Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid

An independent school education is an investment in your child’s future. At Aurora, we understand that affording independent school tuition in addition to the cost of living in the Bay Area can be challenging for some families.

We are committed to making Aurora affordable and accessible to as many families from a broad range of economic circumstances as possible. We devote approximately 18-21% of our operating budget to tuition assistance, with 37% of Aurora families (42% of students) receiving some level of aid. While every family at Aurora is expected to pay a portion of their tuition, we do not expect the level of tuition remission to be the same for everyone.

We believe each family’s financial situation is unique, and Aurora’s Tuition Assistance Committee takes care to consider every application thoughtfully and intentionally. If your family finds the cost of tuition a potential obstacle to attending Aurora, we encourage you to apply for financial aid even if you think you may not qualify.

18-21% of Aurora’s revenue is allocated to financial aid

2018-2019 Tuition

$26,750

Annual Tuition and Fees

Tuition
$26,750

Application fee
$80

Cost of major field trips in grades 4/5
$500

Optional Expenses

Extended Care Rates $11/hour ($390/mth)
Optional

School Break & Summer Camps
Optional

School Lunch
Optional

Contribution to the Fund for Aurora Campaign
100% family participation

Participation in the Online Auction
Optional

Annual Volunteer Commitment

Per Family ($25/hour “buy out” option)
30 Hours

Per Single Parent ($25/hour “buy out” option)
15 Hours

General Admissions Deadlines

2018-2019 Academic Year

Priority Admission Application Deadlines*

Application
 

Friday, January 25, 2019

 

Teacher Recommendation Form
Friday, January 25, 2019

Progress Reports
 

Friday, January 25, 2019

 

*Although Aurora has a priority application deadline each January, we accept applications for admission on a rolling basis.

Financial Aid Priority Deadlines*

Financial Aid Application
Friday, January 25, 2019

2017 Tax Forms
Friday, January 25, 2019

2018 W2 Tax Forms
Tuesday, February 5, 2019

All other 2018 Tax Forms
Thursday, February 28, 2019

*Although Aurora has a priority application deadline each January, we accept applications for Financial Aid on a rolling basis.

Student Assessments

K/1
Saturday, February 2, 2019

K/1
Saturday, February 9, 2019

2/5
Wednesday, February 13, 2019

42% of our students receive a financial aid award

Financial Aid FAQs

How is financial aid awarded?
Aurora is a member of School and Student Services by NAIS (SSS), which assists independent schools in determining a family’s financial need. Families submit a Parent’s Financial Statement (PFS) to SSS that contains detailed financial information. From the information provided on this form, SSS uses a standardized calculation nationally accepted by independent schools to compute a family’s estimated tuition contribution. The information is reviewed by the Tuition Assistance Committee at Aurora and is used as a guideline in determining financial aid decisions.
What is Aurora’s school code for the School and Student Services website?
Our school code is 1063.
How exactly is my family’s estimated tuition contribution calculated?
School and Student Services takes into consideration such things as gross taxable income, assets, liabilities, family size, and number of children attending tuition-­charging schools. The income and assets for both parents and the students are considered. School and Student Services creates a Family Report for all parents who apply for financial aid. Your Family Report will provide an overview and a calculation of your estimated tuition contribution.
Will applying for financial aid affect my child’s chances of being admitted to Aurora?
No, admissions and financial aid decisions are made separately.
Do we have to reapply for financial aid every year?
Yes. Financial aid awards are based on your family’s estimated tuition contribution and Aurora School’s financial aid budget, both figures change from year to year.
I cannot complete my tax returns in time to meet the financial aid application deadline. What should I do?

We understand your taxes may not be complete so we ask that you estimate your financial information to the best of your ability. Aurora will use the information that you provide to make a preliminary financial aid award decision. We will verify that the information that you provided is correct after reviewing your tax returns. 2018 W-2s are due by February 5, 2019 and all 2017 tax forms are due by February 28, 2019.

What if I have children at other tuition charging schools?
Other K‐12 tuition you pay is figured into your family’s estimated tuition contribution. However, in order to receive aid from us you must apply for financial aid at all schools your children attend.
Do you take into consideration both parents’ income if we are divorced or do not live together?
Aurora considers all available sources of financial support when making financial aid decisions. Each parent must submit a separate Parent Financial Statement to School and Student Services. If one parent does not complete a Parent Financial Statement, we will not be able to process the financial aid application.
How do you treat our application if one parent does not work?
Aurora considers all available sources of financial support when making financial aid decisions. Each parent must submit a separate Parent Financial Statement to School and Student Services. If one parent does not complete a Parent Financial Statement, we will not be able to process the financial aid application.
I work for myself and my income can vary each year. Does this impact my application?
Decisions for next year are based on the previous year’s income, since we cannot predict what will happen next year. You may submit a letter explaining your specific extenuating circumstances to the Aurora Financial Aid Committee.
When will I be notified of my award?
Your financial aid award is included with your acceptance notification. The specific amount is listed on your enrollment contract.
Are there payment plans available?

Families at Aurora may choose among three payment options:

  1. Annual – one payment due by May 1 or the time of enrollment
  2. Semi-Annual – two installments are due on May 1 and December 1
  3. Monthly – ten installments on the 5th of the month from May through February. There is a 5% carrying fee for this payment plan
How can I be assured that my information is kept confidential?
Applying for financial aid at Aurora is a private matter between the family and the Aurora Financial Aid Committee. The Committee conducts a comprehensive review of families’ personal financial situation and that review is not discussed with any other person outside of the Committee. In an effort to protect a family’s privacy, we expect all financial aid applicants to exercise discretion during the financial aid process by not discussing their financial aid application or award with other families or faculty. In addition, School and Student Services by NAIS (SSS) prioritize collecting and processing a family’s documents in a safe and efficient manner. When documents are sent to SSS, families submit their information to SSS through a secure server. Additionally, families are now able to track receipt of the documents sent to SSS through a unique password protected account.
If my financial situation changes and I have need for financial aid that I didn’t have before, what do I do?
Complete the Financial Aid Appeal Form and return to our Admissions Director. You will also need to make necessary changes to your Parent Financial Statement on School and Student Services. Once all of this is completed, the Committee will meet and then contact you to let you know if you qualify for more aid and if so, how much.
If I’m receiving financial aid and my financial situation changes for the better, what do I do?
Families who receive financial aid and have positive change of financial status are expected to inform the Aurora Head of School, so that financial aid can be adjusted. This is to ensure equity for all Aurora families. Aurora expects honesty from all of its families.

40 Dulwich Road
Oakland, CA 94618
Phone: (510) 428-2606
Fax: (510) 428-9183

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