Financial Aid
Apply now for the 2024-2025 academic year
- November 1, 2023 Application Process Opens
- February 15, 2024 Deadline to Apply
- February 23, 2024 First round of award decision letters Emailed
- March 8, 2024 First round award letters to be accepted
*Applications submitted after February 15, 2024, are not guaranteed consideration.
We recognize that the full cost of tuition at Pope John Paul II Preparatory School is beyond the means of some outstanding students and families. To make Pope Prep affordable to as broad a range of families as possible, we provide tuition assistance to families who demonstrate financial need. A separate application for financial aid is necessary and is reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee, which is independent of the Admissions Committee. Pope Prep's admissions decisions are "need-blind," and the Admissions Committee makes acceptance decisions well before the financial aid process begins.
The deadline to apply for financial aid for the 2024-2025 academic year is February 15, 2024.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pope Prep Financial Aid Process
1. How do I apply for financial aid?
Families need to complete an online financial aid application and $40 fee with FACTS Tuition and Aid at www.factstuitionaid.com.
2. Do you have a formula explaining who qualifies for aid based on income?
No. The Financial Aid Committee reviews each family individually. Every family’s circumstances are different, and we feel it is best to consider all factors that impact a family’s ability to pay for private education.
3. If I haven’t received my 2023 W2, should I wait to complete the online financial aid application?
No. It is essential to begin the financial aid process as soon as possible. By starting the process with the online application, the Financial Aid Committee can include you in their preliminary plans.
4. Do you make admissions decisions based on FACTS demonstrated need?
No. Pope Prep's admissions decisions are “need-blind.”
5. Do you grant full-tuition awards?
No. Every family pays a portion of tuition and fees.
6. Do you award athletic or academic scholarships?
No. Pope Prep does not award scholarships based on athletics. Pope Prep awards a limited number of merit scholarships, independent of need, for those who are exceptional students as determined by national test scores and academic records. For more information, visit the Scholarships tab.
7. Are you required to comply with TSSAA?
Yes. Pope Prep is required to report to TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) any athlete receiving financial aid, what their demonstrated need is, and the amount of financial aid they are receiving.
8. When will I receive notice of a financial aid decision?
Financial Aid decision letters will be Emailed to families meeting the February 15, 2024 deadline on February 23, 2024. Families must accept or decline the award by March 8, 2024.
9. If I don’t receive the amount of financial aid I need, can I appeal the Financial Aid Committee’s decision?
Yes. You can contact Vicki Dorr at (615) 590-6010 (vicki.dorr@popeprep.org) to begin the appeals process.
Required Documentation
This is a list of documents/information that will be needed to complete the FACTS Grant & Aid application. If you have questions or technical difficulties when completing the application, please contact FACTS at 1-866-315-9262. GO TO www.factstuitionaid.com to complete the application.
DOCUMENTS TO UPLOAD TO YOUR FACTS APPLICATION
- 2023 W2s for both the applicant and co-applicant. NOTE: If you are applying before you have received all the current year W2s, please submit them as soon as they become available.
- 2022 Federal tax return and all supporting schedules/forms. NOTE: If the applicant and co-applicant file separately, we require both tax returns for the same tax year.
- 2022 supporting tax documents if you have business income/loss from any of the following:
- Business - send Schedule C or C-EZ and Form 4562 Depreciation and Amortization
- Farm - send Schedule F and Form 4562 Depreciation and Amortization
- Rental Property - send Schedule E (page 1)
- S-Corporation - send Schedule E (page 2), Form 1120S (5 pages), Schedule K-1 and Form 8825
- Partnership - send Schedule E (page 2), Form 1065 (5 pages), Schedule K-1 and Form 8825
- Estates and Trusts - send Schedule E (page 2), Form 1041 and Schedule K-1
INFORMATION TO HAVE ON HAND AS YOU COMPLETE THE APPLICATION
- Child support received
- Social Security information received that were NOT taxed, such as SSI benefits
- TANF
- Welfare/Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC/ADC)
- Food Stamps
- Tuition support anticipated from friends/relatives/employer
- Worker’s Compensation
- Other nontaxable income (i.e. Clergy/Pastoral/Military Housing Allowance, Foster Care Allowance, VA Benefits, etc.)
- Rent/Mortgage Monthly Expense (include principal, interest, taxes and home insurance)
- Second home monthly expenses (include mortgage payment, interest taxes and home insurance)
- Home equity monthly loan payments
- Vehicle information – make/model, year and monthly payment
- Total credit card debt and total of all minimum payments
- Student loan monthly payments
- Other Loan payments (not including cell phone, utilities, or other living expenses)
- Child Support monthly payments
- Health insurance monthly premiums and out of pocket medical expenses
- Annual vehicle insurance expenses
- Charitable contributions (cash/check)
- College expenses
- Child/day care expenses
- Elder Care expenses
- Value of cash, savings, checking accounts, stocks, bond investments, mutual funds, certificates of deposits, retirement plan assets (401(k), 403(b), and/or IRAs)
- Annual contribution to retirement plan assets
- Annual contribution to 529 Education Savings Plan and the balance in the account
- Estimated value of home and second home
- Amount owed on home and second home
- Cost associated with extracurricular activities (sports, clubs, dance, etc.)
