Tuition & Financial Aid

Yes. Families must reapply for financial aid each year. Continued support is based on annual financial need and timely submission of all required materials..

BC High uses Clarity to determine financial aid eligibility. Clarity applications open in October for all families. 

Returning families must reapply each year and the 2026-2027 application is due November 15, 2025. 

For prospective families, the deadline to apply is January 15, 2026. 

BC High will be offering a financial aid webinar on:

• October 7 at 6:00 p.m. for returning families
• November 18 at 6:00 p.m. for prospective families

BC High School uses the  Clarity Financial Aid system to determine a family’s expected contribution. When you complete the application all financial and personal information provided is processed using a formula that determines the amount you will be able to pay. The remaining amount is your financial need. 

When we review applications, we recognize that families have many essential expenses beyond tuition. Examples of expenses typically considered when determining financial need include: 

• Housing 

• Clothing 

• Transportation 

• Healthcare 

• Student loans 

• Union dues 

• Charitable contributions 

• Childcare 

We also understand that every family’s situation is unique. If there are other expenses or circumstances that affect your ability to pay, we encourage you to share that information in your application so it can be taken into consideration. 

The Clarity formula makes allowances for "needs" that are essential to maintain a modest standard of living, such as medical costs, taxes, and housing, etc. Money remaining after these essential expenses are accounted for is considered discretionary and available for educational costs. 

We understand that a family’s home is often their biggest investment, and we don’t want families to feel penalized for that. For that reason, the equity in your primary residence is not taken into consideration when determining financial aid. However, equity in additional real estate properties (such as second home, vacation property, or rental) is taken into account as part of the overall assessment of financial need. 

No. We do not take into consideration the value of your retirement accounts. We know how important it is for families to plan for the future. That said, annual contributions to retirement plans are viewed as discretionary income and are included in the calculation. 

If a parent or guardian is not employed, an income of $50,000 will be imputed for that individual unless there is a clear reason they are unable to work (such as caring for children under 6, health concerns, or other circumstances). We encourage families to share any relevant context in the application so we can review the situation with care. 

We understand that many families are supporting more than one child in school at a time. When determining financial aid, BC High takes into account siblings who are enrolled in tuition-charging schools, including elementary, high school, or college. The calculation looks at what a family can reasonably contribute toward education overall, and then that amount is shared across all enrolled children. This helps ensure fairness for families managing multiple tuition commitments. 

The Clarity financial aid application considers business owners by requiring detailed information on their business income and assets. Applicants must report their ownership percentage and provide comprehensive business tax documents, which schools use to calculate a family's financial need. 

The specific tax forms you must submit depend on your business structure. 

• Partnerships: Require Form 1065, along with all schedules, statements, and K-1s. 

• S-Corporations: Require Form 1120S, with all schedules, statements, and K-1s. 

• Sole proprietorships and LLCs: Report business income on Schedule C of your Form 1040. 

If you are receiving financial gifts or assistance from a third party for tuition (such as grandparents, town scholarship, etc.), be prepared to provide details to the school as this source of income will be taken into consideration in determining your family’s need. 

In the case of a divorce or separation, BC High considers the financial resources of both parents in order to make a fair assessment of aid eligibility. For this reason, both parents are required to complete an application with Clarity. If a parent has remarried, we also consider the step-parent’s resources as well as their obligations with the new family. This process helps ensure that awards are based on a complete picture of the family’s overall ability to contribute. 

Admitted students will be notified on March 10, 2026 if they qualify for need-based financial aid. Returning students are notified in early February, at the same time re-enrollment opens.  

Yes. We understand that financial circumstance can change or important details may come to light after your application is submitted.

If you feel your award does not reflect your family’s current situation, you may request a review. Families are encouraged to reach out to Donna Simonelli, Associate Director for Enrollment and Financial Aid to request an appeal and provide any new or updated information. 

Yes. BC High takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 compliance and follows enterprise-level security standards, including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. This ensures your data is handled with the highest level of protection.