Admissions

Financial Aid FAQs

WELCOME! Join online admissions sessions this spring for 2025-26 applicants

You have questions. We have answers.

We know the financial aid process can seem overwhelming, but we are here to help. If you can’t find the information you need in the questions below, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Financial Aid FAQs
  • What is included in tuition at Poly Prep?

    Tuition payments at Poly Prep include the following: lunch, all technology devices in Lower and Middle School, activities and athletics on the Dyker Heights campus, bus service to and from both campuses, daily snack in Nursery, PreK and K, all athletic uniforms, and all grade-wide field trips.

  • What is included in a financial aid award?

    In addition to tuition support, we help with: after-school programs in the Lower and Middle School, international and domestic travel, athletic trips, music lessons, one-on-one SAT prep and tutoring, college visits, summer academic courses, graphing calculators, and all technology devices.

  • Should I apply for financial aid?

    If you would not be able to enroll at Poly Prep without financial assistance, we encourage you to complete the financial aid application. Financial aid is available in Nursery to Grade 12.

  • When will I be notified regarding financial aid?

    Families who have applied for financial aid will be notified in February along with their admissions notification.

  • Will my family qualify for financial aid?

    Until the application for financial aid is submitted we are not able to take a guess at the level of financial aid that a family will qualify to receive. Currently, 88% of families who receive financial aid have a combined household income between $0 and $250,000. Income is just one out of many considered factors. CLARITY will gather income, assets, and liability data to determine your family’s need.

  • How does Poly Prep make financial aid decisions?

    Poly’s Financial Aid Committee reviews all financial aid applications in January and makes financial award decisions annually. The CLARITY application generates a recommended amount of need, and Poly Prep is dedicated to meeting 100% of CLARITY calculated need. The Financial Aid Committee reviews the files of those students who have been deemed admissible, and whose families show demonstrated need for assistance, and selects the most qualified students to receive financial aid packages. Parents should not be discouraged from applying to Poly for their children because of cost, but the school strongly recommends parents consider a range of educational opportunities to avoid possible disappointment due to limited resources.

  • How do I apply for financial aid at Poly Prep?

    Poly Prep requires the CLARITY application for financial aid for all families requesting consideration for need-based financial assistance. The deadline for submission of the financial aid application, including all supporting documents, is December 15, 2023. Poly Prep only accepts online financial aid applications, and applicants must upload all supporting documents directly to CLARITY. For more information about CLARITY, please visit http://Claritytuition.com.

  • Is there a fee for CLARITY?

    The CLARITY application fee is $55 payable directly to CLARITY. Poly Prep does not offer a fee waiver for CLARITY applications, however the CLARITY application will be waived for families that meet certain income requirements. For information about those requirements, please contact CLARITY via the online Chat feature available when applying.

  • How does divorce or separation affect the financial aid process?

    In keeping with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid, the School considers tuition the responsibility of both parents. Accordingly, both parents must complete a Financial Aid application and provide required documents. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis depending on several factors. For students in the Admissions process, email us if you would like to find out if you qualify for such an exception. In cases where applications are completed by non-married parents, information is kept separate and confidential and will never be shared by the School with the other parent.

  • If I receive an award for my child for the coming year, can I expect to receive it every year?

    Families receiving aid must reapply annually. Once assistance has been awarded, families expect that it will be renewed, provided the family’s financial situation has not changed substantially, and the student has remained in good academic and behavioral standing.

  • What are Poly Prep’s financial aid application deadlines and award notification dates?

    Meeting our December 15 deadline is crucial in the financial aid process. Incomplete applications cannot be considered for aid. There is a limited budget for aid and, after funds have been allocated, there is no flexibility for Poly to award additional grants. New students receive financial aid awards along with their acceptance letters. We ask that parents explain to their children that a lack of financial assistance may impact the admissions process.

  • How else can a parent finance a Poly education?

    We believe that the benefits of a Poly education—including an outstanding faculty; a diverse learning community; a beautiful, landmarked and LEED-certified Lower School and a 25-acre college-like campus for our Middle School & Upper School; a global curriculum; myriad opportunities for individual enrichment and advanced study; and an emphasis on character education and leadership—offer students a unique, and uniquely valuable, experience. However, financing the cost of a Poly education does require substantial family commitment, and many parents are understandably concerned about their ability to afford an independent school. Poly realizes this and thus provides various options to finance the cost of a Poly Prep education beyond our financial aid program:

    Semi-Annual Tuition Payments: Some families find it convenient to be billed for tuition in two separate installments. After the reservation deposit is collected in the spring, 50% of the remaining tuition is billed in June, and 50% in December. Click here for more information about Poly Prep’s monthly payment plan option.

    Monthly Payment Plan: VC Pay works together with Poly Prep to offer a no-interest, no-borrowing monthly installment plan. Parents use the plan to pay all or part of their educational expenses at the school. Click here for more information about Poly Prep’s monthly payment plan option.

  • If we enter the school without Financial Aid, can we apply for (and receive) aid later?

    Any family may apply for Emergency Aid. However, our Financial Aid budget is limited and a small amount is available for Emergency Aid. Emergency Aid is evaluated on a year-by-year basis. Families who are already in the School and would like to apply for Emergency Aid must contact the Financial Aid office before completing the financial aid application in CLARITY. Additional information can be found under the Financial Aid section of the Parent Portal.

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