Affording HRS

The Head-Royce School's commitment to socioeconomic diversity is foundational to who we are. Our flexible tuition program is designed to make a Head-Royce education affordable for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds.

Tuition Assistance Application Process

Head-Royce uses an online platform called Clarity to manage the tuition assistance application process. Through Clarity, applicants can complete required forms, submit supplemental materials, and track their tuition assistance application progress. New users will need to create an account on Clarity. Returning users can log in to their existing account using their username and password.

We understand that applying for assistance can seem daunting. Follow these steps to simplify the process:

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. You can start the application as early as September 1. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is mobile-friendly, allowing you to access it anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time.
At the end of the application, you will be asked to submit a one-time fee of $60, which also allows you to apply to additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.

A completed tuition assistance application is required from each household, regardless of any financial arrangements between unmarried, separated, divorced, or non-custodial parents. All information will be kept confidential and will not be shared between households.

Tuition Assistance Application Deadlines

October 1, 2025: Families with a child currently enrolled at Head-Royce (sibling families) and children of Head-Royce faculty/staff (employee families) application form, supporting documents, and application fee due in Clarity.

January 5, 2026: Families new to Head-Royce application form, supporting documents, and application fee due in Clarity.

Supporting documents needed for all families are:

Most recent paystub, if you are an hourly or salaried employee.
Corresponding Schedule K-1, 1120S, and/or Form 1065, if you are a shareholder in an S-Corporation or a partner in a Partnership (listed on Schedule E of your 1040).
Form 1040—signed, including all schedules—will be pulled from the IRS by Clarity.

February 6, 2026: Extended deadline only for the 2025 W2 Form to be submitted in Clarity.

The following resources from Clarity can also help you in the application process:

The Clarity's Application Guide provides step-by-step instructions and a list of the information you'll need to have on hand when completing the application. It's available both in English and Spanish.
To check the reception and status of your supporting documentation, or if you have any questions or need help completing the application, you can email support@claritytuition.com in either English or Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

We will communicate financial aid decisions to returning families with re-enrollment contracts and to new students in mid-March with their admission decision. If you have any questions, please email tuitionassistance@headroyce.org.

Malone Foundation

Head-Royce is one of four schools in the entire state of California selected by the Malone Family Foundation to receive a $2 million dollar endowment and one of only 50 independent schools in the U.S. to provide scholarships for academically gifted students with financial needs.

In 2000, the Malone Family Foundation selected Head-Royce as one of the top independent educational institutions in the nation, basing its selection on evidence of high academic standards, quality of faculty and staff, excellent accommodations for gifted and talented students, a dedication to individual attention for all students, financial strength and a commitment to financial aid.

Jessica Xu '15, Malone Scholar

Additional Named Scholarships

Additional Named Scholarships

Alex Zavell ‘09 Memorial Debate Scholarship Fund
Anna Head Scholarship
Anna Louise Faulkerstein-Jordan Scholarship
Betsy Schoen Scholarship for Middle Income Families
Charles Freiberg/ Andrea Alfano Scholarship Fund
Chee Family Scholarship
Class of 1986 Scholarship
Class of 2009 Scholarship
Class of 2010 Scholarship
Constance Reston LeMieux Scholarship
Damien Foundation Scholarship
Dunn Family Scholarship
Edward E. Ford Minority Scholarship
Elise Perrault Grant Scholarship
Erik Roberts '85 Memorial Scholarship
General Endowed Scholarship
Gilbert Family Scholarship
Holsey/Streeter Scholarship Fund
Hsieh Family Scholarship Fund
Jennifer Burnett Harris '48 Scholarship
Josefina Castillo Baltodano Scholarship
June and Robert Chambers Scholarship
Les and Ingrid Schuldt Scholarship Fund
"Madame" Hull French Scholarship
Malone Family Scholarship
Marilyn Mattke Hills Scholarship
Martinez/Sloan Family Scholarship Fund
Mary E. Wood Scholarship
Megan Kurpinsky Waters Memorial Scholarship
Missouri Theola Riley Scholarship
Morris Barber Scholarship
Nia Scholarship
Family Association Scholarship Endowment
Paul Chapman Distinguished Scholarship
Peter & Melinda Darbee Scholarship
Ray Louie Family Scholarship Fund
Roger J. & Madeleine Traynor Scholarship for Creativity
Schneider Family Scholarship
Stahl Family Scholarship Fund
Tjian Family Scholarship Fund
van Loben Sels Family Scholarship
Wade Chapman Scholarship
William Randolph Hearst Minority Scholarship
Wright-Williams Family Scholarship
Zach Clayton '92 Memorial Scholarship

Tuition Assistance FAQs

Tuition Assistance FAQs

Q: What are my options to pay tuition?

A: There various ways in which families can pursue tuition assistance:

Monthly Payments: This plan allows families to make tuition payments interest free over a period of nine months. With monthly payments, the difficulty of paying large sums at once is avoided.
Need-based Financial Assistance: Financial need is the discrepancy between family resources and a child's total educational expenses. Head-Royce offers financial aid, an outright grant, which does not need to be paid back, to families we determine cannot afford full tuition costs. Head-Royce uses the School and the Clarity Application to asses need.

Q:What information does Clarity use to determine an estimated family contribution?

A: Clarity takes many factors into account when estimating a family's financial contribution, including: income and assets, family size, age of parents, and number of children attending tuition-charging institutions, including colleges and universities. Clarity considers these and other factors and provides every family with a living allowance based on upon family size. This allowance protects a certain amount of income after a variety of expenses are subtracted from a family's income. A portion of this discretionary income is then suggested as the family's contribution for education. The more discretionary income a family has, the higher their family contribution.

Q: How does divorce or separation affect the financial aid process?

A: Head-Royce requires that both parents to contribute to the cost of education to the extent of their ability. Complete confidentiality is assured. The cooperation of all parents is required before Head-Royce will consider aiding a candidate.

Q: Will applying for financial assistance affect my child's chances for acceptance to Head-Royce?

A: The application process and financial aid process function independently of one another. Head-Royce accepts qualified students without regard to the family's financial situation. However, families applying should be aware that although we do have a robust budget for tuition assistance, it is not unlimited.

Q: If I receive an award for my child for the coming year, can I expect to receive it every year?

A: Families receiving aid must reapply each year. However, once assistance has been awarded, it is reasonable to expect that it will be renewed, provided that the family's financial situation has not changed substantially, and the student has remained in good standing.

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