How to Afford Christian School Without Breaking the Bank
Private school tuition can come across as a daunting responsibility. We hear from parents all the time that they feel they are at an impasse when it comes time to decide where their child should attend high school. They want to provide their child with a quality, Catholic education outside of the public school system, but they do not have enough disposable income to afford private school at the high school level.
Fortunately, there is a solution that won’t require taking out a second mortgage on your home to afford the type of education suitable for your child.
If you feel disenfranchised or frustrated by public schools in Houston, then we encourage you to learn more about why a private school education may be more within reach than you think. Keep reading to find out more about how to afford Christian school.
You Can Afford Catholic School for Your Child
Many private schools in Houston offer tuition, scholarships, and/or financial aid assistance for parents to help their students receive a Christian education. At St. Agnes Academy, we offer Tuition and Financial Aid options for young ladies entering 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade.
Financial assistance is a key aspect of our mission to offer need-based aid to students who meet our admissions criteria. Parents can use this assistance to cover a partial amount or the full cost of tuition at St. Agnes Academy. For incoming first-year students, you can also use this assistance to support a laptop purchase that will help your child flourish throughout their academic career.
You may be wondering how much of the student body receives financial aid. During the 2021-2022 school year, we approximate that 18 percent of our students (or almost 1 out of every 5 students) received financial aid. This captures our goal of making quality education accessible for young ladies of all backgrounds.
We are passionate about this financial aid program so that no parent or student feels like they will be shut out for financial reasons. We strongly encourage parents with any ounce of hesitation at the cost of tuition to learn more about our financial aid process.
Something to note about the admissions process: financial aid decisions are made independently of admission decisions. We believe this ensures our admissions team will not be influenced one way or another by a family’s ability to cover the cost of tuition.
How Financial Aid Decisions Are Made at St. Agnes
Here’s how the process works for making financial aid decisions at St. Agnes Academy:
- The financial aid application must be completed online by the due date with complete copies of the previous year’s tax returns.
- The admission decision is made in advance of the financial aid review, and the financial aid committee has no involvement with a candidate being offered a place at St. Agnes.
- The need determination is based on the committee’s review of the online application.
- The underlying intent of the financial aid program is that no student be deterred by financial reasons from applying to St. Agnes Academy.
- After each successive year, each family will reapply for financial aid.
- Families can usually expect financial aid to be continued throughout the student's enrollment. However, the committee may reduce awards or deny subsequent grant requests if the family's financial condition improves.
During the annual review, we ask that parents file an annual financial statement that captures their current financial position. We also ask that your child maintain the sound academic and high citizenship standards expected of tuition recipients.
Suppose your financial position improves during your child’s academic career at St. Agnes. In that case, our financial aid committee may recommend a reduction in tuition grants that are proportional to your increase in income.
We aim to be upfront and transparent about this review process so that you are prepared for the annual assessment of your financial standing. We also perform this review to ensure that we make funds available to other parents who need tuition support for their children.
The Timeline for Applying for Financial Aid
Each year, we follow a specific timeline for reviewing financial aid requests so that each family receives a fair opportunity to be approved for financial support.
- In January of each year, we set a specific deadline for submitting financial aid applications for the following school year.
- You must submit the financial aid application by the deadline even if you have not received notification of whether your child has been admitted to St. Agnes.
- We ask that you include a copy of your most recent federal tax return with the financial aid request.
- After the January deadline, our committee reviews each completed financial aid application. Funds are limited, so it’s crucial to meet the deadline.
- In March of each year, we notify families of financial award decisions.
- If you are approved for financial aid, you will be required to re-apply for financial aid during each successive year your daughter attends St. Agnes since we do not automatically renew financial aid.
If you have other questions about how the process works, we encourage you to review our Financial Aid FAQs. You can also reach out to our Finance office at 713-219-5474. Questions are always welcome!
Apply Today for Financial Aid at St. Agnes
We believe that every parent who desires to send their young lady to a Catholic school should be able to without worrying about how to afford Christian school. There are so many advantages to receiving an education at St. Agnes, including:
- Witnessing Gospel values and living veritas through word and deed.
- Recognizing one’s Dominican heritage and incorporating prayer into one’s daily life.
- Demonstrating intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and dedication to life-long learning.
- Embracing diversity and acting as a champion for the marginalized in society.
- Confidently assuming personal leadership and acting with integrity and compassion.
- Recognizing our interconnectedness with Earth and embracing our responsibilities for the children of all species.
- Celebrating life in a joyful, optimistic, and productive manner.
- Having a deep commitment to social justice and making a difference in the world.
When you are ready to apply for financial aid, please visit our Financial Aid Application page to begin the application process. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to call our Finance office for assistance! We look forward to helping you.
