NYHS Day School Affordability FAQ
Who qualifies for a Samis Day School Affordability Grant?
Any family who makes up to $350,000 a year will qualify for the Day School Affordability Initiative. Never pay more than $16,350 per student or 15% of your adjusted gross income, whichever is less.
Want to know if your family qualifies? Find out in just minutes with this quick and anonymous ELIGIBILITY ESTIMATOR
What is Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)?
You will find your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) on line 11 of your 1040 tax return.
My kid(s) already attends NYHS and we have already signed a continuous enrollment agreement. Can I still apply for a DSA grant?
Yes! Both current and incoming NYHS families may be eligible to receive reduced tuition for the 2025/2026 school year. If you have already signed a continuous enrollment agreement, and you qualify for the DSA grant, your enrollment agreement will be adjusted accordingly. DSA grants can be renewed annually and there is no limit on the number of years of eligibility. Want to know if your family qualifies? Find out in just minutes with this quick and anonymous ELIGIBILITY ESTIMATOR
What about my children who go to other Jewish Day Schools in the Seattle area? Will they qualify?
The Day School Affordability Initiative not only funds NYHS grants for those who qualify, but also funds grants for other Jewish Day Schools. You can find a complete list at https://samisfoundation.org/jewish-schools/. You only have to apply one time if you have multiple children that qualify from different schools.
How do I apply?
Click HERE to apply. The application will take 10 minutes. Please have your 2023 tax return and W-2 available. Once your eligibility is confirmed and your DSA grant has been determined, you will be notified by NYHS.
What does the tuition cap mean?
Eligibility is based on income, plus the number of children you have in tuition-charging schools. The purpose of the cap is to ensure that eligible families pay no more than $16,350 per student or 15% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) per year, whichever is less. It does not change if you have one, two, or three students enrolled.
By capping household tuition, the benefits of a Samis Day School Affordability grant may grow with the number of children enrolled, depending on your AGI. For example, a family making $140,000 annually may find that the calculator sets their household tuition cap, based on percent of AGI, at $21,000. That is the annual total the family would pay at Samis-supported Jewish day schools. But the program also caps tuition at $16,350 per student, so in this case, here’s how costs would be calculated based on the number of children enrolled:
- With one child enrolled, the family would pay $16,350, regardless of the school’s set tuition.
- With two children enrolled, tuition is $10,500 per student ($10,500 x 2 = $21,000).
- With three children enrolled, tuition is $7,000 per student ($7,000 x 3 = $21,000).
Again, results will vary depending on your AGI. To find out how much you would pay, please use the ELIGIBILITY ESTIMATOR
Are there other factors that will change adjusted gross income?
Yes. The one-page application will ask additional questions that may modify your family’s adjusted gross income. Day School Affordability will take into account parsonage, alimony, and child support that’s not on your tax return, tax-exempt interest, and retirement contributions in excess of $6,000 per participant as well as tuition paid at all schools, early childhood through college.
Will grant eligibility be determined by the value of our home or other fixed assets?
Your eligibility calculation is not affected by assets and liabilities, such as your home’s value or mortgage.
Once we qualify, how long can we expect Day School Affordability grants to last?
You can expect Day School Affordability grants to be available throughout all years your student is enrolled in NYHS. Your family’s eligibility would not change if your financial situation remains consistent. The Samis Foundation has built in increasing levels of support to account for tuition increases each year.
What if I have a child in NYHS and one in another independent, tuition-charging school?
The tuition support available to your family will be calculated based on your adjusted gross income (AGI) and number of children in any tuition-paying schools. This program provides tuition support for any child enrolled in a Samis-supported Washington State Jewish day school. For example, a family with 3 children in tuition-paying schools is eligible for a $37,500 tuition cap based on their AGI, but only one child attends a Samis-supported day school. In this case, the family pays just $12,500 for day school tuition (one-third of the cap). Tuition for the other children would be determined by their respective schools.
Do these grants disqualify our family from other scholarships?
Day School Affordability grants are given to families whose adjusted gross income (AGI) may preclude them from traditional scholarships and are available to any family earning less than $350,000. If your family is already qualified for or currently receiving a traditional tuition scholarship through FAST, you may find the Day School Affordability program results in lower tuition for your child. We will automatically calculate your tuition under Day School Affordability if you apply for a traditional scholarship and your tuition will be the lesser of the calculations.
What’s the difference between a Day School Affordability grant and a Traditional Tuition Assessment scholarship?
Traditional Tuition Assessment through the FAST program is an individualized assessment for families. For decades, the Samis Foundation has ensured that families who qualify for Traditional Tuition Assessment scholarships receive financial aid to reduce the burden of Jewish day school tuition. If your income falls below $175,000 per year, a Traditional Tuition Assessment scholarship may reduce your tuition more than the DSA.
In contrast, Day School Affordability (DSA) grants are designed to help families whose income is often too high for a Traditional Tuition Assessment scholarship, and therefore would not have qualified for any form of assistance in the past. With DSA grants, Samis' goal is to relieve the burden on Jewish families who want to give their children the lifelong benefits of a Jewish Day School eductaion.
For additional information please email admissions@nyhs.org