Financial Aid & Scholarships
Scholarships and Financial Aid:
Mountain Laurel Academy offers needs-based financial assistance to a limited number of qualifying families in an effort to help as many students as possible obtain a quality education. Our program provides a reduction in tuition for qualified students in all grade levels. This assistance is for families who are able to pay a reasonable portion of the tuition but may find it difficult to afford the entire amount*. Financial Aid is an annual reward which must be reapplied for each year. Eligibility and award amount is subject to change year to year, either increasing or decreasing, based on a family’s changing financial situation and available funds through donations to GaSSO.. A separate application and supporting documentation are required to be considered for this program. While admissions decisions are made separately from financial aid consideration, the Board of Directors. Please direct any questions about this program to the MLA staff.
*There are no 100% scholarships and only tuition is covered. Other fees apply.
1. How Scholarships are funded: Scholarships (which supply our Financial Aid funding) are provided through Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GaSSO).
Mountain Laurel Academy partners with Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GaSSO), a state designated Student Scholarship Organization to provide needs-based scholarships for our students. Any scholarships/financial aid awarded by MLA will come from, and be limited to, funds available from this program at the time we consider scholarship applications. We strongly encourage all our families to contribute to this program to whatever extent they are able. The program costs nothing to donors. Instead, you are simply redirecting state taxes you are already paying to a scholarship fund… in exchange for a full tax CREDIT!
All individual and corporate GA taxpayers are eligible to participate in this program.
2. How to apply and donate to GaSSO: Without these donations, there are no scholarships!
Setting up an account and donating (redirecting tax dollars) is a short and easy online process. After participating, you will be provided with a 100% tax credit (100% return of donation when you complete your taxes). The only requirement is that you are a GA taxpayer with some tax liability due the state. You will also be eligible for a federal tax deduction...at no cost.
3. Who should set up a GaSSO account: All MLA families
Even if you are not donating to, or requesting a scholarship from GaSSO, all families need to set up an account through the GaSSO website @ https://go.georgiasso.com/applications/new?school_id=484.
Important: GaSSO provides the vast majority of our funding outside of tuitions. The only way to access these funds is through the program. For anyone to receive the benefits this program provides, they MUST be enrolled in the system. This is true for those receiving any amount of financial aid, as well as those who receive no assistance. Our goal is to keep tuition low, or to reduce tuition costs. You must be enrolled to receive these current and future benefits.
4. To request Financial Aid (Apply to receive a % scholarship):
Families requesting financial assistance will be required to do the following:
1. Request a scholarship through GaSSO (https://go.georgiasso.com/applications/new?school_id=484)
Note: Requesting Financial Aid does not require donating to GaSSO. However, you DO need to register with the program to submit a request.
2. Meet Georgia Department of Education qualification criteria
3. Submit an application and supporting financial documentation to FACTS Management, a third-party organization which processes all financial assistance requests. This ensures that financial aid is directed to those families most in need while maintaining the confidentiality of our applicant’s personal financial information.
*This process may take up to two to three weeks to complete and should be done simultaneously with your enrollment application. Awarding of scholarships will be dependent on FACTS Mgmt. and MLA receiving all the requested documentation, having completed MLA enrollment paperwork, with deposit, and available funds at the time of application. There is no guarantee that a scholarship will be awarded. Final determination will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors of MLA and will be based on available funding, financial need, family circumstances, and date of application.
Additional Information or help with FACTS:
Additional Information regarding GaSSO:
Scholarship requirements: For those receiving Financial Aid
Students receiving financial assistance will be expected to maintain the following base-line requirements:
1. Required attendance: Scholarship students are required to attend classes. Three or more unexcused absences will result in a meeting with student and parents for a reevaluation of the student’s eligibility to continue to receive scholarship assistance. The same rules will apply to a total of 8 or more absences, whether excused or unexcused.
2. Required minimum academic standing: Student must maintain a “B” average (80%+) in all courses. Parents are notified if grades dip below this mark so that corrective action can be taken. Grades which drop below 70% will subject the student to a reevaluation of his, or her, scholarship eligibility.
3. Independent Work: Students are required to spend a minimum number of hours on their “Independent Work Days” completing assigned work (5.5 hrs. for MS, and 6.5 hrs. for HS). Any activities, jobs, or other recurring situations which prevent the student from completing these requirements, may lead MLA to reevaluate the student’s eligibility.