The Intersection of DEIB, Admissions, and School Policy
The School strives to honors its mission to welcome everyone.
Director of Enrollment Management Brian Beale and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Jessica Christian discussed how financial aid plays a critical role in ensuring accessibility for families across various income brackets.
Bridging Accessibility and Community
Director of Enrollment Brian Beale and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Jessica Christian wish to make one thing perfectly clear—they recognize the importance of making private education accessible to a broad range of families.
Director of Enrollment Brian Beale.
Director of Enrollment Brian Beale.
“In order to reflect the communities around us, we need to include socioeconomic diversity,” Christian said. “Schools like ours were originally designed for the wealthiest, but that’s not who we are anymore. Accessibility is crucial.”
Beale emphasized that financial aid here supports families across a wide spectrum of needs.
“It’s important to flip the narrative that financial aid represents only one particular group,” Beale said. “We aim to serve a wide range of families with varying income brackets.”
A Comprehensive Program
For the 2024–2025 academic year, tuition at Brimmer ranges from $41,350 for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten to $63,650 for grades 6–12. To support families, the school allocates significant financial aid across all grade levels:
- Lower School: 35% of students receive aid, with an average award of $28,791.
- Middle School: 20% of students receive aid, with an average award of $43,464.
- Upper School: 29% of students receive aid, with an average award of $48,850.
- Overall, 29% of Brimmer’s student body receives aid, with an average award of $39,685.
The School’s financial aid program goes beyond covering tuition costs, Beale and Christian said, ensuring all students can participate fully in extracurricular activities, field trips, and other opportunities.
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Jessica Christian.
Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Jessica Christian.
“Tuition covers just a fraction of the Brimmer experience,” Beale said. “We work to ensure that every student, from pre-K to grade 12, has equal access to all that the school offers.”
Christian echoed this sentiment, sharing examples of additional support, such as providing stage shoes for drama productions and equipment for athletic programs.
“We’ve continued to expand what we cover to ensure that every student feels included,” Christian said.
Reducing Financial Stigma
Recognizing the challenges families face in discussing financial matters, Beale actively works to reduce stigma around financial aid.
Beale highlighted a new initiative in the admissions process that encourages all families to ask questions about financial aid.
“This change removes assumptions and makes the process more transparent,” Beale said.
Christian also stressed the importance of normalizing conversations about financial support.
“It’s hard to ask for help, but we aim to create an environment where families feel supported, not judged,” Christian said.
Looking Ahead
The School’s financial aid program continues to evolve, Beale said, supported by generous donors who fund named scholarships and ancillary financial aid for programs such as Winterim, extracurriculars, and music lessons.
“We constantly evaluate how we can improve and better serve our families,” Beale said. “The goal is to make the Brimmer experience accessible for as many students as possible.”
A Commitment to Inclusivity
Christian and Beale agree that building an inclusive community requires ongoing effort.
“Financial aid is no different from DEIB work,” Christian said. “We’re always learning and adapting. Brimmer works hard to ensure that everyone, regardless of their economic background, feels welcomed and valued.”
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