Financial Aid

Financial Aid Application Deadlines

7th February                                Start accepting Financial Aid applications

28th February                              Deadline for Financial Aid applications for current students.

7th May                                        Deadline for Financial Aid appeals.

To apply, please download the Financial Aid application form for the academic year 2024-2025, and instructions are available at this link in Arabic and English. 

Ramallah Friends School is constantly seeking to balance the cost of attendance with a rigorous and world-class education. Our financial aid policy is rooted in the Quaker values of equality and service and we have a vested interest in maintaining a student body that is representative of the Palestinian society. We understand the cost of attendance can be a financial burden and are committed to working with families to ensure no student is denied access for financial reasons alone.

The Financial Aid Fund serves about 17 percent of the student body and we are actively working to increase this to 25 percent in the coming years. This results in over 220 students receiving over $328,000. This fund supports both students who would otherwise not be able to attend and provides assistance to families experiencing exceptionally difficult circumstances. The Financial Aid Fund also helps to cover a portion of the tuition fees for students of current faculty and staff.

RFS supports students through both General Awards and the Eli and Sybil Jones (ESJ) Awards. The General Award supports families of students who find it difficult to pay fees because of financial hardships and/or increases in their family size. The General Award aims to support families in keeping their children in school and encourage enrollment of additional siblings. Eligible families can receive up to $3,000 in assistance. The ESJ Awards, named after the two New England Quakers instrumental in RFS' founding, are designated for underprivileged families who otherwise would not be able to send their children to school. 100 percent of the tuition is waived for recipients of the ESJ Award. There are currently twelve grantees in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

How are decisions made?

A Financial Aid Committee appointed and headed by RFS Head of School and comprising five members of staff, decides on granting financial aid on a case-by-case basis. Families are expected to formally submit their application for assistance – normally towards the end of February. It is the family’s responsibility to demonstrate financial need through proper financial statements and documentation.

Financial Aid decisions are based on a formula that factors in the comprehensive household income, including expenses. Financial aid documentation must be fully submitted for an application to be considered.

Who are the supporters?

Our supporters are diverse and have become interested in the school through a variety of ways.  Many have been on the donor list for many years. Our main donor constituents come from the Quaker community worldwide who include Quaker Meetings and individuals in the United States, Great Britain, Europe, and as far away as New Zealand and Japan. Alumni and their families have also been generous in supporting our fund. 

Supporters can easily donate tax-deductible gifts when going through our fiscal conduits in the USA and Britain; namely, Friends United Meeting in Indiana and Quaker International Educational Trust (QuIET) in Britain. We encourage supporters to consider an on-going donation in order provide reassurance to students and their families. 

For more information on Financial Aid please contact Jumana Thalji, Financial Aid Coordinator, at jumanathalji@rfs.edu.ps

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