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Fair Share:  Making Gonzaga Prep Accessible for All Families

Mission-driven
Gonzaga Prep’s mission statement affirms that the School “exists to support the life of the Catholic Church in the Inland Northwest by seeking to serve all families who desire for their children Catholic education in the Jesuit tradition.”  With this in mind, the School implemented the Fair Share tuition program in 1992. Although modeled after the Fair Share program used in the Catholic grade Schools, Prep’s Fair Share program is unique in that tuition guidelines are used based on a family’s adjusted gross income. The School has a long tradition of helping students attend regardless of income.  It is through Fair Share that the School seeks to help families with financial need.

Sacrifice
A Gonzaga Prep Catholic education embraces Gospel values, an excellent college prep curriculum, a full activities program and community service. Families who send their children to Gonzaga Prep understand that they are committing to a philosophy and a financial commitment, which is often a sacrifice for families. All families are asked to participate in Fair Share through prayerful reflection and pay as much as they can toward full tuition.  All families are also asked to commit to  20 volunteer hours per year.

Full Tuition
Full tuition is determined by the Board of Directors each year by examining the School’s expenses and the projected enrollment. Full tuition for 2013-14 is $10,653.    Due to the generosity of our benefactors, alumni and parents, our full tuition rate is below the actual full cost of educating each student.

Reduced Tuition
Families may request a reduction in the full tuition in a meeting with a facilitator during the Registration appointment. Families whose adjusted gross income (per the Fair Share Worksheet) precludes them from paying full tuition are asked to pay as much as they can towards the full tuition, but at least as much as the reduced Fair Share tuition amount based on income guidelines established by the School and are encouraged to help the School’s budget in other ways beyond those guidelines.

Fair Share Tuition is determined when a student enrolls in the School and will increase in future years based on the level of increase in the full tuition.  If a family has a change in their income levels, a refacilitation meeting may be requested by the family or by the School to review the Fair Share Tuition commitment.  Fair Share Tuition is also recalculated when another student in the same family enrolls, or when a sibling graduates or withdraws from Gonzaga Prep.

Extraordinary Circumstances
The School provides tuition assistance to students based on economic need, primarily through the Fair Share Tuition program. If a family is unable to meet the expected Fair Share tuition based on the published Fair Share guidelines, a special meeting with the Fair Share Review Committee is conducted where extraordinary circumstances are presented and an agreement on tuition is reached that is fair to both the family and the School.  The School has scholarships that are awarded to enable families with extraordinary circumstances meet their Fair Share Tuition commitment.  The Fair Share Review Committee includes the President of the School, one of the School’s Jesuits, and a member from the Board of Directors.

Confidentiality
All Fair Share Tuition contracts and scholarship awards are made independent of admissions decisions.  Fair Share Tuition and scholarships are administered by the Treasurer’s Office, the Office of the President and the Fair Share Review Committee.  All tuition and financial information is held confidentially.

Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to help families meet the School's Fair Share guidelines.  Most scholarships are awarded through the Fair Share Review process.  A limited number of scholarships are available by application to students entering their sophomore through senior year.  Applications are due by Friday, May 10, 2013.  Please submit the completed applications to Betsy Frazier in Hurley Hall.  Click on the link below for a description of each scholarship and the application form.

Dr. John and Carolu Condon Family Scholarship
Bill Bichsel, S.J. Scholarship
William N. Bischoff, S.J. Memorial Scholarship
Carolyn Zimmer Memorial Scholarship

The James Kermit Rudolf Scholarship application is now available.  Applications for this scholarship are due by Friday, May 17, 2013.  Please submit to Betsy Frazier in Hurley Hall.

Fees
Students will be charged for various fees on an annual basis, depending on their year in school and their class schedule.  Fees are charged to all students for ASB cards, lockers, Naviance Success access, retreats, and yearbook.  These fees range from $5 to $50.  In addition, all students must pay a technology/facility fee of $200 per year.  Class fees for art, music, debate, life skills, PE, national tests, and Advanced Placement exams may also be charged if a student is enrolled in one of these classes.  These fees range from $20 to $90 per year.

There are fees for summer school classes or online classes that are offered above the normal class schedule.

Total fees generally range from $336 to $450.  Fees are in addition to your Fair Share Tuition.  Fees will be added to your tuition account and billed on your chosen payment schedule.  

Text Books/iPads
Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, Gonzaga Prep students will be using digital text books.  All students will be required to purchase an iPad and digital text books and/or apps for each class.  Occasionally, some classes may require a hard copy text book if a digital book is not available.  

The minimum specifications for the iPad are:  iPad 2, 16GB, Wi-Fi.  We also strongly recommend protective covers for each iPad and an extended warranty/protection plan which covers breakage and technical repairs.  

A list of required text books and apps will be published in July on the text book page on our website.  We estimate the annual cost of digital text books and apps will be between $100 and $300.

You have the option to select one the following billing schedules for your tuition and fees:

• 12 monthly payments (July through June, due on the last day of the month)
• Quarterly payments (due August 31st, October 31st, January 31st , March 31st)
• Semiannual payments (August 31st and January 31st)
• Annual payments (August 31st)

Payment methods:  All families are requested to select one the of the following payment methods:

• Electronic funds transfer (EFT): Automated payments from a bank account that you authorize.  You can select one of the following dates to make your payment: the 5th, the 18th, or the last business day of the month.
• Bank card (Mastercard or Visa): Available only for the annual or semi-annual payment schedule.
• Post-dated checks:  You may deliver a series of post-dated checks to the Treasurer’s Office for the payments that are due during the School year.  The checks will be deposited to the bank on the date written on the check.  Checks must be delivered to the School by July 31st.
• Other:  Other payment options must be approved by the President or the Finance Director and will be subject to a Billing Fee.

Late Fee: Past due accounts are subject to finance charges of 1% per month. 

Returned Payments:  Returned checks, returned electronic payments or declined credit cards are subject to a $25 returned payment fee.  Returned checks or electronic funds transfers will be re-deposited to the bank within 3 days.

Withdrawal: If a student withdraws after attending the first day of classes in a semester, the family will be charged tuition and fees for the whole semester. 

Upon graduation or withdrawal, all tuition and fees must be paid in full.  Official transcripts will not be release if there is an outstanding balance or if an acceptable payment plan approved by the President or Finance Director is not in place.