FAQs

List of 16 frequently asked questions.

• ¿Necesita ayuda en español?

  Por favor llame a Julieta Girbal al (310) 873-7031 o escribe por correo electrónico a jgirbal@archer.org.

• Does applying for Flexible Tuition affect an application for admission?

  No. The Admissions Committee considers an applicant based on her own merit. A family’s financial situation is not discussed in admissions deliberations. The Flexible Tuition Committee is charged with assessing the financial strength of those students’ families accepted through the admissions process.

• If I do not apply for Flexible Tuition at the time of my daughter’s application to Archer, would I be able to apply in subsequent years?

  Yes. However, the likelihood of receiving Flexible Tuition would be significantly reduced. Archer strives to maintain stability and equity by allocating and dispersing Flexible Tuition evenly throughout the grade levels. While our Flexible Tuition Committee will accept and review your application, you should be aware that our budget will have been set based upon our commitment to fund students already in the Flexible Tuition Program from the prior year. This typically leaves little room for adding additional participants in the Flexible Tuition Program. Our expectation is that if you know you will need to apply for Flexible Tuition in future years, you will not enroll your child for the first year without it.

• Will every admitted student eligible for Flexible Tuition receive it?

  Unfortunately, no. Every year there are more applicants for Flexible Tuition than available funds. Archer is unable to provide Flexible Tuition to every qualified student. However, qualified students who do not initially receive it are placed in a Flexible Tuition wait-pool in the hopes that funds become available.

• What happens if my daughter is accepted by the Admissions Committee, we qualify for Flexible Tuition but no Flexible Tuition funds are available (we are in the Flexible Tuition wait-pool)?

  If you are able to secure full tuition and fees for your daughter’s first year at Archer, you will be expected to do so for her remaining years. If you are not able to secure funds or a loan on your own, the school continues to be unable to offer Flexible Tuition that matches your family’s financial strength, and the enrollment deadline has passed, the Admissions Office will release the admission space and fill it with a student waiting in the Admissions wait-pool.

• Who receives Flexible Tuition?

  To be eligible for Flexible Tuition consideration, a family must submit a complete Flexible Tuition application by the deadline of December 16, 2024, for current and applicant families, qualify for need-based Flexible Tuition, and match available Flexible Tuition. During the 2024-2025 academic year, nearly twenty percent of Archer’s student body will benefit from the Flexible Tuition Program. Recipients come from families with a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

• How are Flexible Tuition applications handled in situations where parents are separated, divorced, remarried, or cohabitants?

  Flexible Tuition will not be considered unless complete financial information is received from both parents. Both parents are required to fill out a Flexible Tuition application completely. It is expected that both parents and all adults financially responsible for a student contribute to the cost of a student’s education regardless of legal agreements. The Flexible Tuition Committee does not feel bound by the assertion that one parent disclaims responsibility for educational expenses.

• How is a Flexible Tuition application handled if one parent does not work?

  If a family has children over the age of six, it is expected that both parents are employed. If one parent chooses not to work, then a full-time income at minimum wage ($17.28/hour or $35,942 annually) will be imputed to that parent for purposes of Flexible Tuition calculations.

• Is Flexible Tuition automatically renewed each year?

  Archer supports the continued attendance of students through graduation, pending annual demonstration of continued need. A family currently in the Flexible Tuition Program must reapply for it each subsequent year. Typically, Flexible Tuition applications are available in September and must be submitted by mid-December for current families. Given the same financial circumstances, a family can expect to contribute generally the same amount toward an Archer education plus the annual tuition percentage increase.

• Do we have to pay back our Flexible Tuition?

  Flexible Tuition funds are distributed by the School from a fixed budget that is provided by investments and annual contributions from Archer alumni, parents, and friends. Flexible Tuition need not be repaid. However, in the spirit of our founding, there is a general expectation that alumni who received Flexible Tuition as students will eventually contribute to the school to allow future generations to experience the same opportunities.

• How can I be assured that my information is kept confidential?

  A Flexible Tuition application is a confidential process between the School and family. Decisions are based on thorough investigations of a family’s personal financial matters—information to which the public is not privy. In turn, we expect families to exercise discretion during the Flexible Tuition process and not discuss their Flexible Tuition application or approved Flexible Tuition with other families. 
  
  Archer takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 and uses enterprise-level security standards including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. For more information, please refer to Clarity’s Privacy Policy.

• What if I know of a family who is struggling with the cost of an Archer education but may not want to contact the School?

  Encourage that family to contact the School so they can find out if applying for Flexible Tuition is right for them.

• What if I get behind in my tuition payments and decide to apply for flexible tuition or reapply for continued Flexible Tuition?

  Tuition accounts for currently enrolled students must be in good standing with the Business Office to receive Flexible Tuition. If you are in financial arrears with the Business Office, Flexible Tuition will not be considered. All families are required to meet payment schedules under the terms of the Enrollment Agreement, a legally-binding document. Failure to do so may result in dismissal. Archer looks for financial responsibility and commitment to education.

• Is preference given to any particular group?

  While currently enrolled Archer students receive priority, no other outside factor affects the distribution of Flexible Tuition. However, any qualified Flexible Tuition application completed after our deadline of December 16, 2024, for current and applicant families, will automatically be placed in the Flexible Tuition wait-pool.

• How is financial strength determined?

  The most significant factors are:
  
  

  • Family assets: income, home equity, savings accounts, stocks, investment properties
  • Indebtedness
  • Family size
  • Number of children in tuition charging elementary and secondary* schools

  
  *Students in college have many more resources available to them. We determine that college-age students can take advantage of those resources (includes working, student loans and scholarships).

• What does Flexible Tuition cover?

  In addition to receiving Flexible Tuition towards tuition and mandatory fees, the same percentage of Flexible Tuition applies to primary expenses for Arrow Week, school uniforms (via voucher), one set of fitness uniforms (two t-shirts, two shorts, sweatshirt and sweatpants), one full set of required textbooks and one student planner.
  
  Expenses Included in Flexible Tuition Award