Admissions
Tuition and Affordability

Tuition Assistance Application

Applying for tuition assistance


Falmouth Academy offers need-based aid to qualified families.  We use
School and Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands in helping to determine a family’s financial need.  To begin the tuition assistance application, parents/guardians will need to complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS).  The PFS is reviewed by our Affordability Committee and provides a guideline for making tuition assistance decisions.  To make our decision, we use the information from the PFS as a starting point but also consider our school policy, practices, and available budget. 

All families applying for tuition assistance must submit a tuition assistance application to SSS every year. For prospective families applying for admission and tuition assistance, your admission application must be completed before your tuition assistance application will be determined.  Our initial deadline for receiving applications is
February 1.  Applications received after the deadline are reviewed if funds are available. 

The process

List of 6 items.

  • 1. Prepare to apply

    Review the SSS Parents' Financial Statement Workbook and Instruction Booklet and gather any materials you will need to reference as you answer the questions in the PFS.  For parents who are separated or divorced, Falmouth Academy requires each parent/family to submit a Parent Financial Statement through SSS (including IRS Form 1040, W-2’s).
  • 2. Complete your PFS online

    Families can complete their PFS in the SSS Family Portal for 2024-25 starting on October 1.  Create an account by clicking the link below to begin the PFS for Academic Year 2024-25. Falmouth Academy's SSS code is 3113.

    The PFS is a comprehensive application that will take some time to complete. Give yourself the time you need by not waiting until the February 1 deadline. You’ll need your most recent tax return before beginning the PFS. We also recommend reviewing resources to help families with the tuition assistance process. They are found at http://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents.

  • 3. Pay for and submit your PFS online

    After completing all the fields of the PFS, you will choose your method of secure payment ($60) on the "Pay and Submit" screen. Once you submit your PFS, your information is sent to Falmouth Academy.
  • 4. Submit your supporting documents

    Once you have submitted your PFS, the system activates the “My Documents” tab where you can view the list of required documents and upload them electronically.

    By February 1:
    • 2022 federal tax return (1040) with all supporting schedules and forms. If self-employed, submit schedule E and form 1065.
    • 2022 W-2s and 1099s (if applicable).

    By February 15:
    • 2023 W-2s.

    As soon as completed (no later than April 15, 2023):
    • 2023 federal tax return with all supporting schedules and forms. If self-employed, please submit schedule E and corresponding form 1065.
  • 5. Questions?

    Need help with your PFS or required documents? Contact SSS Parent Support at (800) 344-8328 or sssandtadsfa@communitybrands.com.
  • 6. Awards

    For families that complete the tuition assistance application by the February 1 deadline, awards are made available to accepted students on their enrollment or reenrollment contracts.  For returning students, that is in February.  For new students, that is on March 10 or when you receive your acceptance decision.

    Falmouth Academy’s Affordability Committee holds financial information submitted by parents in support of tuition assistance applications in strict confidence. All awards are confidential agreements between the recipient family and the school’s Affordability Committee. Please understand that similarly, families are asked to maintain confidentiality as well and are expected not to discuss tuition assistance information with anyone other than the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management or the Director of Finance & Operations.

Affordability & Tuition Assistance FAQ

List of 10 items.

  • How do I apply for tuition assistance?

    To apply for tuition assistance, please visit our Tuition Assistance Application page. Families must complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) online. Please submit your PFS and supporting documentation by the February 1st deadline.
  • What is Falmouth Academy’s SSS code?

    Falmouth Academy’s SSS code is 3113.
  • When should I apply for aid? Is there a deadline?

    You should begin to apply for tuition assistance at the same time you are applying for admission. You can apply online beginning October 1 at www.solutionsbysss.com.

    The deadline to apply is February 1. Missing the February 1st tuition assistance application deadline significantly reduces the likelihood of receiving tuition assistance. 
  • How many students receive tuition assistance at Falmouth Academy?

    Approximately 50% of the student body is receiving some level of tuition assistance.
  • Is it worth applying if I am not sure our family will receive aid?

    There are many factors other than income that may affect tuition assistance decisions. Falmouth Academy is committed to meeting the financial need of a wide range of families of different socio-economic levels.
  • Must I reapply for aid every year?

    Yes, every family must reapply for tuition assistance every year. A family may expect to receive the same proportion of tuition assistance if the family's financial circumstances remain essentially the same. A significant change in a family's PFS may result in a change in the award offered.
  • What if I have more than one student at a tuition charging school?

    If more than one student in a family attends a tuition-charging institution, Falmouth Academy requires that families apply for assistance at each of the institutions their students attend. Falmouth Academy cannot subsidize tuition for other tuition-charging schools of any type. It is important to note that SSS computes the total funds available for education, and then divides that amount by the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. Copies of awards (from other institutions, elementary through college) may be requested.
  • What is the process for parents who are separated or divorced?

    For parents who are separated or divorced, Falmouth Academy requires each parent/family to submit a Parent Financial Statement (PFS) through SSS (including IRS Form 1040, W-2’s).

    If the non-custodial parent refuses to submit the necessary information to SSS, the application for tuition assistance will not be processed. In cases where the non-custodial parent is in no way involved in the upbringing of the student, the requirement of these forms may be waived by the Affordability Committee. In this event, the custodial parent is required to submit a letter verifying the family’s situation from a third party, such as an attorney, minister or social worker, or a copy of the divorce settlement pertaining to one parent being exempt from contributing to educational expenses.
  • What expectations does Falmouth Academy have regarding my family’s financial contribution?

    Sending your child to Falmouth Academy is a choice. While we do not want parents and guardians to experience economic hardship as a result of their student's enrollment, we do expect sacrifices to be made in order to maximize a contribution.

    Falmouth Academy assumes that all adult family members will work to contribute to the investment in a Falmouth Academy education. To that end, when a parent or guardian chooses not to work, and there are no preschool children at home, income equivalent to one current school tuition is added to the calculation of need.

    Exceptions may be made if the parent or guardian is caring for a disabled or critically ill child, parent, or grandparent.

    Parents or guardians returning to school or changing jobs as a personal choice must realize that a resulting decrease in their family income cannot be underwritten by tuition assistance provided by Falmouth Academy.
  • When are tuition assistance awards made?

    Awards are communicated along with admission decisions on March 10 for newly accepted students.

    For returning students, tuition assistance awards are announced to families on the enrollment contract in February.

Tuition Assistance Application Timeline

October 1
Parent Financial Statement (PFS) for the upcoming school year opens through SSS

February 1
SSS deadline for current and prospective families. Families must submit prior year's taxes with the submission of their PFS.

April 15
Families must submit their current year's tax documents through SSS.

PLEASE NOTE:
Tuition assistance review begins February 1st for completed applications of returning students and students applying for admission. Review continues thereafter if funds are still available. Missing the February 1st tuition assistance application deadline significantly reduces the likelihood of receiving tuition assistance. Families are notified of a tuition assistance decision with their enrollment contract. 
If you have any questions about the school’s tuition assistance program, please call the Director of Admission and Enrollment Management at 508-457-9696 or email at admission@falmouthacademy.org.
Falmouth Academy adheres to the NAIS Principles of Good Practice with regard to its tuition assistance process.
Falmouth Academy does not discriminate in its admissions and tuition assistance programs, hiring process, and all other school programs. Falmouth Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or any other category protected under state or federal law.

For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, please call the business office at 508-457-9696 or for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.
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