Private Education: An Investment in Your Child's Future

List of 5 items.

• Dawson's Financial Aid Guidelines

  Need-based financial aid

  Financial aid grants are based upon a family’s need as determined by the School’s Financial Aid Committee. 

  
  

  Separated, divorced, or never-married parents

  Dawson believes each natural parent has a responsibility to pay for the education of their child(ren). In the event a student’s parents are separated, divorced or never married, Dawson requires that each parent complete a financial aid application. The Financial Aid Committee does not feel bound by the assertion, if it is made, that one parent disclaims responsibility for educational expenses. Please note: Parents can be assured that all financial information received from one parent will not be shared with the other. 

  
  

  Additional children

  Dawson’s Financial Aid Committee, in coordination with FACTS, does take into account other children attending tuition-charging schools, including college; Dawson expects that a family with children attending other tuition-charging schools will also apply for financial assistance at those schools. The Financial Aid Committee believes that, in general, no consideration of financial assistance should be given to students whose parents pay full tuition for siblings at other institutions.

  
  

  Parents who have no contact with their child(ren)

  In instances where one parent is the sole provider and receives no other financial support, it is expected that a third party provide written documentation to that fact.

  
  

  Lifestyle choices

  Dawson’s financial aid program does take certain lifestyle choices into account before offering tuition assistance (i.e., second homes, boats, luxury cars, country club memberships, vacations, parental higher education, etc.). The Financial Aid Committee is unable to provide financial assistance to subsidize lifestyle choices. The Financial Aid Committee may contact you for more detailed information to ensure it has complete understanding of your family’s financial situation.

  
  

  Parents who do not work

  The Financial Aid Committee respects the value of having a parent at home full-time with infants, toddlers, and the elderly or infirmed. In a case where all other children are in school, it is expected that the non-working parent become employed to be considered for financial assistance. If not, the Financial Aid Committee will impute an appropriate salary in its considerations.

  
  

  Retirement and college accounts

  Our process acknowledges a family’s need to save for retirement and/or college within reason, but excessive assets may impact the Financial Aid Committee’s decision to award assistance.

  
  

  Additional information about applying for financial aid through FACTS can be found here:

  https://factsmgt.com/parent-resources/grant-and-aid/

• Tuition and Financial Aid FAQs

  How does The Alexander Dawson School determine financial aid?
  The Alexander Dawson School and its accrediting body, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), work within defined principles of good practice. From these principles, independent schools are given latitude as to what guidelines inform and determine financial aid decisions. Dawson has established specific financial aid guidelines that keep family contributions equitable and consistent. Evaluating need: Many aspects of a family's financial situation are considered, including:

  - the incomes of both parents (taxable and non-taxable)
  - the assets held by the family as a unit
  - the number of dependents
  - the number of children attending tuition-charging schools
  
  

  Does The Alexander Dawson School give academic, artistic, or athletic scholarships?

  No. All financial aid grants are based upon a family’s demonstrated financial need.

  
  

  What fees, after tuition, can I expect to pay?

  Tuition does not include the cost of uniforms, before or after-school care, enrichment classes, etc. A student receiving financial aid from the School will receive an award of the same percentage amount toward the overall cost of our Middle School traveling field trips.  

  
  

  What if my tax return is not available by the deadline?

  The Alexander Dawson School will use prior-year tax returns, like many colleges and other independent schools. To be eligible for the priority consideration window for returning families, you must upload your filed or unfiled 2022 tax return by March 13, 2023. If your unfiled 2022 tax return is not available by these deadlines, The Alexander Dawson School may not be able to offer financial aid for the 2023-2024 school year. All awards are subject to change pending 2022 tax verification through IRS transcript once returns are filed.

  
  

  Do I need to repay financial aid?

  No. All financial aid funds distributed by The Alexander Dawson School are provided as grants and thus, are not repaid.

  
  

  What is used to determine if I will qualify for financial aid? 

  FACTS’ financial aid application provides the School with a calculation to determine how much a family can afford to pay in tuition. Many aspects of a family's financial situation are considered, including:

  - the incomes of both parents (taxable and non-taxable)
  - the assets held by the family as a unit
  - the number of dependents
  - the number of children attending tuition-charging schools
  
  

  Do I need to re-apply for financial aid every year? 

  Families must submit a new financial aid application, tax return, and all pertinent schedules and forms each year. It is expected that families are responsible for annual tuition increases as dictated by The Alexander Dawson School’s Board of Trustees.
  
  

  Is there a military discount? 

  Yes, a family with a parent who is active duty military or retired after career service is eligible for a 10% discount without regard to financial aid need.

• Military Discount & Scholarships

  A family with a parent who is active duty military or retired after career service is eligible for a 10% discount without regard to financial aid need.
  
  Other Scholarships
  

  • Folds of Honor Children's Fund

• Windsong Trust Grant

  Generously established by Windsong Trust in 2012 (for the 2012-2013 school year), the Medical Service Providers Tuition Assistance Fund provides 70 percent tuition funding for qualified children of employees of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. 

• Ozmun Scholarship

  Dawson accepts applications for rising fifth or sixth-grade students for the Donald B. Ozmun Scholarship for Personal Excellence. 
  
  The Ozmun Scholarship is open only to children of employees of any Southern Nevada police, fire or EMT department or company. It covers 80% of Dawson tuition for up to four years. 
  
  The cost of Middle School trips is not covered by the Ozmun Scholarship. Families who qualify for financial aid will receive that percentage of assistance applied to the cost of any Middle School trip. Ozmun Scholarship winners will also get up to $500 a year to cover the cost of uniforms.
  
  We encourage driven, committed and mission-appropriate students to apply. Ozmun Scholarship Applicants must complete the regular admission process. In addition, they must compose a 300 to 500-word essay on the topic of “What does a lifetime of personal and academic excellence mean to me?”
  
  Applicants who are selected as semi-finalists will be interviewed by Dawson’s Ozmun Scholarship Committee.
  
  For questions regarding the Ozmun Scholarship, please contact Krista Jacobsen, Director of Admissions, at (702) 949-3600, or by email at kjacobsen@adsrm.org.