Guidelines for Financial Aid

Any student attending or applying to AIM Academy who does not receive school district funding may apply for tuition assistance through our financial aid process.

Because there are more requests for assistance than funds available, AIM has adopted guidelines for the Financial Aid Committee to use when allocating grants.

To determine the need for financial aid, AIM Academy utilizes the criteria employed by the School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS by Community Brands). Starting in October, parents may log in to the family portal on SSS by Community Brands (SSS) and begin to submit the necessary forms. For help logging into the family portal for the first time, please click here.

AIM Academy’s SSS code is: 4415

Guidelines for Need-based Financial Aid:

A family must qualify for financial aid per SSS calculations in order to receive a financial aid award from AIM. To see if you qualify, please review your family report in SSS.
The Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), which is computed by SSS, is used as a guideline to assist the Financial Aid Committee in making financial aid decisions. The PFS is in no way binding on AIM Academy.
Parents who are separated or divorced must each file an individual PFS form. AIM will also consider the financial resources of a step-parent if they claim the student as a dependent on their tax return.
AIM is not bound by any decrees, agreements or legal documents excusing a parent from financial responsibility for his or her child’s education.
In the interest of equity, if a parent chooses to stay at home and not seek employment, the Financial Aid Committee will impute an additional basic income of $15,000 for the non-working parent. (An exception is made if the parent is at home caring for a non school-aged child.)
If multiple children attend independent/tuition-charging schools or colleges, it is expected that the family apply for tuition assistance at all schools.
If a parent returns to school, elects to change jobs or a sibling chooses to enroll in a 5th year advanced degree program resulting in a decrease in family resources, AIM cannot underwrite this family's choice with a greater financial aid grant.
If one parent is temporarily unemployed and not disabled, the Financial Aid Committee will review past years’ employment and may recommend educational loans before considering a financial aid award. If a financial aid award is given, the unemployed parent must participate in quarterly financial aid reviews to report on their continued job search.
Financial aid grants are annual and a family must reapply yearly.
If there has been a significant change in the family's financial status, one appeal may be made. This appeal must be done in writing for the Financial Aid Committee to review. The appeal must be specific and consist of new information not previously provided. The appeal decision of the Financial Aid Committee is final.
All financial aid information is kept strictly confidential.

Guidelines For Allocating Financial Aid

Students who receive funding of any amount from their local school district are not eligible to receive financial aid funds from AIM Academy.
The primary financial responsibility for financing a student's education rests with his/her family. Decisions are influenced by the availability of school resources, the number of qualified applicants, and the overall budgetary constraints. In any given year, AIM may not be able to meet the need of all qualifying applicants. The family should investigate all other sources of financial support such as grandparents, churches, synagogues and community resources.
When allocating financial aid, first priority is given to continuing the support of current students who are re-enrolling at AIM and who are already receiving financial aid. Continuation of financial aid is contingent upon the family's consistently meeting the commitment to pay their share of the financial responsibilities in a timely fashion.
Next priority is given to current families requesting tuition assistance for the first time and then to new students.
New families may qualify for a maximum of half the cost of tuition.
A family's need for tuition assistance does not influence the admission process. Admissions decisions are made separately based on the student's learning disability/difference and whether AIM can support the student’s learning profile.
Students' requests for financial aid are considered once the enrollment contract and the enrollment deposit have been sent to the Admissions Office. If the family deems the financial aid grant to be insufficient based upon their demonstrated need as determined by SSS, then their deposit will be returned and their contract nullified.
If a family does not qualify for financial aid per the calculations provided by SSS, the enrollment deposit will not be returned and the contract will be binding one week after the letter stating that they do not qualify has been delivered.
Grants are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier a financial aid request is made, the more likely those funds will be available and a financial aid award may be made.