Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Partners In Excellence (PIE) Scholarship Program?

For families who live in poverty, sending a child to a Catholic school often requires heroic sacrifices.  PIE offers partial scholarships to those who meet eligibility requirements to help bridge the gap between what a family can pay and the cost of tuition.  Most families pay an average of 60%+ of tuition ($5,200 for elementary school, $12,500+ for high school). PIE scholarships average approximately $2,100.  Investment by the families is a key part of why the program works and why students are successful.  Since 1996, over 25,990 scholarships worth $30 million have been awarded.

For the 2018-2019 school year, $1,553,325 have been awarded so far to deserving PIE students in the form of 733 scholarships.

 

Who is a PIE Scholar?

Not every disadvantaged youngster is the most appropriate candidate for the PIE Scholarship. A scholarship recipient is typically a student who:

• Cannot afford a Catholic education without financial help.
• May not always be at the designated grade level in reading/math literacy, but should be lagging by no more than 1 ½ to 2 years.
• Has strong parental/guardian support as shown by their willingness to work with the school.
• Lives in Baltimore City and has a Baltimore City zip code.

 

What is the selection process?

Families seeking tuition assistance must apply through FACTS Tuition Management, an independent third party, which verifies a family’s income and need.  Once FACTS determines the need, a scholarship is made based upon the amount of funds available.

Having received a scholarship, students are eligible to re-apply each year.  Priority is given to returning PIE Scholars, assuming that they continue to meet financial eligibility requirements, demonstrate academic growth and parental support remains strong.

It is imperative that families apply (or re-apply) to FACTS each year they wish to receive tuition assistance prior to the start of the school year.

Interesting in applying through FACTS? Learn more here.

 

Key aspects of the Partners In Excellence Scholarship Program

 

1. The PIE program focuses funding on students who attend one of 4 Community Schools in Baltimore City ( James & John Catholic School, Archbishop Borders Catholic School, Cardinal Shehan Catholic School and Holy Angels Catholic School) or an Archdiocesan High Schools (Archbishop Curley).

2. The first ‘Partners’ in ‘Partners In Excellence’ are the students and their families. Each family is expected to pay something towards their child’s education.  This creates a dynamic of investment and true ownership in the education and future of each student.

3. To promote the full benefits of extended enrollment in Catholic school, funding priority each year goes to students who were PIE Scholars the previous school year. Through this effort, PIE is able provide enrollment stability for both the students and the schools.

 

Still have questions? Email us!