Understanding the Cost of a Bishop Guertin High School Education

Choosing a high school is a significant decision, involving many factors. Bishop Guertin High School (BG), a private Roman Catholic college preparatory school in Nashua, New Hampshire, presents a unique educational opportunity. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the financial aspects of attending Bishop Guertin, including tuition costs, financial aid options, and the overall value proposition of a BG education.

The Financial Investment in a Bishop Guertin Education

Attending Bishop Guertin involves a notable financial investment. The annual tuition for Bishop Guertin High School is $17,225. This investment reflects Bishop Guertin's commitment to providing an outstanding college preparatory education. The school holds high expectations of its students, which represents a commitment on the part of the family as well.

The Value Proposition: More Than Just a Diploma

While the tuition cost is a significant consideration, Bishop Guertin emphasizes the long-term value of its education. Choosing BG provides students with outstanding preparation for college, recognized by colleges and universities. Bishop Guertin students graduate from college in four years at twice the national rate, equating to a year earlier than the average student nationally. This accelerated graduation rate translates to substantial cost savings. Between merit aid and the cost savings of a year’s college tuition, a student can save approximately $120,000 in college-related costs.

Beyond college preparation, a BG education focuses on formation, helping students become the best version of themselves. It builds and enhances skills that will last a lifetime, not just a grade on a transcript. The school aims to prepare its students for what awaits them, fostering thoughtful, critical thinking, moral character, and adaptability in today’s rapidly changing technological environment.

Financial Assistance and Affordability

Bishop Guertin is committed to making its education accessible to all who seek it. Rooted in the tradition of founder Fr. Andre Coindre, who ministered to orphans and prisoners, the school seeks to draw students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including those for whom tuition is a significant sacrifice. Almost $800,000 is awarded in financial assistance annually, with nearly a third of the students receiving some form of aid. Every application for financial assistance is considered independently, and families are encouraged to apply if finances are a concern.

Types of Financial Aid Available

Several avenues exist to offset the cost of a Bishop Guertin education:

Financial Aid: Families applying for financial aid need to complete an application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid (G&A) each year. Bishop Guertin uses this outside, third-party assessor to ensure that awards are unbiased and consistent with the Mission of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, financial assistance at Bishop Guertin is awarded solely on the basis of need.
Scholarships: Bishop Guertin offers a number of scholarships for students enrolled at the school, thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends.
Discounts: Many discounts apply to all families such as students who otherwise may not qualify can expect to receive a discount if there are multiple children from a single family in Catholic schools, or if the family faces high expenses from college or other needs.
Need-Based Aid: Financial assistance is awarded solely based on need, ensuring equitable distribution.

Bishop Guertin encourages families not to assume they won't receive aid and to inquire further if the awarded aid isn't sufficient.

Tuition Payment Options

Bishop Guertin partners with Blackbaud Tuition Management (TM) for tuition and fee processing and collection. TM offers parents convenient and low-cost ways to budget tuition payments. The following plans are offered:

Option 1: Full payment through TM by June 30.
Option 2: Two TM payments, one in June and one in December (a $20 TM Enrollment Fee applies, and an early payment discount of $50 per payment is included).
Option 3: Ten monthly TM payments from June through March.

Tuition Refund Policy

Tuition refunds may be offered based on a specific schedule. Withdrawing a new student before July 20 results in the forfeiture of both the registration fee and the tuition deposit. Withdrawing a student once the school year commences, but within the first semester, results in the forfeiture of the equivalent of 10% of the total tuition and fees for that year for each month enrolled beginning with July. Non-refunded tuition is used to pay for unused educational services that were reserved for the enrolled students.

The rationale behind this policy is that faculty and staff invest a significant amount of time and resources to prepare schedules, services, and resources for the upcoming school year months before a student walks through the doors on the first day of school. Also, the Finance Committee must make budget and staffing decisions early in the winter, based on the projected number of families expected to attend Bishop Guertin for the following academic year. In addition, the school loses the opportunity to place another family in that spot.

Read also: Education at Bishop Heber College

Consequences of Late Payments

The parent is responsible for advising the Business Office if there are any problems with maintaining payment of fees on time. Failure to maintain timely payments may result in:

The refusal to permit a child to re-register for the following year.
A child’s immediate dismissal from school.

Transferring Students

Parents of students transferring from Bishop Guertin must notify the School Counseling Office of the date of the child’s withdrawal from school and the name of the school to which his/her educational records are to be sent. All financial obligations to Bishop Guertin must be met before records will be transferred to another school.

Academic Excellence and College Preparation

Bishop Guertin's curriculum is designed to provide a strong foundation for college success. The school boasts a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate. Students apply to a variety of colleges and universities that meet their academic, geographic, social, and financial criteria. The school celebrates every acceptance to every college. While not always the top school in the country, students do so well in the admission process and receive close to 15 million dollars in merit scholarship money. The school aims to help students find a college where they will challenge themselves, try something new, meet new people, extend their education by studying abroad, engage in an internship or co-op, or a mission trip.

The academic program is divided into nine departments: English, Social Studies, Computer Science, World Languages, Science, Mathematics, Health and Fitness, Fine Arts, and Religious Studies. Bishop Guertin offers six class periods a day, starting at 7:45 am until 2:30 pm. The class schedule varies from day to day. There is an eight-day cycle with six periods each day.

A Focus on the Individual Student

Bishop Guertin strives to create a supportive and inclusive environment for its students. The school recognizes that students come from diverse backgrounds and may experience different challenges during their transition to high school. To address these challenges, Bishop Guertin offers a variety of support services, including:

Read also: Bishop O'Connell

Freshman Skills Program: Freshmen receive intentional guidance in managing their transition through this program, which promotes common language and process among different classes.
Teacher Support: Teachers are available to assist students in their studies and are equipped to promote the success of a variety of ability levels, from highly-accelerated and independent learners to average students who have not had the opportunity to develop their study skills.
Advisor and School Counselor Support: Students receive support from their advisor and school counselor, who monitors their success and provides necessary guidance.
Extracurricular Activities: With smaller class sizes, numerous clubs and activities, athletics, and service opportunities offered to students, as well as a culture of acceptance, students do get to know each other quickly and form lifelong friendships. There are many clubs and extracurricular activities for students to explore. Students may form a club with as few as three students. BG teachers regularly offer their time to moderate these clubs. There have been clubs as diverse as fishing club, crossword puzzle club, improv comedy club, chess club, anime club and fashion club.

Technology and Innovation

Bishop Guertin emphasizes the importance of technology in education. The school has adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, allowing students to choose the best learning devices for their needs. This approach prioritizes the educational process over specific technology fads, ensuring that technology serves as a tool for student growth.

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