These schools are very generous with aid regardless of athletic prowess. The endowments are such that more than half of all students at McDonogh, Gilman, BL get some aid and the minimum aid is about 8k per student. Reality is that you can have a family income of over 150k and still get aid if you have multiple children.
Athletes do get more aid, but it is all need based. The schools do what they can to make it possible for any kid that can get in to have an opportunity to attend. If they didn't, my kids certainly wouldn't be attending.
Very common and it is not all need based - except what/who is needed to help create the best teams possible, lacrosse included . Unfortunately, the practice often displaces kids on teams who have attended the school for 9 years paying full tuition.
