Financial Aid

Welcome!

We recognize there are many families who could not afford to send their children to Chesterfield Day School without some form of tuition assistance. In keeping with our mission of providing excellent education for children from diverse backgrounds, the Board of Trustees of CDS annually approves a generous financial aid budget which currently supports 26% of the students attending CDS.

Whenever possible, the School tries to meet the demonstrated need of families applying for aid; however, we often have more requests than money available. In order to ensure as fair an apportionment of funds as possible, the School requires families seeking assistance to complete a financial aid application through the School Scholarship Service (SSS). http://www.nais.org/admission/index.cfm?ItemNumber=145893&sn.ItemNumber=142486 

(The school’s code is 2365). We urge parents to keep a copy of their completed application.  In addition, the School asks parents to provide complete copy of their latest income tax return and to provide any other information that they would like the Financial Aid Committee to consider in reviewing their request.

In cases of divorce, where joint custody has been assigned, both parents' financial situations will be taken into account prior to making tuition assistance awards. A copy of the divorce decree is also required.  As a general rule, both parents are expected, if able, to be employed outside of the home, excepting in cases where a student or sibling is under the age of 5 years. Financial Aid is awarded to students in preschool through grade six.

Though grants are the most frequent form of aid, occasionally low interest loans are offered to families who qualify as part of an overall tuition assistance package. Rarely will a financial aid award  exceed 80% of the cost of tuition.

Should you have any questions about the process, please feel free to contact the Director of Finance and Operations or me at 314-469-6622.

Sincerely,

Alicia Noddings

Interim Head of School