Little Red School House
and Elisabeth Irwin High School

A Pre-K-12 Progressive Education

Admissions

Financial Aid

Our financial aid program’s key purpose is to help families bridge the gap between what they can afford and the cost of tuition. Families from a wide range of income levels have qualified for financial aid and aid is available to students at all grade levels. Financial aid is awarded based on need and the availability of funds. Awards are granted for one year and must be applied for annually. An applicant’s need for financial aid does not affect admission eligibility. Families are notified of awards at the time of acceptance.

Families interested in financial should check the appropriate box on the admissions application. Families must complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) form on the School and Student Services (SSS) website and submit federal tax returns with all schedules for two recent tax years. Both custodial and non-custodial parents must complete the PFS forms and submit tax information. If only one parent is legally and/or financially responsible for the applicant, supporting documentation must be provided. Additional tax documentation is also required for business owners and self-employed individuals. All financial information is kept confidential and is only shared with the financial aid committee.

The deadline for submission of all materials to LREI is December 15, 2024. Due to the high volume of requests, it is critical that families submit all requested materials in a timely manner. Financial aid awards are communicated in conjunction with acceptance notification according to the Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York (ISAAGNY) guidelines.

If you have any questions, please contact Michele Blackwell, Director of Financial Aid at 212-477-5316, ext 307 or mblackwell@lrei.org.

Click the links below to learn more:

List of 3 items.

The Financial Aid Process
- We require families applying for financial aid to complete the School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) form online.
- The 2025-2026 PFS form becomes available September 1, 2024 on the SSS Family Portal. New users should create an account. Returning users can login as instructed.
- The LREI school code is 4664.
- The deadline for submission of materials is December 15, 2024.
Applicants must fully complete the PFS, including estimates for 2024 income. Please provide additional details for any line items that require explanation and to clarify any unusual family circumstances. There is an application fee for each PFS which is submitted directly to SSS.

For questions not answered by SSS online instructions, contact the SSS Helpline at 800-344-8328 or sssandtadsfa@communitybrands.com. Phone support is available 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST Monday- Friday

The PFS form and instructions are also available in Spanish on the SSS website.
Key Financial Aid Information
- Families that enroll at LREI without Financial Aid are not eligible to apply for Aid until three years of attendance have elapsed. Families who are already attending the school will be asked to demonstrate a change in financial circumstances. Priority for Aid dollars will be given to those families who can demonstrate a significant change, however Financial Aid is not guaranteed to any student.
- All financial information submitted is kept confidential.
- Financial Aid decisions are made independently of Admissions decisions.
- Decisions regarding aid awards are based solely on financial need.
- Parent and student assets are considered in determining financial aid.
- The cost for Afterschool is offered at a discounted rate to families receiving financial aid.
- For new applicants to LREI, aid cannot be considered unless all financial obligations from previous schools have been paid in full.
An application fee reduction code is available to all applicants upon request. Applicants from partner programs will receive a fee waiver. Please submit all waiver and reduction requests by email to mblackwell@lrei.org.
Required Documents
All tax documentation as listed below should be uploaded to the SSS website:
2022 United States 1040 form(s) and all schedules
2023 United States 1040 form(s) and all schedules
2023 State Tax Return
2024 W-2 forms (by February 1, 2025)
Please be aware that additional IRS documentation (IRS 1065, 1120S or K-1) is required for business owners.
All parents are expected to complete a PFS for the assessment of financial need. Non-custodial parents (i.e. the parent with whom the child does not reside) should complete a separate PFS with SSS and upload similar documentation as listed above.