Admission

Financial Aid

Financial Aid

Metairie Park Country Day School has a need-based financial aid program for students in Pre-K through Grade 12. About 20% of Country Day students receive aid.  This program helps to ​bridge the gap between what a family is able to contribute and the full cost of tuition.  The deadline for families to submit all financial aid materials in order to be considered for the 2021-2022 school year is February 15, 2021. 
 
Financial need is not a factor in evaluating applications for admission, but new families should indicate on the admission application that they might apply for financial aid in order to receive information about this program. 

Country Day uses the School and Student Services (SSS) as its financial aid application provider. SSS recommends to Country Day an amount of financial aid to be awarded. All information is reviewed only by the Financial Aid Committee and is held in strictest confidence. Funds are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis; therefore, it is important to apply for financial aid in a timely manner.

Families can begin to complete their financial aid application for the 2021-2022 school year as early as October 2, 2020. The deadline for submission for first-round consideration is February 15, 2021. All completed applications received by the stated deadline will be given first-round consideration. For your file to be considered “complete,” families must have submitted the Additional Information Questionnaire as well as the SSS application and have uploaded the required tax documents.

TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID:

Go to the School and Student Services website by clicking here. Complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) for the 2021-2022 school year.  Country Day's code is 5050.  If you applied for financial aid last year, then log in as a returning family using the email address and password that you set up last year.  There is a $51 fee due upon submission of your PFS which can be paid by credit card.
 
Submit the Additional Information Questionnaire directly to Country Day by February 15, 2021.  You can email your completed form to cldrago@mpcds.com, fax to (504) 849-3170, or mail to the school. You can find this form under Important Downloads. Please email admissions@mpcds.com to request an editable copy, or you may submit your answers to the questions on a separate document. 
 
If this is your first time applying for financial aid, submit a copy of your 2019 income tax return. Tax returns should be uploaded to your SSS account. Tax returns should NOT be emailed to Country Day.
 
Submit the following tax forms directly to SSS before February 15, 2021:
  • 2020 W-2 and/or 1099 forms.  
  • If self-employed, please submit a K-1, Form 1040 Schedule C, or an estimated profit and loss statement.
  • 2020 U.S. Income Tax Returns including all pages and schedules.  We understand that it may be difficult to submit your 2020 U.S. Income Tax Return by February 15. Your file will be considered complete after you submit all of the other requirements. The committee will review your information and make a recommendation on your grant. The deadline for your tax return is April 15. After we receive a copy of your 2020 taxes, we will confirm that the information matches previously submitted data. If it does not match, then the School reserves the right to amend your financial aid award.
NOTE: Prepare your documents for uploading. Make sure the documents are on your computer and each specific form is saved as a separate file. Examples: a) 1 PDF file for the 1040 with all schedules and worksheets included, b) each W2 saved as its own file. Remove any security or password protection from your files. Documents can only be uploaded once you have submitted and paid for your SSS application.

Important Downloads

Other Important Information to Consider:

 
  • The financial aid process and its recipients are meant to be confidential.  The school will not share your information with other families, and we ask that recipients not share information regarding your family’s award with others.  With this in mind, we ask that you not hand-deliver information.  Instead, mail, fax, email, or upload.
  • Financial aid awards do not cover the total cost of tuition.  Awards typically range from 10% of tuition up to 60% for Pre-K and K and up to 80% for Grades 1-12.  Financial aid only covers tuition and does not include fees for lunch, books, bus, and aftercare.    
  • The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of all parents before making a financial aid decision and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses.  All parents – custodial and non-custodial, natural and stepparents – must complete a PFS and submit all required paperwork. Parents who are divorced must submit their judgment outlining each parent's tuition responsibility.
  • Parents who are divorced must submit their judgment outlining each parent's tuition responsibility.
  • The Financial Aid Committee will impute wages for a non-working parent when all children in the household are of school age.
  • Families who cite “unusual circumstances” such as additional expenses incurred for care of elderly parents, medical expenses not covered by insurance, and/or costs associated for student academic support, like tutoring, therapy, etc. should provide proof of such expenses like monthly receipts or invoices.
  • If you obtain an extension for filing your taxes, please contact Cecilia Leon-Drago as soon as possible.
  • A hold on a student’s reenrollment contract for financial, academic, or other reasons may delay his/her financial aid process.
  • In order to receive consideration for financial aid, families who have past due balances with our Business Office will need to discuss a payment plan with Chief Financial Officer Bonnie LaGraize.  Please contact Mrs. LaGraize at (504) 849-3106 or bonnie_lagraize@mpcds.com to discuss your account.   

