At The Fessenden School, education is about shaping curious and compassionate young men who are prepared to lead with integrity. Through a deep commitment to character, community, and belonging, Fessenden fosters an environment where boys are known, supported, and challenged to grow into the best versions of themselves.

Central to this mission is the belief that access to a Fessenden education should be driven by potential, not circumstance. To expand access sustainably, their financial aid methodology needed to reflect reality, not assumptions.

Closing the Gap Between Methodology and Lived Experience

When Eila Pereira stepped into her role as Admissions Coordinator & Director of Financial Aid at The Fessenden School, something immediately stood out.

"There was a meaningful disconnect between what our financial aid methodology was recommending and the awards we were granting," Pereira explained. 

"That felt like an opportunity we were missing – a chance to ensure our awards were both fair to families and sustainable for the school."

The root of the discrepancies was clear: the methodology was built on generic assumptions rather than the lived realities of their community.

"Clarity allows you to uncover your averages," she explained. "You might assume a family of four spends a certain amount on food and clothing, but if your applicants are consistently spending more, you should be able to adjust that setting."

Taking a data-driven approach, the impact was immediate and measurable. "I've already seen in this year's applications way less of a gap as we've right-sized awards," shared Pereira. 

"From school year 24/25 to school year 25/26, we increased our net tuition revenue by 6.4%."

The refined methodology was also able to create consistency while preserving flexibility.

"Having a methodology you can trust means you can award more consistently without having to make as many judgment calls," Pereira explained. "But, when a family's situation is different from what the numbers show, I also have the flexibility to make those adjustments."

"Clarity gives me the tools I need to make our awarding more consistent."

Expanding Access Through More Accurate Awarding

The benefits of more precise methodology extended beyond individual awards, also allowing Fessenden to expand access more strategically.

"Our first priority is making the school more accessible," Pereira shared.

Using data from Clarity, Pereira tracks where students are coming from to identify geographic gaps and guide outreach efforts. The impact has been meaningful. 

"We've been able to expand access to our school by awarding more consistently and accurately.”

 "We can now support families who might not have seen a Fessenden education as within their reach."

Support That Enables Success

Refining a financial aid strategy requires more support than just software can offer. With Clarity, schools are offered a true partnership. 

“I’ve experienced customer support where you’re talking to someone different every other week. That’s just not the case with Clarity.” 

“I love that I can work with my Client Success Manager to refine my methodology in a way that’s aligned with our school mission and our greater geographical context. The personal approach makes all the difference for us.”