Financial Aid FAQs
What is the tuition at Groves Academy?
Groves Academy is committed to making its education affordable to families from a wide range of economic means. Enrolling a bright, talented student body while maintaining very small classes sizes are critical to our success in serving the needs of students with learning disabilities and attention disorders.
Groves Academy does not believe that the cost of an education at Groves should be a deterrent to a prospective student. As such, Groves Academy raises more than $750,000 each year exclusively for scholarships to meet the needs of families who could not otherwise afford a Groves education.
Tuition for the 2012-13 school year is $22,500 for students in Lower School, $23,000 for students in Middle School and $23,400 for Upper School students. The tuition includes books and testing.
Are there expenses in addition to tuition at Groves Academy?
The tuition fee at Groves Academy includes the cost of tuition, books and any diagnostic testing a student may require during the school year. Additional expenses may include lunch fees, optional school and class trips and events, and after school activities.
How do I apply for financial aid and how are the awards determined?
Financial aid at Groves Academy is offered through TADS. Financial aid awards at Groves Academy are based on demonstrated need — the calculated difference between the amount a family can be expected to contribute to the cost of the student's education and the cost of annual tuition, books and fees. After a student has been accepted to Groves, financial aid application information is sent to parents along with the enrollment contract. TADS processes each application, evaluates it for financial need, and makes a recommendation to Groves Academy based on the information provided.
What is Groves Academy's financial aid philosophy?
The purpose of the financial aid program at Groves Academy is to provide students who could benefit from a Groves education but could not otherwise afford access to the school. Affording a Groves education does require planning, and most families employ several strategies to keep the costs within reach. In this planning, it is important to realize that the family bears the primary responsibility for financing a child's education to the extent that it is able. Financial aid awards at Groves Academy are based on demonstrated need — the calculated difference between the amount a family can be expected to contribute to the cost of the student's education and the cost of annual tuition, books and fees.
How many students receive financial aid?
In the 2011-12 school year, 36% of Groves students received some level of financial aid.
What does financial aid cover?
Financial aid covers portions of the tuition fee, books and diagnostic testing. Lunch fees, class and school trips and events, and after school fees are not included in financial aid.
Will applying for aid affect my student's chances for admission?
No. Admission decisions are made independently of financial aid decisions. Groves Academy's financial aid program is administered by TADS.
When will we learn if we receive financial aid?
TADS notifies families who are awarded financial aid approximately two weeks after a student is offered admission to Groves Academy, though the process may take longer under certain circumstances in the family situation. Groves Academy does not expect a student who has been offered admission and who has applied for financial aid to make a decision until the student's financial aid offer is known.
Will we receive aid every year?
Financial need and awards are recalculated every year, using current information. Families are required to re-apply for financial aid yearly. If there is little change in a family's circumstances, one can expect that grants will be renewed at a similar level, while knowing that tuition increases may be shared between the family and Groves Academy. Should your need increase or decrease significantly, TADS will re-evaluate your financial award.
We don't know if our family will qualify for financial aid. Should we still apply?
We encourage every family in need of financial assistance to apply. A number of factors are used to determine financial need, so it is impossible to specify income levels or other criteria that would guarantee a student receive financial aid. Income, assets, taxes, family size, unusual expenses, parents' ages and number of family members in tuition-paying schools are just some of the factors used in the equation to determine financial need. There are many factors that affect award decisions, but Groves Academy is committed to meeting the needs of a broad spectrum of families.
For more financial aid information, please contact Debbie Moran, Lower School Director of Admissions, at morand@grovesacademy.org or 952-915-4275, or Teresa Smith, Middle & Upper School Director of Admissions, at smitht@grovesacademy.org or 952-915-4296.