Tuition And Financial Assistance FAQs

Upon receiving the FAST recommendation, the school's Financial Assistance Committee evaluates the recommended award based upon the demonstrated financial need of a family and the school's budgetary constraints. The FAST report does not bind SHS to any specific award, but rather provides a guideline to help make equitable need-based awards.

1. Apply online through the FAST program directly from the Sacred Heart School website. See link on the left. You will enter all financial information directly through the secure server. Space is also provided to fill out additional information that may be pertinent to your application. 
2. Mail a copy of your 2011 Federal and State Tax Return complete with W-2s and all schedules directly to FAST - Independent School Management Attn: FAST Processing 1316 North Union Street Wilmington, DE 19806.  These forms will only be used to arrive at a fair determination of financial need.  Please be sure to include the name Sacred Heart Schools on the top left corner of the envelope
3. Submit fee of $36 to complete your online FAST form.

Yes. If you do not apply for aid by the published deadlines, your chance of receiving financial assistance is significantly reduced. Please do not wait for acceptance from our school to apply for aid as it may be too late.

No. SHS requires families who receive financial assistance to reapply each year. As long as the student remains at our school, financial assistance will be renewed each year according to demonstrated need and if the family has met all of the filing deadlines. Changes in circumstances such as income, family status, and the number of children attending SHS may result in increases or decreases in an award. However, unless there is a significant change in either a family's economic status or a tuition increase at SHS above 10 percent for the school year, awards will be renewed at the previous year's amount. Every application is reviewed annually.

Yes. Please write to the Financial Assistance Committee explaining your appeal. Include any information that will help the committee to better understand your situation, such as a detailed list of monthly expenses or any information that you wish to explain more thoroughly.

Parents need to file only one application through FAST.

If your circumstances change after you submit your application, please contact the Admission Office and submit your new information. The Financial Assistance Committee will review the new information, and awards will be based on your demonstrated need and our available resources.

SHS believes that parents are obligated 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 Assistance Committee will consider the assets of both natural parents, if living, before making any 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 a separate application through FAST. Please refer to  FAST User Guide for more information.

In view of this policy, it is necessary that both natural parents and their current spouses, if any, fill out a separate application through FAST. Please refer to  FAST User Guide for more information.

Waiving of Requirement

Waiving the requirement of the non-custodial parent will be considered ONLY under the following circumstances:

1. Documented information is provided that states the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown, OR
2. 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 request should be sent to the Admission Office

SHS believes that parents are obligated 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 Assistance Committee will consider the assets of both natural parents, if living, before making any 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.

You will need to complete your taxes early enough to meet the deadline (February 15th for new students / March 22nd for returning students) in order to be eligible to receive a financial assistance award. If you have questions regarding this policy, please feel free to contact our office for clarification.

SHS offers three different payment plans: A one-time payment in August , A two-time payment in August and January, OR A monthly installment plan. The two payment plan and the monthly installment plan both requires a registration and an annual service fee. The monthly installment plan allows parents to spread tuition payments, interest-free, over a 10-month period. These options will be more fully explained when you are offered an enrollment contract.

The chart below is intended to help you consider your financial circumstances and the possibility of adding our tuition to your expenses. Each family is evaluated individually and this chart should not be read as a commitment to a certain level of financial assistance: