YOU CAN AFFORD A PRIVATE SCHOOL

Many parents want a private-school education for their children, but never bother investigating the possibility because they assume it’ll be “too expensive.” The truth is, the best schools aren’t invariably the most expensive, and low family income needn’t rule out an education worth paying for. Here are some points to consider.

• You probably can afford more than you think. If your awareness of where your money is going is limited to, “There’s never enough,” stop right now and take a real look at your spending habits (and debt) for the past couple of months. You’ll probably be surprised at how much you bought that you don’t really need, never use, or thoughtlessly chose over a less expensive alternative. Write out a budget including only the truly necessary costs, and consider what else you could do with the money that’s currently being spent on other things.
• You probably have assets you haven’t considered. What do you own that you never use and could sell? Is there a savings account or investment you’d forgotten about? (Do not include unused credit when reviewing your assets: new debt almost invariably creates more problems than it solves.)
• Private schools, like colleges, offer financial aid and scholarships. Don’t assume you already know what the options are (or aren’t): non-obvious possibilities nearly always exist. Do your homework, including direct inquiries to any schools you’re considering. Don’t forget to understand and follow all financial-aid application instructions.
• Many private schools are actively working to attract a diversity of students, including students from low-income backgrounds. Placing high value on socioeconomic diversity guarantees that a school will be generous about financial-aid options. Some schools even offer “full-need grants” (no tuition at all) to qualified students whose parents’ income is below a certain level.
• You won’t necessarily owe for the whole year up front: many schools have payment-plan options that allow you to pay in installments. If you choose one of these, manage your household budget to save a certain amount per month toward the next payment.
• Get your children involved in paying for their education. Depending on their age and other circumstances, a school may offer your children work-study options to pay part of their own tuition. Whether or not that’s the case, letting the kids earn and budget a share of the expenses will impress any admissions counselor looking for students with initiative and foresight!

Note to Teachers

Become familiar with every financial aid option, scholarship, and payment plan your private school offers or accepts. You’ll be the first expert source many parents and referral sources hear about, and you don’t want your school to lose a student because you couldn’t answer a “But can we afford it?” concern. Keep the important information in your head so you’ll be able to reply satisfactorily even when surprised by questions at a social gathering.

NO MISSING OUT

At Shady Oak, we do everything possible to ensure that every interested student gets enrolled and included. We’ll work with you to find ways of dealing with any financial or other concerns. Visit our admissions page to get started, or contact Enrollment Director Brandy Rawls at 281-344-1291 or [email protected].

Blessings to parents and children of all ages!