Affording a Sacred Heart Greenwich Education

Sacred Heart Greenwich uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts. The suggested tuition, which is computed by Clarity, is reviewed by our Financial Aid Committee and serves as a guideline in making financial aid decisions, but does not bind Sacred Heart Greenwich to any specific award.

Anyone who has applied for admission to Sacred Heart Greenwich, Kindergarten through Grade 12, plus any family whose daughter is currently enrolled. Exceptions for Barat Center students should be discussed with the Director of Financial Aid.

No. Sacred Heart Greenwich accepts students based on academic merit, test scores, and personal qualities. Financial aid files are reviewed, and awards made, only after a student is admitted. However, financial aid applications must be completed by the January 15 deadline for an award to be considered. If a student is neither admitted nor placed on the wait list, the financial aid file is shredded and destroyed.

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.

Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Sacred Heart Greenwich requires you to upload additional tax documentation.

The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is January 15.

All information related to the parents’ financial circumstances will be treated confidentially. These forms will only be used to arrive at a fair determination of financial need.

Financial need is defined as the difference between what is costs to attend Sacred Heart Greenwich and a family’s ability to pay. The suggested tuition is sent to Sacred Heart Greenwich by Clarity, and it provides the School with a general assessment of a family’s ability to pay for education. Major factors in determining financial need include, but are not limited to, income, assets (including home, equity, college funds, and investments), family size, and the number of children attending tuition-charging institutions, excluding daycare, preschool, and graduate school.

Parents need to file only one Clarity Application. There is a place on the application where you can list all children’s names, including siblings who might be applying to any other independent school that uses Clarity.

Sacred Heart Greenwich believes that parents have an obligation to pay for the educational expenses of their children to the extent that they are able, which takes precedence over the School’s responsibility to provide financial assistance. The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of both natural parents, if living, before making an award, and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed, legally or otherwise, any responsibility for educational expenses. If either parent has remarried, the Committee will also consider the income and assets of the stepparent, always bearing in mind the obligation of that stepparent to his or her own natural children. 

In view of this policy, it is necessary that both natural parents and their current spouses, if any, fill out separate Clarity applications. If this information is not provided, the Financial Aid Committee will not be able to grant an award to the student.* 

*Waiving of Requirement: 
Waiving the requirement of the non-custodial parent will be considered under the following circumstances: Documented information is provided that states the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown or, documented information is provided that the non-custodial parent has given no support AND has had no contact with the family for at least two years. 

Documentation will be accepted from a doctor, lawyer, minister, or any such person outside the immediate family. If there are extenuating circumstances that might warrant waiving this requirement, written requests should be sent to the Director of Financial Aid.

Since it is our belief that families bear the primary responsibility for financing the education of their children, it is our policy to expect both parents to contribute financially. There are circumstances such as caring for a disabled or elderly parent, or a preschool child that might exempt a family from this policy. Each application and circumstance is evaluated individually.

Sacred Heart Greenwich is committed to making a Sacred Heart education accessible to as many families as possible using the generous budget provided for tuition assistance. However, the primary responsibility of financing a student’s independent education rests with the family. Therefore, many families use a combination of financial aid awards, loans, payment plans, help from friends and relatives, and other resources to put together a financial package that is feasible for their family.

Sacred Heart Greenwich offers three different payment plans: A one-time payment, a two-time payment in June and December, or a monthly installment plan that requires registration, and an annual enrollment fee. This monthly plan allows parents to spread tuition payments, interest-free, over a 10-month period. These options are fully explained when you are offered an enrollment contract.

Each family receiving financial aid is also eligible for assistance from the Financial Aid Office Support Fund. Requests to cover additional expenses must be directed to the Financial Aid Office. Expense that may qualify for assistance include books, required school uniforms, transportation, field trips, school rings, and various grade level activities.

Yes. After receiving your award, you have 10 days to appeal the decision. Please write to the Financial Aid Committee explaining your appeal. Include any information that will help the committee to better understand your situation, such as detailed lists of monthly expenses or any information from the Clarity application that you wish to explain more thoroughly.