Financial Aid at Ashley Hall | Private School in Charleston, SC

Ashley Hall Financial Aid

The purpose of Ashley Hall’s financial aid program is to enroll qualified students who could not otherwise afford to attend, thus maximizing the strength of the student body. We understand that affordability is a major consideration for parents. All financial aid awards are made on the basis of a family’s demonstrated need and are reserved for families who have no alternative to requesting aid. Ashley Hall follows the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid. All families requesting financial aid must adhere to School and Student Services by NAIS (SSS) procedures. The results of the SSS formula are considered by the Financial Aid Committee, which then determines whether aid is to be granted and how much aid to grant. Ashley Hall is not always able to meet the demonstrated need of all families who apply. All information is confidential, limited to review by the Financial Aid committee, and will be returned upon request. Need-based financial aid is a grant, not a loan, and is allocated on a first-come, first served basis to families of students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Financial need is calculated without regard to race, handicap, color, religion, or national origin.

Please note the following:

  • Our financial aid application is separate from the admission application and is not a factor in admission decisions.
  • If parents are divorced or separated, we require information from both custodial and non-custodial parents. Each household needs to complete the SSS application separately.
  • We require all parents in a household to be employed before seeking financial aid. The exception is for parents caring for pre-school aged children, living with a disability, or facing other circumstances preventing employment.
  • Parents who own a business, trust, or receive rental income may be required to submit additional documentation.
  • Failure to meet all of the deadlines limits Ashley Hall’s ability to award financial aid to those deserving students who might otherwise qualify and may result in a reduced or forfeited reward.
  • You will be asked to supply a copy of your 2022 Federal Income Tax Return (Form 1040), all supporting schedules and W-2s, which can be submitted either electronically or by mail.

Access Parents’ Financial Statement Workbook

How to Apply Online

Apply Online

The financial aid deadline for new students is follows:
For Kindergarten: January 15, 2024
For Grades 1 – 11: February 15, 2024

For returning students the financial aid deadline is January 15, 2024.

If you have any questions about the financial aid process, contact:

Janet Morrison | Controller | [email protected] | (843) 720-2867

Financial Aid FAQs

Does Ashley Hall offer Financial Assistance and Scholarships?

Ashley Hall maintains a robust financial aid program and budget to ensure that the most qualified candidates have the opportunity to attend Ashley Hall, regardless of their economic circumstances. Some scholarships are offered to specific students who have demonstrated financial need and fulfill specific criteria for that particular scholarship. Most scholarships are for students in grades 5-12.

What are the terms of the financial aid program?

Financial aid awards are for one year. Every family must reapply annually for further financial aid awards.

A financial aid application is in no way connected to a student’s application for admission. Financial aid information is confidential and is not shared with the Admission Committee, only with the Financial Aid Committee.

Failure to comply with financial aid deadlines can disqualify a student from receiving aid. Misrepresentation or failure to fully and accurately disclose all information on the Parents’ Financial Statement, will result in the loss of financial aid.

Every financial aid application will be reviewed on an individual basis. Returning Ashley Hall families receiving financial aid will be given priority for awards over new student applications. Returning families must adhere firmly to financial aid guidelines in order to ensure their priority. Funds can and will be allocated to other families if information is not completed and submitted by the published deadlines.

What forms are needed to apply for Financial Aid?

All information can be accessed at www.sssbynais.org. This site (School and Student Services) allows families to fill out the Parents’ Financial Statement and submit all required tax documents. In addition, families must fill out Form 4506. This document is available here and must be signed, undated, and uploaded through SSS. Form 4506 is an IRS document that is used to retrieve past tax returns, W-2s, and 1099 transcripts that are held on file by the IRS. This document gives permission for a third party (Ashley Hall) to retrieve the taxpayer’s data.

When is the deadline to submit a 2022 Federal Tax Return?

A complete 2022 Federal tax return, including all appropriate schedules, must be received by SSS by February 14, 2024.
A complete 2023 Federal tax return, including all appropriate schedules, must be received by SSS at your earliest convenience, but no later than September 1, 2024. If you require an extension or special consideration, please contact the Controller, Janet Morrison at [email protected] directly.

What are the considerations for special circumstances?

Unmarried Couples and Single Parents

Both the birth parent(s) and guardians(s) must report all income and assets.

Divorced or Separated Parents

Ashley Hall’s policy for determining the financial need of students from separated or divorced families follows the same principle as our policy for all financial aid applicants: parents should pay the educational expenses for their children to the extent at which they are able.

In situations where an applicant’s parents are separated or divorced, the term custodial parent is used for the parent with whom the applicant resides (or has resided with most frequently during the twelve months prior to the financial aid application). The other parent is referred to as the non-custodial parent. The Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) is completed by the custodial parent and, if that parent has remarried, also by the step-parent. Non-custodial parents are also required to complete a PFS form and submit it to SSS.

It is the responsibility of both parents to submit the appropriate financial information. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to ask the non-custodial parent to complete all appropriate forms in a timely manner. If the requested information is not provided, the Financial Aid Committee will be unable to review an application for aid. Remarriage of either parent creates a new family unit, but Ashley Hall believes that the biological (or adoptive) parents (either custodial or non-custodial) have a responsibility for education expenses, unless there is documented legal agreements to the contrary.

Ashley Hall will consider waiving the requirement for submission of the Financial Statement for parents who are separated or divorced by the non-custodial parent if information is provided which clearly indicates that the location of the non-custodial parent is currently unknown.

In either of the above mentioned situations, supporting documentation clarifying the situation will be accepted from a doctor, lawyer, or other such person with knowledge of the family’s circumstances. There may be other extenuating circumstances which would warrant Ashley Hall waiving this requirement.

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Ashley Hall is a K-12 independent school for girls, with a co-ed preschool, committed to a talented and diverse student population. We consider for admission students of any race, color, religion, and national or ethnic origin.
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