University and college officials affirm that Jackson Academy (JA) students are well-prepared for higher education. JA graduates embody the qualities colleges seek, underscoring the value of a JA diploma.
Cost alone should not impede a child’s access to high-quality education like that at JA. The school is committed to an economically diverse student body and offers need-based tuition assistance (TA) for qualifying families determined by the third-party vendor, School and Student Services (SSS).
Chief Financial Officer Angie Antici, B.B.A., CPA, emphasizes the importance of understanding TA terms. Sometimes, the term “scholarship” is mistakenly used for need-based financial aid, which can create confusion, especially since the independent school process differs from the college system and its terminology. Most independent and parochial schools, including JA and all leading local independent schools, provide need-based financial aid.
Antici also stresses how TA helps all families by impacting the school’s financial health. TA brings in more than $2 million in net revenue that JA would not otherwise have. This revenue helps cover fixed costs, such as faculty and building upkeep, that remain nearly constant regardless of how many students enroll. Allowing families who qualify for need-based TA to pay 60 to 90 percent of tuition is financially more beneficial than having those students not enrolled. Without this $2 million in revenue, the school would have fewer programs, reduced operating funds, and higher costs for all families. Qualifying for TA has also helped full-pay families at times when they faced unexpected financial hardships.
The following overview clarifies the definitions of “recruitment,” “admissions process,” “scholarships,” and “tuition assistance” at JA and directs families to further resources if needed.
Recruitment
Recruitment refers to how the school and Admissions Office present JA to prospective families through invitations, mailouts, and events, including open houses. Every family requesting a tour receives one.
Admissions Process
The admissions process entails testing, application, acceptance, and enrollment, adhering to ethical practices. All students must meet academic standards, and the Admissions Committee evaluates applicants to ensure they are prepared for success at JA. For more information about the admissions process, visit the Admission Process or Admissions pages.
Scholarships
JA does not offer merit or athletic scholarships. The Jernberg Scholarship, reserved exclusively for exceptional academic merit, is currently in the process of building its endowed funds and is not being awarded at this time.
Current students who have attended for at least one year or longer are eligible to be nominated for endowed awards given during the end-of-school Awards Days. These awards, called endowed scholarships, can be viewed in the JA magazine, “True Blue.”
“Endowed awards typically range between $1,000 and $3,000 and are awarded in the spring and then applied once to a student’s account during their next year of attendance,” said Antici. “These 13 to 15 awards, frequently named in memory or honor of a loved one, follow the specific criteria set by the donor who funded the award, such as maintaining a certain GPA or demonstrating citizenship or leadership. Beyond endowed scholarship awards, JA currently offers no awards that could be considered a scholarship.”
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance (TA) is evaluated yearly based on a family’s financial need through the School and Student Services (SSS) application. Only families who submit the SSS application annually are considered for need-based financial aid. This process resembles the FAFSA for college aid. For inquiries, visit the FAQ section on the Tuition Assistance page or contact Tuition Assistance Coordinator Dawn Duncombe directly.
