Tuition Assistance Program

FACTS

Any family, Catholic or Non-Catholic, may apply for tuition assistance by completing an application on-line at www.FACTStuitionaid.com (paper applications also available from the Fiscal Office). An objective formula is applied to each applicant’s statement of financial resources, and a recommendation for assistance is made by the FACTS Company to the School Principal. Financial assistance is then awarded based upon need and available funding. Some financial assistance may also be available from your local Catholic Parish.

Step Up for Students
Step Up For Students provides K-12 Scholarships for low-income students. If you qualify your student may receive almost $7,000 towards school tuition.

AAA Florida Private School Scholarship

McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Gardiner Scholarship Program

As we pursue the Mission of Saint Francis Catholic Academy, we strive to maintain the diversity of our student body and to make attendance affordable for as many students as possible, through our Tuition Assistance Program. Each year, funds are budgeted for Tuition Assistance – these funds are awarded on a prorated basis, determined by family financial need only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone apply for Tuition Assistance at Saint Francis Catholic Academy?

Any student who has completed the registration processes, including payment of the registration fee, may apply for tuition assistance.

How do I apply for assistance?

Applications must be made online, through the FACTS Tuition Management Company. The FACTS Company requires payment of a processing fee and documentation of income (prior year federal income tax return). The application procedure is very similar to that used by colleges, and serves as a good introduction to that process.

When can I apply for tuition assistance?

Applications become available at FACTS Tuition Management Company in February each year. The deadline for applications to be submitted for the 2018-2019 School Year is April 18, 2018. We encourage you to apply as soon as your student is registered or re-registered for the upcoming school year, allowing sufficient time to submit the required documentation of income prior to the deadline.

How are awards determined?

The FACTS Company applies a standard, objective formula to every application to determine the amount of family income that should (ideally and with sacrifice) be available for Catholic school tuition, and makes recommendations to Saint Francis Catholic Academy regarding each family’s need for assistance. The school uses the FACTS recommendations to rank each application according to financial need. Available assistance funds are then awarded on a prorated basis, with the goal of making the cost of attending Saint Francis Catholic Academy as equally affordable as we can for each family.

Is there a maximum family income above which a student will not be awarded tuition assistance?

Because funds are limited and available funds are awarded according to the needs of all the students who apply for assistance, it is possible that the least financially needy families will be awarded little or no assistance..

Can a student have 100% of the cost of attending Saint Francis Catholic Academy covered by tuition assistance?

We require every family to make some financial investment in their student’s education at Saint Francis Catholic Academy. The amount a family is required to pay is determined by both the family’s financial needs and the funds available for assistance.

Where do the funds for Tuition Assistance come from?

Tuition Assistance is funded through donations – we are very grateful for generous individual benefactors, the Diocese of St. Augustine, and to the area Knights of Columbus Councils who host an annual dinner in September, the proceeds of which help to fund our tuition assistance program.

When will I be advised whether I have been awarded assistance?

No awards are finally determined until after the April application deadline. Awards are generally mailed within two weeks following the deadline date.

What if the award I am offered is not enough?

We ask that you give prayerful consideration to the award, knowing that attendance at a Catholic school involves sacrifice for every family. If, however, the award is insufficient, we encourage you to submit a written request for review, detailing any special circumstances that may not have been considered in the standard application process. That request will be considered as additional funds become available.

Once a student is awarded tuition assistance, does he receive that assistance every year?

No – families MUST reapply for assistance each year, and awards are dependent each year on the families’ current financial needs and available funds.

Are there any other sources of assistance available to me?

Each year one student is awarded a $1,000 Scholarship by the Reilly Memorial Scholarship Fund. Applications for this are available in the School Front Office or by clicking here. Saint Francis Catholic Academy accepts the John McKay and the Step Up For Students Scholarships. Information on both the McKay and Step Up programs are available at www.floridaschoolchoice.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, contact Sara Geiser, Saint Francis Catholic Academy Finance Administrator, (352) 376-6545, Ext 351 or sgeiser@sfcawolves.org