Financial Aid
Christ Lutheran offers financial aid through a Tuition Assistance Program to assist families in giving their kindergarten through eighth grade children an excellent Christ-centered academic education. It is our way of meeting the needs of families who wish to send their children to CLS but cannot afford the full tuition amount.
Families seeking financial aid will file an application through Independent School Management’s FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition) program. FAST provides Christ Lutheran with a need-based financial aid analysis service allowing us to allocate our resources wisely and fairly. All information from FAST is kept confidential as is all information pertaining to a family’s financial aid request.
The FAST Program may be accessed by clicking on the link below. The process is self-guided. A Parent User Guide is downloadable directly from the application site. You may navigate in and out of the program, allowing you to partially complete an application and go back to it at another time. Online email and a 24/7 helpline is also provided. A copy of your 2016 tax return should be mailed directly to FAST. Envelopes are available in the school office.
Click FAST for Financial Aid for School Tuition
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost to apply for tuition assistance?
Yes, FAST charges $38 (non-refundable) to process your application.
What are the accepted payment methods?
FAST accepts American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. (Discover card is not accepted.) If you do not have either of these cards, please contact CLS to obtain a payment voucher to use in place of a credit card. If the filing fee presents a hardship to you, please contact CLS.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, the deadline is April 15 for current families and May 15 for new families.
How is the tuition assistance amount determined?
Christ Lutheran School has partnered with FAST as our third-party, confidential, needs-assessment company. Your financial information will be sent directly to them for analysis. The school then uses the recommendation from FAST and grants assistance as it is able. CLS has a restricted amount of aid available. It is possible that families may qualify for more than CLS is able to award.
What happens after I have completed the application?
Your information is immediately calculated and the recommended award is communicated to the school. However, awards may not be made until all applications are in, and they are often contingent upon the funds available and the number of families requesting aid. CLS will notify you directly about its financial aid decision via mail after April 15 for current families and May 15 for new families.
What if the tuition assistance is not enough?
You are able to indicate your family willl not return to CLS. Please contact the school office to speak with the principal about your intentions. Once the child begins school, the registration fee is non-refundable. The $38 FAST processing fee is non-refundable.
I don’t have a computer or an email address. What do I do?
Most public libraries have computers with Internet access available for use. If this is not practical, contact CLS about using one of our computers. Before you start the application, you will need an email address. Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail (among others) offer free email service. Follow the directions for setting up a new email account.