Financial Aid FAQ’s

Long Trail School recognizes familial contributions to educational expenses as an integral part of financial responsibility. Financial aid at LTS does not cover all expenses a family may incur during the course of the school year. Financial aid provides assistance for a portion of tuition only.

Who may apply for financial aid?

Financial aid is available to any family that is enrolled at LTS or has applied for admission in grades 6 through 12.

Do all parents, including non-custodial and stepparents, have to submit their financial information to be considered for financial aid?

Yes. We believe that both parents hold an ethical obligation to contribute to their children’s educational expenses, regardless of any court document, therefore we consider all parents jointly and severally responsible for tuition.

Long Trail School (LTS) will not be bound by any divorce agreement specifying a parents’ responsibility for educational expenses. LTS was not represented in court and is not named in the agreement, therefore LTS cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for the student.
LTS will not become involved in allocating financial aid awards on a proportional basis to the student’s separate households.
If either parent is remarried, the needs analysis considers the assets and income of the stepparent, given that they contribute to overall household income.
In cases where one parent has no contact with the student, or where the involvement of the non-custodial parent is not in the best interest of the student, the requirement that both parents apply for financial aid may be waived upon receipt of acceptable documentation from a disinterested third party.

Why is my child’s seat not reserved once s/he has been accepted?

Admission and Enrollment are two separate events/processes. Until we receive a signed contract indicating your acceptance of our offer, your aid amount is reserved for you and unavailable to other potential candidates. Sometimes this works well and other times we lose students because we don’t have funds available at the moment of their consideration of LTS. Your enrollment contract is the only way we know for certain that your child will be attending LTS. We receive enrollment contracts on a “first come first served” basis and reserve seats according to the receipt of those contracts.

Does need for financial aid affect an application for admission?

Every year there are more applicants for financial aid than available funds. LTS admissions decisions are not influenced by a family’s need for financial aid. It is possible, however, that there will not be sufficient funds for all students who are accepted.

Will every admitted student eligible for financial aid receive it?

LTS is unable to provide aid to every qualified student. However, students are never denied aid; rather, they are placed on the financial aid wait list in the hopes that funds will become available.

What costs does financial aid cover?

Tuition aid grants only cover a portion of the cost of tuition. All fees or costs for field trips, busing, and other incidentals are the responsibility of families.

Who determines aid awards?

Aid awards are determined by the Financial Aid Committee composed of LTS staff. The Head of School is not a member of the committee.

When will I be notified of my award?

Families will be notified as the committee reviews the files. Returning families receive priority in the allocation of aid so new families’ packages are customarily awarded from mid-March through the end of April.

Is preference given to any particular group?

While currently enrolled LTS students and newly enrolling siblings receive priority no other outside factor affects the awarding of financial aid grants.

How does Clarity calculate my family’s contribution to tuition or ability to pay?

Once a family submits its application to Clarity, the process starts. Clarity uses a formula to estimate the financial resources your family may have available to pay school costs. Simply stated, the formula considers your income, what you own (your house and other investments), what you owe (your mortgage and other debts), the size of your family, and how many family members are enrolled in tuition-charging schools or colleges.

After making allowances for basic necessities, taxes, and certain other expenses, Clarity determines the portion of your remaining funds which would be available to pay school costs. LTS uses this information to inform its decision-making but will not necessarily use the figures Clarity provides.

All information related to parents’ financial circumstances will be treated confidentially, as we expect our families to maintain confidentiality about their award(s).

Does Long Trail School give scholarships?

No. We do not offer scholarships based on academic or extracurricular merit. The financial aid program is available only to those families with demonstrated need.

Is financial aid automatically renewed each year?

LTS supports the continued attendance of students through graduation, pending satisfactory academic performance and good citizenship. Families are required to submit an application each year they wish to receive a grant in order to demonstrate continued need.

If I do not apply for financial aid at the time of my child’s application to LTS, would I be able to apply in subsequent years?

Yes. However, the likelihood of receiving aid would be significantly reduced unless an explanation of a change in circumstances is provided.

What happens if the financial aid grant is not enough?

If LTS is unable to meet the needs of the family, the application fee and non-refundable enrollment deposit will remain with the school but any other fees paid to LTS will be refunded, and the enrollment contract will be canceled.