Financial Assistance

Peabody School is committed to providing an enriched educational experience for academically advanced children from all economic backgrounds. It is our goal to ensure that any student who is qualified to attend and who would benefit from the special educational experience the school provides be able to attend. While we intend to provide tuition assistance to as many qualifying families as possible, we believe that the primary responsibility for financing a student’s independent school education rests with his or her family. Consequently, we expect families who require tuition assistance to turn to all possible outside sources, including extended family, before applying for financial assistance.

A limited amount of financial assistance is available and is based on the financial need of the candidate’s family and the candidate’s potential for excellence, both as a student and as a member of the Peabody School community. Applications for financial assistance must be submitted every year, as financial assistance awards are not renewed automatically. The school does not make any promises that financial assistance awards will be available from year to year.

For the 2027-2028 academic year, returning families requesting financial assistance must notify Head of School Charles Rudnick by January 15, 2027 via email at financialaid@peabodyschool.org with your intent to apply. Financial aid is not available for PreKindergarten.

Peabody uses the Clarity Application to determine a need-based financial assistance awards. 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.

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@claritytuition.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

Once the school receives Clarity’s assessment of each family’s ability to pay for private education, Peabody makes the final determination of any tuition reduction using Clarity’s recommendation as a guideline. It is important for families to understand that, when determining tuition reduction amounts, the school must weigh each family’s need relative to all other families applying for financial assistance. While we will make every effort to meet the demonstrated needs of all admitted or enrolled financial assistance applicants, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Timeline and Deadlines

January 15, 2027: Notification of Intent to Apply

Returning families must notify the Head of School via email of their intent to apply for financial aid. Please send this notification directly to financialaid@peabodyschool.org.  New families will note on their application that they plan to apply for financial aid.

March 1, 2027: Application Deadline

Returning and New families seeking financial aid must submit all required documents and complete the online form no later than March 1, 2027.

March 8, 2027: Award Determinations Made and Families Notified

The School will notify returning families of financial aid awards for the upcoming school year on March 8, 2027.*

*Financial aid is still available for new families, who will be notified of financial aid awards after their admission decision has been completed, and all financial aid paperwork has been submitted.  Peabody’s admission process is need-blind.

Required Documentation

In order to establish needs objectively, Peabody School requires certain documentation and forms from all applicants. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. The major components of the completed Financial Aid Application are:

1. Parents’ Financial Statement, filed with Clarity.
2. Most recent signed Personal Tax Return, linked digitally through Clarity directly to the IRS.
3. Any other forms requested by the Head of School, including, but not limited to, bank statements, divorce decrees, and mortgage statements.

Additional Information

• Financial aid can be withdrawn if a family is not current in all payments to the school.
• Excessive absences of a student could result in the revocation of a student’s financial aid award.
• All financial aid award decisions are made by the Head of School.
• It is the school’s policy that both parents are responsible for the education of their child(ren), regardless of circumstances. Consequently, in the case of divorce or legal separation, documentation is required from both parents/guardians.
• Financial need is not considered in determining a student’s eligibility for admission.
• Peabody admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the privileges to participate in the educational programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. Peabody does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or any status protected by applicable law in the selection of its Board, in the employment of personnel, or the administration of the School’s programming. 

Confidentiality

All financial information provided by families is held in the strictest confidence. General financial aid award information may be shared with the Board of Trustees.

We hope this overview gives you some insight into our thinking at Peabody School regarding financial aid, and we look forward to working with you on an individual basis. Please contact Charles Rudnick, Head of School, via email at financialaid@peabodyschool.org or by calling the school at 434.296.6901 if you have any questions.