Admission Contacts

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Cecilia Leon-Drago

    Mrs. Cecilia Leon-Drago 

    Metairie Park Country Day School
    Associate Director of Admission & Director of Financial Aid
    (504) 849-3101
    Loyola University, New Orleans - BA
    University of New Orleans - M Ed

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 9 items.

  • About how much aid would my family qualify for?

    This is not an easy question to determine as each family has different circumstances, but a quick chat with the Director of Financial Aid is a good start.

  • Will my award cover all costs?

    A financial aid award only goes toward tuition.  These awards typically range from 10% of tuition up to 60% for Pre-K and K, and up to 80% for Grades 1-12.  These awards do not include fees for lunch, books, bus, and aftercare.

  • When do we find out if we will receive aid?

    In late March or early April, we will notify each family by mail regarding the outcome of their financial aid application.  If you receive aid, the letter must be signed and returned to demonstrate acceptance of the award.  You will not receive an award letter until your child has enrolled at Country Day.  If your demonstrated financial need cannot be met, your enrollment deposit will be refunded to you.  

  • So, if we demonstrate need, we will receive an award?

    Although we do our best to accommodate as many families as possible with the financial aid funds we have, we cannot guarantee that we can provide your family with its full demonstrated financial need.

  • My 2020 tax return will not be available by February 15, 2021.

    Your file will be considered complete after you submit all of the other requirements.  The committee will review your information and make a recommendation on your grant.  After we receive a copy of your 2020 taxes, we will confirm the information matches previously submitted data. If it does not match, then the School reserves the right to amend your financial aid award.

  • How can co-parents and divorced parents apply?

    The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of all parents before making a financial aid decision and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses.  All parents - custodial and non-custodial, natural and stepparents - must complete a PFS and submit all required paperwork.

  • Do we have to pay the aid back?

    No.  Financial Aid is a grant and does not need to be paid back to the school.

  • I am a stay-at-home parent - is this held against me?

    The Financial Aid Committee will impute wages for a non-working parent when all children in the household are of school age.

  • Still have questions?

    Please call Cecilia Leon-Drago at (504) 849-3101.
300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 837-5204
Established in 1929, Metairie Park Country Day School is a coed private school for New Orleans area students in early childhood through Grade 12. From the elementary grades through upper school, the care and cultivation of each child comes to life in our exciting academic program, creative arts, and competitive athletic offerings.

Notice of Non-Discrimination: Based on receipt of federal financial assistance through a Paycheck Protection Program loan administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CAREs Act, the School acknowledges its obligation to prohibit discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, citizenship status, genetic information, handicap or disability in admissions, access, employment, tuition assistance, educational policies, or other school-administered student and employee programs and activities.  Questions regarding the School’s compliance with the application and administration of the School’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed Mike McGuire, Athletic Director (Title IX), mike_mcguire@mpcds.com, 504-849-3190, 300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005; Jen Sciortino, Director of Academic Excellence (Section 504), jen_sciortino@mpcds.com, 504-838-3304, 300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005; Bonnie LaGraize, Chief Financial Officer (Title IX and Section 504), bonnie_lagraize@mpcds.com, 504-849-3106, 300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005, or to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or to the SBA.  Please refer to the School’s SBA Non-Discrimination Compliance Policy on the School’s website for information on how to file complaints with OCR or the SBA.

This notice will remain in effect until the School has satisfied and paid off the SBA Paycheck Protection Loan.