1. Financial Assistance - Affording a BPC Education (2010-11)

The main goal of the Financial Assistance Program at Black Pine Circle is to provide tuition assistance for students and families who cannot otherwise afford a BPC education.  Approximately 30% of our families receive financial assistance.  Scholarships are awarded to families from various income levels.  In past years, awards ranged from 5% to 75% of tuition.


Black Pine Circle School’s Financial Assistance Program offers need-based scholarships that cover tuition costs.  In addition to tuition assistance, field trips, extended day care, and after school classes and clubs, will be subsidized at approximately the same level as the awarded scholarship.


Our admissions decisions remain separate from financial assistance decisions.All financial aid information provided during the admission process is confidential.

  1. Application Process & Deadlines

  1. 1.Complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS)

  2. As with many other independent schools in the area, we utilize the service of the School and Student Services (SSS) by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).  SSS by NAIS provides an objective and consistent method of determining a family’s ability to contribute to educational expenses.  All families must complete the application form called the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). You can apply online at the NAIS website (http://www.sss.nais.org). To request a printed PFS application form, please contact our Admissions Office.  The PFS forms are normally available in November.

  1. 3. Submit Black Pine Circle’s Financial Assistance Form of Intent

  2. Please mail the form to to Black Pine Circle School directly (Attn:  Business Office, 2027 7th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710) no later than Friday, January 14, 2011 (for currently enrolled Black Pine Circle School students).or by Friday, February 4, 2011 (for new applicants).

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Contact: (click to email)

Faye Wu, Admissions Director

Via Phone: 510-644-1023 ex 14

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Financial Assistance

Other Resources:

There are several private organizations that award need-based scholarships to students entering private school whose families meet maximum income requirements.  Contact each organization individually for more information.


  1. ★Guardsmen Scholarship Fund

(415) 856-0939


  1. ★Independent Scholarship Fund

(510) 632-1366, x144


  1. ★The BASIC Fund

(415) 986-5650


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BPC Financial Assistance Workshop:

  1. To gain more information, attend the Black Pine Circle School’s Financial Assistance Workshop on Thursday, December 9, 2010  at 7:00 in the evening in the library.  This workshop will provide families with information on various resources and an overview of Black Pine Circle School’s financial assistance process.

BPC Curriculum Brochure

Each year the Board of Directors determines the level of financial assistance funds available. Since there is a finite dollar amount of funds available for financial assistance, the application process is time-sensitive and materials must be received by the deadlines noted.  If these deadlines are not met, we will be unable to consider your application.  New applications must re-submitted each year.

  1. Application Requirements

Questions? Please contact Bill Shea, Business Manager, at (510) 644-1023 x 13 or

email:  Bill Shea for all financial aid related questions.

  1. 2.Submit the Parent’s Financial Statement to SSS.

  2. To be considered for financial assistance, you must file the PFS no later than January 14, 2011 (for currently enrolled Black Pine Circle students), or by February 4, 2011 (for new applicants). You may use the PFS for more than one school; just remember to include BPC as a recipient of their report (BPC code is 1710).

4. Submit all supporting financial aid materials, including 2009 and 2010 tax returns  with W-2s and schedules to SSS by NAIS no later than Friday, April 1, 2011.


School and Student Services’ mailing address:

SSS by NAIS

PO Box 449

Randolph, MA 02368


5.  Notification of a financial assistance award for new students will be sent along with the enrollment agreement on March 11, 2011.