List of 18 frequently asked questions.

• Who may apply for financial aid?

  Any currently enrolled student or applicant to Trinity School may apply for financial aid.

• Does applying for financial aid influence the admission decision?

  No. Financial aid files are reviewed and awards are made only after a student is admitted. However, financial aid applications must be complete by the March deadline in order for an award to be considered. Application for financial aid completed after the deadline will be considered only if funds remain.

• How do I apply for financial aid?

  Trinity School requires that a family file a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), which is the official application provided by School and Student Services by NAIS (SSS). The PFS should be completed online at the SSS Family Portal by the February deadline. Additionally, by the March deadline, you will be required to mail or upload your supporting documents to SSS by NAIS. The required supporting documents include: a copy of your current pay stub (s), a signed copy of your previous two years' IRS Form 1040 tax returns and supporting schedules; all W-2 forms; if applicable, partnership/sole proprietorship and /or corporate returns; and cover letter addressed to the committee (optional).
  
  All information related to a family’s financial circumstances is treated in a confidential manner. These forms are used only to arrive at a fair determination of financial need.

• Do I have to apply for financial aid before I know whether my child has been admitted?

  Yes. While admissions and financial aid decisions are made separately, funds may not be available for applicants who file after the March deadline.

• How does the School determine financial need?

  Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost to attend Trinity School and a family’s ability to pay. The Report of Family Contribution (RFC) is sent by SSS to Trinity School (and the family upon request). 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, investment accounts, and trust funds), family size, and the number of children attending tuition-charging institutions, excluding daycare, preschool, and graduate school. There is no preset income figure that qualifies a family for aid. As the School reviews applications, it differentiates between necessary expenses and lifestyle choices. With respect to the latter, beyond a certain point, we will not provide aid to offset lifestyle expenditures that could have been directed to education.

• Is financial aid automatically renewed each year?

  Trinity School requires families receiving financial aid to reapply each year. However, as long as the student remains at Trinity School, financial aid will be renewed every year according to demonstrated need. A change in income, family status, and the number of children attending private institutions may result in increases or decreases in an award providing funds are available. Every application is reviewed annually.

• If I am applying for aid for multiple students, are there special instructions?

  Parents need to file only one PFS in the name of the oldest child attending Trinity School and list other children in the proper place on the PFS form.

• What if I have children at other tuition-charging schools?

  Other K-12 tuitions you pay are figured into our calculations of need, but in order to receive aid from Trinity School you must apply for aid at all schools your children attend.

• Will a change in my family financial circumstances during the school year change the financial id award?

  If your circumstances change shortly after you submit your PFS, please call the Financial Aid Office and submit new information. Do not submit a new PFS to SSS. The Financial Aid Committee will review the new information, and awards will be based on your need and our remaining resources.

• What happens if parents are divorced, separated, or have never married?

  Trinity School endorsed the recommended policy of the SSS and the NAIS, which states that parents have an obligation to pay for the expenses of their children to the extent that they are able. This parental obligation takes precedence over the School’s generosity in providing financial assistance. Separation, divorce, or remarriage does not relieve either parent of this obligation. The Financial Aid Committee considers 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 also considers the income and assets of the stepparent, always keeping in mind the obligation of the stepparent to his or her own natural children. If either parent lives in a household with another adult, the Committee may consider the income and assets of that individual, depending on the circumstances.
  
  In view of this policy, it is necessary that both natural parents and their current spouses, if any, must comply with the following:
  

  1. Complete and file a PFS with SSS by the February Deadline.
  2. Submit to SSS: prior two years' Form 1040 returns with all schedules, W-2’s, most recent pay stubs, and if applicable, partnership/sole proprietorship, and /or corporate returns.

  
  If this information is not provided, the Financial Committee will not be able to properly assess a family’s demonstrated need and will not be able to make an award to the student. Each parent’s financial information will be held the strictest confidence.

• Are there exceptions to the non-custodial parent policy?

  The School will consider waiving the requirement of the non-custodial parent only in one or both of the following circumstances:
  
  1. Documented information is provided stating that the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown
  
  2. Documented information is provided that the non-custodial parent has given no support and has no contact with the family for at least two years.
  
  Documentation will be accepted from a doctor, lawyer, minster, or any such person outside the immediate family. If there are other extenuating circumstances that might warrant waiving this requirement, a written request should be sent to: Financial Aid Office, Trinity School, 3500 Wadley Avenue, Midland, TX 79707.

• What is the deadline for applying for financial aid?

  Trinity School asks that parents complete their online PFS with SSS as early as possible after December 1 prior to the start of the school year in August.  The deadline is February 15. A copy of your prior two years' signed IRS Form 1040 tax returns with all schedules , W-2’s , and, if applicable, partnership/sole proprietorship and/or corporate returns should be uploaded online to SSS by March 1. No financial aid award will be made until a student has been admitted into the School and all necessary documentation has been received.

• Does the School expect both parents to work outside the home? Will a non-working parent affect our financial aid award calculation?

  In the view of the School, families bear the primary responsibility for financing the education of their children. Therefore, our policy is to expect both parents to contribute financially. If one parent chooses not to work, then an adjustment will be made to income calculations for evaluation. Some circumstances, such as caring for a disabled or elderly parent or a preschool child, would exempt a family from this policy. Each application is evaluated individually.

• I never do my taxes until close to the April 15 IRS deadline. How will this affect my student’s financial aid award?

  You will need to complete your taxes early enough to meet the March deadline in order to receive a financial aid award.

• If my family cannot afford the SSS fee, how can we apply for financial aid?

  SSS uses the income and asset information in the PFS financial aid application itself toassess the family situation and automatically applies a waiver, if the family qualifies. To be waiver-eligible, the family must meet all of the following criteria:

  • The parents' total assets must be less than $25,000
  • The family must qualify for the federal free lunch program
  • Parents must be US or US territory residents (i.e., international families are not
    eligible)
  • Neither parent owns or shares ownership in a business or farm

• When will I be notified of my award?

  The awards process usually extends from the beginning of April through the middle of May.

• Can I find out what my award would have been if my student had been admitted?

  No. The Financial Aid Committee reviews files and makes awards only after a student has been admitted. Files of students not admitted are destroyed at the end of the financial aid season.

• What should I do if I have additional questions about financial aid?

  Please contact Adrianne Clifton or Cheryl Spotts at 432-697-3281, ext. 202.