Admissions

Affording Archer

Our Commitment to Access

Archer is committed to ensuring socioeconomic diversity in the student body and recognizes that tuition and fees are a large financial commitment for families. For many, it’s a significant barrier for entry. While it is the School's philosophy that the family bears the primary responsibility for supporting the education of their daughter, we have a Flexible Tuition Program in which interested families can apply for a “flexed” tuition based on their financial picture. The Program entails an assessment of the family’s ability to pay independent school tuition, determines if a family is eligible, and then reduces the tuition and fees required to enroll based on the amount a family can pay. 

Tuition & Fees (Current Year)

List of 4 items.

  • $43,275

    Tuition

  • $4,350

    Transportation, Services & Facility Fee (includes 1 to 1 Laptop Program)

  • $3,500

    New Student Fee (one time only)

  • Other Estimated Costs

    Books: $300-$600
    Uniforms: $150-$450
    Field Trips/Activities: $100-$300

Making Archer Possible: Flexible Tuition

For the 2020-2021 school year, Archer awarded more than $4.2 million in Flexible Tuition. Archer recognizes that tuition and fees constitute a substantial financial commitment, and for many it can present a significant barrier to entry. Therefore, we offer a Flexible Tuition program, which includes an assessment of the family’s ability to pay independent school tuition, determines if a family is eligible, and then adjusts the tuition and fees required to enroll based on the amount a family can pay.

Archer considers the following factors to determine a family's financial strength and, therefore, a Flexible Tuition grant.

Assets

Family assets may include: taxable wages, if self- employed, income drawn as salary but not included as business profit, taxable dividend and/or interest income, alimony received, pensions, annuities, rent, royalties, estates or trusts, household expenses paid by separated or divorced spouse in lieu of alimony, unemployment compensation, capital gains, taxable IRA distributions, Keogh plan payments, profits from a business, child support received, Social Security benefits, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments and student income/assets.

Expenses & Debt

Typical expenses and debts: educational expenses, encumbrances against home, medical/dental expenses, debts for investments, prolonged illness, unemployment, past business debts, uninsured natural disasters, past funeral expenses, legal fees, nursing home/assisted living care, closing costs for home purchases/refinancing, child support, costs for a child with special needs, and child care.

Non-Working Parent

If all children in a family are over the age of six, it is expected that both parents will be employed. If one parent chooses not to work, we input a full-time income at minimum wage ($12.00/ hour or $24,960) to that parent for the purposes of calculating Flexible Tuition.

Filing Status

If all children in a family are over the age of six, it is expected that both parents will be employed. If one parent chooses not to work, we input a full-time income at minimum wage ($12.00/ hour or $24,960) to that parent for the purposes of calculating Flexible Tuition.


Important Dates

The deadline to apply is December 15, 2020 for current Archer families and January 15, 2021 for applicant families.

For more detailed information or any questions, please contact Jessica McCullagh at jmccullagh@archer.org.

View the Flexible Tuition Workshop

Steps to Apply

List of 4 items.

  • 1. FAST Application

    All families interested in receiving a Flexible Tuition grant must complete a Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) online application. The application must be completed by the application deadline (December 15, 2020 for current families and January 15, 2021 for applicant families).

    Please click on the link below to start the FAST online application. Refer to the FAST Parent User Guide for instructions on how to navigate the online application. The 24/7 Customer Service phone number is (877) 326-FAST.

    FAST Website

  • 2. Monthly Budget Worksheet

    In addition to completing the FAST online application, all families must submit a Monthly Budget Worksheet to FAST by the December 15, 2020 (current families) and January 15, 2021 (applicant families) deadlines.

    Please download and complete the Monthly Budget Worksheet and scan or mail to FAST at the following address:
    FAST Processing ISM
    1316 North Union Street
    Wilmington, DE 19806-2594

    Please write “The Archer School for Girls” on the outside of the envelope to ensure faster processing of your application.

  • 3. Federal and State Income Tax Returns

    In addition to completing the FAST online application, families not currently participating in the Flexible Tuition program must submit 2019 federal and state income tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and all schedules including K-1 to FAST by January 15, 2021.

    All families must submit 2020 federal and state income tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and all schedules including K-1s to FAST when available but no later than April 15, 2021.

    Please scan or mail tax documents to FAST at the following address:

    FAST Processing ISM
    1316 North Union Street
    Wilmington, DE 19806-2594 

    Please write “The Archer School for Girls” on the outside of the envelope to ensure faster processing of your application.

  • 4. IRS Form 4506

    In addition to completing the FAST online application, all families must submit IRS Form 4506 to FAST by the January 15, 2021 deadline. Archer will notify a family if Form 4506 is submitted to the IRS. Archer will also pay the fee for processing.

    Please download and fill out IRS Form 4506. The form should be signed but not dated. Please scan or mail to FAST at the following address:

    FAST Processing ISM
    1316 North Union Street
    Wilmington, DE 19806-2594 

    Please write “The Archer School for Girls” on the outside of the envelope to ensure faster processing of your application.

Resources

The Archer School for Girls admits students of any race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other legally protected status in its hiring or in the administration of its educational policies and programs, admissions policies, financial aid programs or other school-administered programs. SBA Equal Opportunity | Title IX Facts

The Archer School for Girls’ mission is to educate students in an environment specifically designed for girls. As such, the school will consider any candidate for admission who identifies as a girl. Once admitted to Archer, all students in good academic standing who abide by Archer’s code of conduct and who meet requirements for graduation will be eligible to receive an Archer diploma, regardless of any change in sexual identity or other legally protected status.