Affording GMS

The Girls’ Middle School strives to be an inclusive and equitable community that is accessible to everyone. An integral part of our mission is to develop a student body from diverse backgrounds, including families from all income levels.

To achieve this goal, we offer two types of tuition assistance: Financial Aid and The Bennett Scholars Program. These two tuition assistance programs allow families in a variety of financial circumstances to afford the cost of attending GMS. Approximately 28% of our students participate in one of our tuition assistance programs.

We encourage all families to learn more about these programs and contact our office with any questions. We are committed to enrolling students from all backgrounds and we make admission decisions independent of a student’s application for financial assistance.

Tuition

GMS tuition in the 2022-23 academic year is $42,700. After-school sports and homework club, course textbooks, and all school trips are included in tuition. Additional costs not included in tuition include a one-time technology fee for the student laptop, school uniforms, hot lunch, shuttle transportation from CalTrain, and some after school extracurricular classes offered by outside organizations.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is a need-based assistance program providing tuition assistance to families who need help covering a portion of the GMS tuition. Financial aid awards are determined based on financial need and the number of financial aid applicants each year. Awards typically range from $5,000 to $35,000.

If the tuition does not look affordable to you, it may be worth your time and effort to apply for financial aid for your daughter’s education. Even if you are a homeowner or you think your income is too high to qualify for financial aid, you may still be eligible. 

You can learn more about financial aid by reviewing these FAQs about Financial Aid or attending our Financial Aid Information Session on December 8, 2022. Register for this event on Ravenna.

The Bennett Scholars Program

While at GMS, in addition to tuition, we provide Bennett Scholars with laptops, lunches, uniforms, one-on-one tutoring, and the costs of all trips and material expenses. We know that families face barriers beyond financial need. Bennett Scholar families are offered an array of additional support, ranging from transportation and language interpretation to counseling and mentorship. Our Bennett Scholars receive testing and application support in applying to high school, and graduates receive support and tutoring to prepare for college applications.

To Apply

To apply for financial assistance either through the Financial Aid or The Bennett Scholars Program, families must submit the following forms to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) School and Student Services by February 3, 2023.

• Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) 
• Tax returns and W2’s for the past and current year

We will host a Financial Aid Information Session on December 8, 2022. Please register through the Ravenna system. A reminder email about applying for financial assistance will be sent to all GMS applicants on January 6, 2023.

If you have questions about Financial Aid, please contact Sue Kramer at 650-968-8338 x123

To learn more about The Bennett Scholars Program, please contact María Pérez at 650-968-8338 x102.