Prerequisites & Deadlines
Pope Prep Financial Aid Process
Please read through and follow the financial aid application process outlined below. Please contact Vicki Dorr (vicki.dorr@popeprep.org) with questions concerning the financial aid process.
PREREQUISITES:
-
All new and returning families must return the enrollment contract with the $300 non-refundable deposit before being considered for need-based financial aid.
- Existing families must be current on tuition payments to receive a financial aid award.
IMPORTANT:
Applicants can apply online beginning November 1, 2023, at www.factstuitionaid.com. FACTS will charge applicants a $40 application fee upon completion of the application.
- Financial Aid Applications are due to FACTS no later than February 15, 2024. Any Financial Aid Application received after February 15, 2024 is not guaranteed consideration.
- The Pope Prep Financial Aid Committee will review your Financial Aid Application only after you have submitted your 2022 tax return with any supporting schedules and forms, and your 2023 W2s directly to FACTS (see Required Documents for 2024-2025 Financial Aid Application). NOTE: Families who do not file a federal income tax return are not eligible to apply for financial aid.
- Financial Aid Applications (complete and verified by FACTS) will be reviewed by the Pope Prep Financial Aid Committee on a first come first serve basis.
- The Pope Prep Financial Aid Committee determines financial aid decisions. Financial aid decision letters will be mailed by February 23, 2024 to families meeting the application deadline of February 15, 2024. If you receive an award, you are required to sign and return one copy as acceptance of the award to Pope Prep by March 8, 2024. The financial aid process is confidential. Discussing the details of a financial aid offer with others will result in the forfeiture of the offer.
In administrating financial aid, Pope John Paul II Preparatory School will:
- Not discriminate because of race, color, sex, or age in violation of existing state or federal laws or regulations.
- Have an appeal policy for families who wish to request additional financial aid.
- Provide students and families with factual information regarding the total yearly cost of attendance, financing opportunities, policies, and procedures.
- Not use financial need as a consideration in determining a student’s admission eligibility.
- Refrain from and discourage others from making any public announcement of the amount of financial aid awarded to a student.
- Safeguard the confidentiality of all financial information supplied by a family.
- Review a student’s complete record (academic, attendance, behavior) during the evaluation process to determine the level of commitment to the Pope Prep community.
- Reserve the right to amend awards if new information comes to light after enrollment.
- Comply with TSSAA standards for preserving a student’s athletic eligibility. Financial aid awards are strictly need-based.
FACTS Financial Aid Application
Families need to complete an online financial aid application and $40 fee with FACTS Tuition and Aid at https://online.factsmgt.com/aid.
Additional Need-Based Scholarships
Families must complete a FACTS financial aid application to be considered for need-based awards.
- Monroe & Ann Carell Scholarship
- The Monsignor William Bevington Scholars Fund
- The Golden Tate Scholars Fund
Monroe & Ann Carell Scholarship
The Monroe and Ann Carell Scholarship was established at the school's founding in honor of our principal patrons, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Carell. The Carell's made the lead gift to the Diocese of Nashville that made then, Pope John Paul II High School, possible. The Carell's gave JPII its name after a private audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome during a visit in 1998. They were so moved by their encounter that upon their return to Nashville, they told Bishop Kmiec of their desire to make a large gift to the diocese, provided that any buildings resulting from the gift would bear the pope's name. Bishop Kmiec told them of the need for a second diocesan high school, and the Carell's enthusiastically agreed. Pope John Paul II High School opened shortly after that in 2002. From that moment to their deaths, the Carell's were significant contributors to the school, sponsoring this scholarship to make Pope Prep possible for deserving young men and women. Their daughters have endowed this scholarship to honor their parents and to carry forward their significant cause for the sake of future generations of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School students.
Scope: The purpose of the Carell Scholarship is principally to give partial tuition assistance to students who could otherwise not afford to attend Pope Prep. Candidates for the award must be students with a demonstrated financial need, a strong academic record, and a good work ethic in the opinion of the selection committee. Students receiving these scholarships are expected to write and thank the Carell daughters for their generosity.
Criteria: Students are considered for the need-based Carell Scholarship when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No additional steps are required for the application.
How to Contribute: You may contribute to the permanent corpus of the Carell Scholarship by making a tax-deductible gift to the "The Carell Scholarship," Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075. An acknowledgment of your donation will be sent to the Carell family.
