Open Window School: Navigating Tuition and Financial Aid
Open Window School (OWS) is dedicated to providing accessible education to all qualified students. This commitment is reflected in its financial aid programs, designed to create a diverse learning environment that mirrors the surrounding community in terms of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. The school strives to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent deserving students from accessing its educational opportunities.
Commitment to Accessibility and Diversity
Open Window School is deeply committed to making its educational programs accessible to a wide range of students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The school actively seeks to create a student body that reflects the diversity of the surrounding community, encompassing various social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. By offering robust financial aid programs, OWS aims to level the playing field and ensure that qualified students have the opportunity to thrive in its challenging academic environment.
Financial Aid at Open Window School: An Overview
Currently, 15% of Open Window School students receive needs-based tuition assistance. This translates to over $1.2 million in financial aid provided to families annually, a figure that continues to grow. The school offers a wide range of aid awards to accommodate varying family financial situations.
What Tuition Assistance Covers
Tuition assistance at Open Window School is designed to cover the full cost of a student's tuition, which includes all activities and programs that occur during the regular school day. Notably, this also includes overnight trips, which begin in the fourth grade, ensuring that all students can participate regardless of their family's financial situation.
Paying Your Part: The Enrollment Deposit
As part of the enrollment process, all families, including those receiving tuition assistance, are required to pay a deposit of $1,500 along with the enrollment contract. This deposit helps to secure the student's place at the school and contributes to the overall financial stability of the institution.
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Support for After School Programs
Recognizing that the school day doesn't encompass all the needs of its students, Open Window School extends its financial aid support to after-school programs. Families receiving tuition assistance are eligible for assistance with after-school care and enrichment opportunities.
Bobcat Club: After School Care
The Bobcat Club, Open Window School's after-school care program, is available to families receiving tuition assistance at 50% of the standard rate. This significantly reduces the financial burden of after-school care, making it more accessible for families who need it.
Enrichment Classes: Expanding Opportunities
Open Window School offers a variety of enrichment classes, including activities like robotics, chess club, martial arts, piano, and improv club. For families receiving tuition assistance, the cost of these enrichment classes is aligned with their tuition level. For instance, a family responsible for 20% of tuition will also pay 20% of the enrichment class fee.
Financial Aid Disbursement
Student Business Services (SBS) manages the disbursement of financial aid awards to students. All financial aid, with the exception of the Chafee Grant, is first applied to all charges, including mandatory state and campus fees, as well as housing charges for students residing on campus. Any remaining financial aid after these charges are paid is refunded to the student. It's important to note that the Repeated Coursework Policy can affect a student's financial aid disbursement, and all financial aid is re-evaluated at the census date based on locked enrollment.
Consistency of Financial Aid Awards
Open Window School endeavors to maintain a consistent level of financial aid for families as long as their financial situation remains stable. However, the school cannot guarantee the same level of support for other children in the family who may be admitted and/or enroll in the future. Financial aid awards are subject to change based on a family's financial circumstances. If a family's income increases, a corresponding decrease in financial aid may occur. Conversely, if a family's financial situation declines, OWS will make every effort to increase its level of support. Household income is just one of many factors considered when calculating an award.
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Navigating the Financial Aid Process
Applying for financial aid can be a complex and confusing process. The Financial Aid Office staff at Open Window School are available to assist families with any questions they may have regarding the student financial aid process. The school encourages all students to apply for financial aid, as a variety of assistance may be available. To further support families, financial aid workshops are offered to provide guidance and assistance with the application process.
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