Flexible Tuition Program

Teacher instruction children during swim lessons

We never want cost to prohibit a child from receiving the value of an Old Trail education.

That’s why we work with families to make their tuition payments as affordable as possible. Old Trail is one of the few schools in the area to offer a flexible tuition program for children in kindergarten through Grade 8.

This innovative program identifies what families can reasonably afford to pay for tuition rather than determining how much financial assistance can be given. More than one-third of our students benefit from need-based flexible tuition, totaling $1.6 million in grants and scholarships.

Old Trail also offers monthly payment plans through FACTS Management or three-payment plans with installments due on July 15, September 15 and January 15. Please contact Director of Enrollment Management Susan Newman with any questions you may have.

APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID

Flexible Tuition Application Process

In order to apply for financial assistance through the flexible tuition program, your family should complete a Financial Aid for Student Tuition (FAST) application, which is evaluated by a third-party service to determine your family’s financial need. Because institutional financial aid funds are limited, you are encouraged to submit the FAST application as soon as possible and before the December 1 deadline for current students (prior to the academic year of enrollment) and by the admission application deadline for new students, to ensure full consideration.

Old Trail’s Flexible Tuition Committee reviews the FAST application and assessment of need and determines eligibility for a tuition reduction. Each student's flexible tuition reduction is documented in the Enrollment Contract. A flexible tuition application is considered confidential, and does not affect the decision to accept your child for admission at Old Trail School. However, the flexible tuition process must completed at the same time as the admission process, and flexible tuition awards are only determined when a student is accepted to Old Trail School.

Step-by-Step

Step 1: Inquire & Learn

Step 2: Submit Your Application

Complete the Financial Aid for Student Tuition (FAST) application. This third-party evaluation service works with us to provide a need-based analysis that includes a recommendation of what a family should be able to contribute toward tuition. Submit your application by December 1 (for current students) and with the admission application for new families. You will be required to submit a copy of your most recent W2 forms and federal tax return (including all schedules, federal form 4506, and supplemental questions included in the FAST application) by December 1 each year. New students must submit the FAST application and all documents by the admission deadline, or with their admission application for rolling admissions.

The application process is self-guided. You may navigate in and out of the program, allowing you to partially complete an application and go back to it at another time. Online email and a 24/7 helpline are provided. The charge for the application is $48 and is paid by credit card at the end of the session. Remember, the separate admission application must be submitted at the same time.

When a student's parents live separately, a FAST application must be submitted for each household, and include all adults/spouses/partners in the household. Please contact the admission office with questions about individual circumstances.

Step 3: Mail In Your Tax Returns

Either upload (preferred) or mail your tax return for federal taxes with all schedules and W-2s to FAST. Old Trail requires the complete 2022 Federal 1040 and all w-2s and 1099s. Additionally, self-employed individuals must include Schedule C, Form 1120, and all K-1's, as applicable. To mail forms, please include Old Trail School's name on the outside of the envelope to ensure faster processing of your application and send to: FAST Processing, ISM, 1316 North Union Street, Wilmington, DE 19806-2594.

The goal is to have an award determination made by the time re-enrollment contracts are issued in February. Our Flexible Tuition Committee will review FAST’s recommendation and then calculate your tuition rate and provide it to you, along with your admission decision letter, in February. Please contact the Admission Office with any questions.

Important Deadlines

The online submission deadline for returning student applications is December 1, and the deadline for new students is January 30, or at the same time as the admission application. Your tax return must be uploaded to FAST following the application submission.

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