FINANCIAL AID

Metairie Park Country Day School has a need-based financial aid program for Pre-K through Grade 12, with about 22% of students receiving aid. This program helps ​bridge the gap between what a family can contribute and the total cost of tuition. The deadline for families to submit all financial aid materials for consideration for the 2024-2025 school year is February 9, 2024. 
 
Financial need is not a factor in evaluating applications for admission. Still, new families should indicate on the admission application that they might apply for financial aid 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 a financial aid award amount. All information is reviewed only by the Financial Aid Committee and is held in the strictest confidence. Funds are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis; therefore, it is important to apply for financial aid promptly. 

Families can begin their financial aid application for the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline for submission for first-round consideration is February 9, 2024. All completed applications received by the stated deadline will receive first-round consideration. For your file to be considered “complete,” families must have submitted the Additional Information Questionnaire and the SSS application and have uploaded the required tax documents.
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

Go to the School and Student Services website. Complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) for the 2023-2024 school year. Country Day's code is 5050. If you applied for financial aid last year, log in as a returning family using the email address and password you set up last year. There is a $60 fee due upon submission of your PFS.
 
Submit the Additional Information Questionnaire by February 9, 2024. You can email your completed form to Cecilia Leon-Drago, fax it to (504) 849-3170, or mail it to the School. 
 
If this is your first time applying for financial aid, submit a copy of your 2022 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 9, 2024:
  • 2023 W-2 and/or 1099 forms.  
  • Submit a K-1, Form 1040 Schedule C, or an estimated profit and loss statement if self-employed.
  • 2023 U.S. Income Tax Returns, including all pages and schedules. We understand that submitting your 2023 U.S. Income Tax Return may be difficult by February 9. Your file will be considered complete after submitting all 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 2023 taxes, we will confirm that the information matches previously submitted data. The School reserves the right to amend your financial aid award if it does not match.
Preparing your documents for upload: Make sure the documents are on your computer, and each specific form is saved as a separate 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.
FINANCIAL AID CONSIDERATIONS

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.

The Financial Aid Committee will consider the assets of all parents before making a 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.

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. 

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Cecilia Leon-Drago

    Cecilia Leon-Drago 

    Director of Admission & Financial Aid
    (504) 849-3101
  • Photo of Katie Harris

    Katie Harris 08

    Associate Director of Admission
    (504) 849-3105

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?

    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 does not include fees for lunch, books, bus, or 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 2023 tax return will not be available by February 15, 2024.

    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 2023 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.

Country Day accepts qualified students without regard to race, color, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin.