge for all families with a currently enrolled student.
SUMMER FRIENDS (JUNE CAMP) for Grade K-8 students at their percentage of aid discount (up to 75%), though some exclusions may apply. Refer questions to the Extended Programs Office.

For more information, please contact:
Paige Sweet, Director of Financial Aid and Affordability.

646.979.5043 | psweet@friendsseminary.org