The Monsignor William Bevington Scholars Fund
The Monsignor Bevington Scholars Fund was established by Pope John Paul II Preparatory School's Board of Trustees in May of 2012 to honor Monsignor William Bevington for his extraordinary contributions to the Catholic community of the Diocese of Nashville, the parishioners of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, and to the parents, students and faculty of Pope John Paul II Preparatory School. Sixty years a priest, Monsignor Bevington helped generations of believers build a closer relationship with the Lord through his unique blend of humor, wit, and saintly witness. As pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church for nineteen years, Monsignor Bevington led the church to become one of the largest and most active parishes of the diocese. Together with other priests and laity, he was responsible for the planning and eventual opening of Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, TN in 2002. He was a sacramental presence at the school from that point forward, celebrating weekly Mass with the student body, hearing confessions, leading school retreats and serving as a permanent member of the school's Board of Trustees. Pope John Paul II Preparatory School wishes to honor his extraordinary commitment to our Church and school in perpetuity through the establishment of this scholarship.
Scope: The purpose of the Monsignor Bevington Scholars Fund is to assist Catholic families who are otherwise not able to afford to send their children to Pope Prep. Since its inception during the 2012-2013 school year, the scholarship supports two new or returning students whose families are active in the Catholic parishes of north Nashville. As the corpus of the scholarship grows, the number of students the scholarship supports may also increase. The amount of the scholarship is dependent on need.
Criteria: Students are considered for the Bevington Scholars Fund when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No further application is necessary. Scholars will be chosen based on demonstrated need, a strong academic record, and exemplary involvement or service within the Catholic community.
How to Contribute: You may contribute to the permanent corpus by making a tax deductible gift to the "The Monsignor William Bevington Scholar Fund," Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075." An acknowledgment will be sent to Fr. Bevington's family.
The Golden Tate Scholars Fund
The Tate Scholars Fund was established in June of 2016 when alumnus, Golden Tate '07 answered the call to assist female and male athletes in their quest to become Pope Prep KNIGHTS. Once a multi-sport athlete at Pope himself, Tate understands the impact team sports have on a student. During his time at then Pope John Paul II High School, Tate starred on the football field where he was a two-time Mr. Football winner; on the baseball diamond where he was selected in the Minor League Baseball draft as a high school senior and again as a junior in college; on the basketball court; and on the track as a sprinter.
Although Tate's success on the field was nothing short of top rate, he knew that his future success was contingent upon receiving a solid education. Inspired by his mother, Yolonda Tate, who insisted that his academics take priority over his athletic interests and abilities, Tate came to understand the significance a great education could have on one's life-long success. He emerged from high school as a scholar-athlete which propelled him into the national spotlight during his senior football season becoming the most sought after high school football recruit by colleges and universities everywhere.
After graduation, Tate started as a wide receiver on the football team for the University of Notre Dame where he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as college football's top receiver. He also started on the Notre Dame baseball team as an outfielder. In 2010 he was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and helped the team win the Super Bowl. He then signed with the Detroit Lions in 2014 where he was named to the Pro Bowl. Tate signed with the Philadelphia Eagles In 2018 and the New York Giants in 2019. Tate continues to play well and also enjoys the entertainment side of the game as he has come to be known as "Showtime Tate"! Watching Tate perform on the football field, on the side-lines, and in his many charitable endeavors makes all KNIGHTS proud of his affiliation with our school!
It was a conversation between Director of Advancement Michelle Barber and Golden one evening in 2015 that led Tate to understand the significant need for financial aid dollars to assist students who, like Golden once did, would benefit from a faith-based academic experience. Upon deciding to establish the Tate Scholars Fund, Golden reflected and said, "The Catholic education I received at Pope helped form me into the man I am today. I will forever cherish the life long relationships I built throughout my time at Pope." Tate went on to credit his faith as the guiding force in his life, "Without my faith in God, I wouldn't be where I am today. Appreciate life, appreciate what God gave you."
Scope: The purpose of the Tate Scholars Fund is to provide tuition assistance to Pope Prep scholar-athletes (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who qualify for need-based financial aid as identified through the FACTS process. In addition to exhibiting financial need, candidates must also exhibit a commitment to achieving one's personal best in the classroom and in the athletic arena. The ideal candidate also demonstrates a strong work ethic and personal integrity.
Criteria: Rising sophomore, junior, and senior scholar-athletes are considered annually for the need-based Tate scholarship when they complete the financial aid process as outlined by the school. No additional steps are required for the application.
How to Contribute: You may contribute to the Tate Scholars Fund anytime throughout the year as the annual need to support scholar-athletes is significant and ongoing. A tax-deductible gift to the "Tate Scholars Fund" may be sent to Pope John Paul II Preparatory School, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075. An acknowledgment of your gift will be sent to Golden and Elise Tate. Additionally, The Tate Scholars Dinner, which is typically hosted at Pope during the second week of June annually, accepts donations and sponsorships, and individuals may purchase tickets for the dinner party; all proceeds support The Tate Scholars Fund.
No Athletic Scholarships Offered
It is a common misunderstanding that schools in Division II may give athletic scholarships. By rule of the TSSAA, no school may give athletic scholarships. If they do, the school is penalized, and the athlete loses eligibility. All students who attend Pope Prep, athlete or not, are eligible to apply for financial aid through FACTS and are awarded aid based on need.