Our Financial Aid Program is fairly administered, clearly communicated, and consistently applied in accordance with the principles and practices of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). It is designed to help support families in Kindergarten through Grade 12, who demonstrate financial need. School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid is used in determining a family's level of need.
Affording Sierra Canyon:
Financial Aid Principles
- Sierra Canyon School considers financial aid as the single most important vehicle to maintain an economically diverse student population.
- Financial Aid is distributed to qualifying families of students in grades Kindergarten through 12.
- All families must reapply for financial aid each year and upload the required documents.
- Sierra Canyon will give priority to families who have previously received aid prior to making any new commitments.
Sierra Canyon School recognizes the educational value of a school community that includes students from varied economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. Sierra Canyon School is an equal opportunity environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, or by any other status protected by law.
Important Information
| Pre-Kindergarten | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten - Sixth Grade | $37,550 |
| Seventh - Eighth Grade | $44,100 |
| Ninth - Twelfth Grade | $44,100 |
Please refer to our Financial Aid Checklist for a PDF checklist with step-by-step instructions.
- If applying for the first time, create an account on SSS (School and Student Services).
- Once you are logged into SSS, complete and submit the Parents' Financial Statement* (PFS) online. Sierra Canyon’s code is 4093.
- Sign and upload the Request-for-Copy-of-Tax-Returns (form 4506). (Only your signature is necessary on this document.)
- Upload all required documentation directly to your SSS account. Refer to the Financial Aid Checklist document linked above.
* If a child's parents are divorced, separated, or have never been married, the Admission Committee must still consider the income and assets of both legal parents. We cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed legally or otherwise any responsibility for educational expenses. Complete information from both legal parents must be submitted. Requests to not consider a missing parent's assets must be confirmed by a third party, usually associated with the court. If either parent has remarried, we will consider the income and assets of the stepparent, always keeping in mind the obligation of that stepparent to their own children. If either parent lives in a household with another adult, we may consider that person's assets.
- September 1, 2024 - Financial aid application for 2025-2026 school year opens for applicants and returning families. SSS code: 4093
- December 6, 2024 - Financial aid application deadline for returning families
- January 10, 2025 - Financial aid application and all supporting materials deadline for applicant families
- March 14, 2025 - Admission and financial aid decisions posted online
Currently Enrolled Families
- All returning/current families applying for financial aid must submit the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) online through SSS (School and Student Services for Financial Aid) and submit all required financial aid documents below by December 6, 2024.
- Financial Aid awards will be posted in January 2025 with re-enrollment agreements.
Admission Applicant Families
- Please indicate on your online application to Sierra Canyon that you are applying for financial aid.
- All applicant families applying for financial aid must complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) online and submit all required financial aid documents below to SSS (School and Student Services for Financial Aid) by January 10, 2025.
- Financial Aid awards will be posted online with admission decisions on contracts of accepted students in March.
All information concerning financial aid submitted to Sierra Canyon School is held in the strictest confidence. Only those individuals involved in the awarding of financial aid are privy to a family's financial information.
Financial Aid FAQs
Thank you for your interest in Sierra Canyon School! We find that most applicants and their families have similar questions as they navigate the financial aid process. To help answer those questions, we’ve created this resource, and we hope you find the information you need!
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 818-882-8121.
While it varies yearly, approximately 30% of Sierra Canyon families receive financial assistance.
The financial aid application process is separate and distinct, running concurrently with the admission application process. Families interested in applying for financial aid must submit a financial aid application in addition to their admission application. The financial aid application is available starting on September 1, 2024 and is due on January 10, 2025. It requires supplemental documents that must also be uploaded by the deadline. While an admission application must be filled out for each student applying to the school, one financial aid application can cover all students of the same family, as long as they are listed within the application.
The Admission Committee makes its decisions independently and is committed to admitting and enrolling as many qualified students as possible. However, since financial aid resources are finite, we are unable to award financial aid to all families who apply.
The Financial Aid Committee uses School and Student Services (SSS) to determine what a family is expected to contribute toward educational expenses. The SSS methodology considers such things as taxable and non-taxable income, assets, and investments and makes allowances for daily living expenses. The formula also considers family size and the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. The Sierra Canyon Financial Aid Committee makes final decisions on all awards.
Every situation is unique, and many factors determine a family's financial need, including income, assets, and the number of children in tuition-paying schools. Consequently, it is impossible to set income guidelines determining who will qualify. If you would like to discuss your particular circumstances, please contact Aurora Ciabuca at (818) 882-8121, ext. 1142.
Unfortunately, because the financial aid budget is finite and assistance often spans multiple years, the school does not award aid to families who did not apply for aid at the time of admission. Exceptions to this policy are made only in the case of significant unforeseen changes in a family's financial circumstances.
If a child's parents are divorced, separated, or have never been married, the Admission Committee must still consider the income and assets of both legal parents. We cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed legally or otherwise any responsibility for educational expenses. Complete information from both legal parents must be submitted. Requests to not consider a missing parent's assets must be confirmed by a third party, usually associated with the court. If either parent has remarried, we will consider the income and assets of the stepparent, always keeping in mind the obligation of that stepparent to their own children. If either parent lives in a household with another adult, we may consider that person's assets.
If a family has children over the age of six, it is expected that both parents are employed if they are applying for financial aid. If one parent chooses not to work, then a full-time income equivalent to tuition will be imputed to account for the income a parent could earn by choosing to work. Each application is evaluated individually, and exceptions to this policy may occur if a parent is disabled or ill and cannot work or is caring for a child, parent, or grandparent with a disability or illness.
Students who apply and qualify for financial aid and are offered admission to Sierra Canyon will be notified on March 14, 2025. The admission decision email will be sent at 5:00 p.m., and the award will be posted in the enrollment agreement. Students who are offered admission but do not qualify for financial aid will be informed at the same time through email.
All families must reapply for financial aid every year with updated information. Assuming a family continues to show the same demonstrated need, Sierra Canyon will strive to continue its financial aid to all students in good standing.
Financial Aid Team
Please email us with any questions about tuition or financial aid at FA@