OVERVIEW
At The Northwest Academy, we believe that the primary responsibility for financing education rests with the family. We also recognize that a quality, independent school education is a significant monetary expense. To fulfill our goal of providing educational opportunities for qualified students regardless of their economic background, The Northwest Academy offers need-based financial aid.

Applying for financial aid does not affect a student's chances for admission. Once accepted, candidates for financial aid are referred to the Financial Aid Committee that awards aid to families who demonstrate need, taking into account the suggested parent contribution. All applications are reviewed on an individual basis in the order that they are received. Information obtained for this purpose is kept strictly confidential.

* Only those who have submitted a signed commitment letter, paid the enrollment deposit and have provided all required forms and information will be considered for financial aid.
* Priorities are given to returning students.
* Students must be in good standing both academically and socially in order for the school to consider reinvesting in their education.
* Parents must repeat the process each year realizing that there are no guaranteed awards to returning students. Awards are for one year only.
* The decision to award financial aid to an applicant and the amount of such aid determined is the sole judgment of the Financial Aid Committee.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID
First time applicants must request the School and Student Services Parent Financial Statement Form (PFS) from the Director of Admissions or go online at http://sss.nais.org/parents/.

Returning students who have received financial aid will be sent the current forms, by mail, in December. These families may also apply online at http://sss.nais.org/parents/.

All families must complete the appropriate forms and mail them to School and Student Services in the envelope provided or online at http://sss.nais.org/parents/. Please allow at least seven days for the PFS to reach SSS, and allow two to three weeks for processing and delivery. Online applications are usually processed within 72 hours.

All families must send a complete set of photocopies to include the completed SSS forms (download forms) and your final current and prior year federal income tax returns, as well as all supporting schedules to the NWA Financial Officer, Michael Dobson. Do not delay in submitting your forms. The deadline is March 1, 2010.

To make an accurate determination of a family's need for financial aid, we require that both parents, custodial or non-custodial, submit the PFS and items required by NWA. Information from spouses of parents who have remarried and domestic partners who contribute to the family's finances must also be included.

DECISIONS
The Financial Aid Committee will begin to review financial aid applications in April and will continue to have weekly reviews until the financial aid budget is exhausted. Each financial aid applicant who is accepted for admission will be notified by mail that the Financial Aid Committee has made one of the following decisions:

1. The family qualifies and will be awarded a financial aid grant based on the criteria mentioned above.
2. The family qualifies for aid, but is being placed on a wait list for future consideration.
3. Additional information is necessary for consideration of aid.
4. The family does not qualify and no award will be granted.

The family must respond to an offer of a financial aid grant within two weeks of receipt of the award letter in order to secure the funds. Failure to do so could result in the loss of the award.

CONTRACT AND DEPOSIT
We require a commitment on the part of all of our parents. Recognizing the situation for Financial Aid applicants we have reduced that commitment to $250.

In order to reserve a place at The Northwest Academy, the family must sign and return the Commitment Letter and the non-refundable deposit within two weeks of acceptance. Once the Financial Aid Committee has reached a decision, you will receive a letter with information regarding an award. A contract will be included with this letter. The signed contract must be returned within two weeks of the date of the letter with your choice of payment options.