Affording a Windward Education

Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $75,980 prior to receiving any aid or reimbursements.

The Windward School uses FACTS, which assists independent schools in determining a family’s financial need. The report detailed by FACTS is reviewed by our Financial Aid Committee as a guideline in making financial aid decisions, but the report computed by FACTS does not bind The Windward School to any specific award. The FACTS application for 2025 – 2026 can be accessed here one the season opens October 25, 2024.

For Families New to Windward: If offered a contract, the Financial Aid Director will guide you through the financial aid process. There is no deadline for new Windward families, however we encourage new families to complete their FACTS documentation as soon as possible.

For Returning Families: Financial aid requests by returning families must be made by the April 25, 2025 deadline in order for an award to be considered.

Any family that has applied for admission may apply for financial aid.

No. Financial aid files are reviewed, and awards are made only after a student is admitted. If a student is neither admitted nor placed on the waitlist, the financial aid file is shredded and destroyed. Financial aid requests by returning families must be made by the April 25, 2025 deadline in order for an award to be considered.

Families may submit the financial aid applications and supporting documents starting in late Fall 2024 for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Submissions for returning students will not be accepted after April 25, 2025.

Step 1 - Submit Application:

All families should submit their online financial aid applications to FACTS.

Complete an application here.

You need to complete only one application, even if you have more than one child applying to The Windward School.

The processing fee to apply for financial aid using the FACTS system is $35.00 for a standard 1040 Tax Return and slightly more if there are additional corporate, partnership, or trust tax documents (1120, 1120S or 1065).

If you are unable to complete your application online, forms are available from Dr. Erik Bennett, The Windward School Financial Aid Director. If you have questions about the FACTS submission process, you may call FACTS directly at 866-315-9262 or inquiry@factsmgt.com, or contact Dr. Erik Bennett at 914-949-6968 ext. 1271.

Step 2 – Submit Supporting Documentation

After completing the online application, you will need to upload all required supporting documentation. Documents can be uploaded online by logging into your account.

All families must submit the following documents directly to FACTS. Returning families must submit the following documents by April 25, 2025:

• a copy of both parents' or guardians' 2023 1040 federal tax return with all schedules and W2’s,
  • once available, both parents' or guardians' 2024 1040 federal tax return with all schedules and W2’s must be submitted to FACTS.
• if either parent or guardian is self-employed, a copy of the 2022 and 2023 corporate tax return,
  • once available, a copy of the 2024 corporate tax return must be submitted to FACTS
• possible additional supporting documents.

Questions regarding the financial aid process may be directed to:

Dr. Erik Bennett, PhD
Financial Aid Director
(914) 949-6968, ext. 1271
Email: ebennett@thewindwardschool.org

All information related to the parents/guardians’ financial circumstances will be treated confidentially. These forms will only be used to arrive at a fair determination of financial need.

Yes. All applications for financial aid must be started while the child is completing or near the completion of the admissions process.

Financial need is defined as the difference between what it costs to attend The Windward School and a family’s ability to pay. The FACTS Financial Aid Reporting system provides the School with a general assessment of a family’s ability to pay for education. Major factors in determining financial need include, but are not limited to, income, assets (including home equity, college funds, and investments), family size, and the number of children attending tuition-charging institutions, excluding daycare, preschool and graduate school.

No. The Windward School requires families receiving financial aid to reapply each year. Changes in factors such as income, family status, and the number of children attending private institutions may increase or decrease an award. Every application is reviewed annually. All returning families who have received financial aid the previous year must have the application completed by Saturday, April 25, 2025.

The Windward School believes that families have an obligation to pay for the educational expenses of their children to the extent that they are able. The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of custodial parent(s)/guardian(s), if living, before making any award, and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent/guardian has disclaimed, legally or otherwise, any responsibility for educational expenses. If either parent/guardian has remarried, the committee will also consider the income and assets of the stepparent, as well.

Both custodial and non-custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) and their current spouses, if any, must fill out a separate FACTS application form. If this information is not provided, the committee will not be able to consider the application for financial aid.

Since it is our belief that families bear the primary responsibility for financing the education of their children, it is our policy to expect both parents/guardians to contribute financially. There are circumstances such as caring for a disabled or elderly parent, or a preschool child that might exempt a family from this policy. Each application is evaluated individually.

You will need to complete your taxes early enough to meet the April 25, 2025 deadline in order to be considered for a financial aid award. However, you may complete the application form using “estimated” information for the current year.

Families will be notified as the committee reviews the files. The process usually extends from the middle of April through the middle of June.

Yes. To do so, please write to the Financial Aid Committee explaining your appeal. Include any information that will help the committee to better understand your situation, such as a detailed list of monthly expenses or any information that you feel may be beneficial for the committee to know.

Payments made for the special education provided at The Windward School may be deductible medical care expenses under the Internal Revenue Code. While ordinary education is not medical care, the cost of medical care may, under certain circumstances, include the cost of attending a special school for an individual with a disability if his or her condition is such that the resources of the institution for alleviating such disability are a principal reason for his or her presence there.

Whether tuition expenses for Windward will be deductible in a particular case will depend upon the facts and circumstances of each individual student’s situation. There are also percentage limitations applicable to otherwise deductible medical expenses, depending on the parent’s adjusted gross income. Therefore, before claiming a tax deduction for expenses relating to the special education of a student, we highly recommend that you consult with a tax lawyer or accountant about whether your payments to Windward may qualify for medical expense tax deduction