Financial Aid

Investing in an education at The Pegasus School is an investment toward the success of your child’s future. As we recognize that making this a priority requires commitment to allocating finances in a way that not all families can afford to do, our school is committed to making financial aid available to new and returning students. Application for admission to The Pegasus School should not be discouraged because of tuition.

Process:

Financial aid is awarded on the basis of a family’s demonstrated need. To evaluate this, we employ a nationally standardized system for analysis from Independent School Management called Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) which includes a copy of the parents’ most recent Federal tax return (1040), and we require that families apply by the deadline of February 11 so that we can make an effort to award the amount of demonstrated need. The amount of a family’s estimated contribution is calculated through FAST, and, pursuant to that, the Financial Aid Committee considers the cost of living in Orange County along with any extenuating circumstances the family may have (e.g. indebtedness, number of children attending a tuition bearing institution, age of parents, medical expenses, etc.). Those applicants who have been accepted into The Pegasus School and qualify through FAST for financial assistance are notified by mail of their award. Awards vary between 5% and 90% of tuition because it is our belief that all families can contribute to their child’s education. In the case of divorced parents, both parents are required to complete the FAST application separately.

Applying for financial aid is managed by a very small committee of administrators. This committee does not include teachers, Trustees, or parents, and all information and conversations remain confidential.

Parents apply for financial aid at the same time they apply for admission. The admission application and financial aid application are completely independent of each other, but financial aid is only awarded to those applicants that are accepted into The Pegasus School. The award will appear as a credit on the student’s enrollment contract.

Returning students to The Pegasus School apply for financial aid in the same manner as new students. Financial aid applications are submitted each year the family requests aid as circumstances change from year to year.

Disclaimer:

The Pegasus School admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The School. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation or physical challenge, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or its athletic or other School administered programs.

Financial Aid FAQs

Q.	Who is eligible for financial aid?
A.	All newly accepted and returning students in good standing who qualify through the financial aid process are eligible to be considered for financial assistance.

Q.	How do I apply for financial aid?
A.	The Pegasus School uses a standardized system called FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition). This application is available on our website and may be filed electronically. A completed and signed copy of your most recent Federal Tax Return ( Form 1040) must also be submitted.

Q.	Who will see my financial aid application?
A.	All information submitted through the financial aid process is confidential and is reviewed by a very small committee of administrators. This information is never seen by faculty, parents, or Trustees.

Q.	Should I apply for financial aid even if I am not certain that I would qualify for any financial assistance because of my income level?
A.	Yes! Every family’s situation is different and the financial aid committee takes into consideration all extenuating circumstances.

Q.	Will my child’s application for admission be adversely affected because we are applying for financial aid?
A.	No. These applications are completely separate from each other even though they are usually both filed simultaneously. Admission to The Pegasus School is based on matching the merits of each candidate with the mission of the school. Financial aid is based on demonstrated financial need.

Q.	What does a financial aid award include?
A.	Financial aid covers tuition only and appears as a credit towards tuition on the enrollment contract. Fees not covered include transportation, books, school supplies, athletics, after school programs, lunch, and outdoor education programs; however, there are some limited discretionary funds for these.

Q.	Do we need to reapply for financial aid every year?
A.	Yes. Because family situations change from year to year, we require that families reapply each year for financial assistance. If the current financial status of a family changes, families can also expect the award amount to change.

Q.	Once we receive a financial aid award but do not feel it is enough to make attendance possible, is there an appeal process to request additional funds?
A.	The Pegasus School makes every effort to consider a family’s complete financial picture in a fair and equitable way when making a specific award available. However, families may submit a written explanation of appeal to the Financial Aid Committee describing the reasons the award is not sufficient and requesting additional funds. The committee will reconvene to consider the request.

Q.	Is the financial aid application process different for divorced families?
A.	The Pegasus School requires that both parents complete the FAST application and all required forms. All information is confidential and is never shared with other parents. Families are welcome to speak directly to us or write letters of explanation during the application process regarding these issues.

Q.	If our child is awarded financial aid and our income is adversely affected after the school year begins, what recourse do we have?
A.	In the current economic climate, The Pegasus School recognizes that occasionally significant and unexpected changes in income levels occur. Parents are highly encouraged to speak directly with the Business Office regarding this so that they can work directly with you to develop a temporary payment plan.