BURIEN, Wash. -- Despite the economic downturn, applications to pricey private schools in King County are up. And so is the number of financial aid applications.

It seems when it comes to discretionary spending, education trumps summer vacation. But enrollment advisors say dour finances shouldn't deter your decision to enroll. You can earn more than six figures and possibly still qualify for financial aid.

Vanessa Carter is a proud mom feeling the pinch of her 18-year-old son's private school tuition.

"I can't pay it," she says, "I have no finances coming in to pay it."

Carter owes John F. Kennedy High School in Burien more than $9,000. An injury cost Carter her job. She says when her son started at the school, he was a freshman and she was working full time.

The principal of Kennedy High says the Catholic school has noticed a 20 percent increase in applications for financial assistance. And the school's leaders are considering granting struggling families interest-free loans.

In Seattle, one out of every four school-age students attends a private school, while the number for King County overall is 11 percent.

"Diversity is important for all of our schools whether it's racial diversity or socio-economic diversity," said Meade Thayer, who runs the Pacific Northwest Association for Independent Schools.

His advice is that embarrassed parents shouldn't shy away from sharing money matters with the school when applying or re-enrolling.

"It's not a bad thing to say that you are needing financial aid, by being straight forward with the school with what your needs are, the school's going to be able to better work with you," Thayer said.

Thayer says in many cases, families can earn more than $90,000 and receive financial aid. But he adds, the schools don't have an unlimited amount of aid. Thayer advises if you were initially rejected, stay in touch with admissions.

Thayer says there is that possibility that the school awards financial aid to a student who doesn't enroll and that money comes back to school and can be reallocated.

Carter doesn't want her kid caught up in her tuition struggles.

"If I pulled him out now, it would be horrible," she said.

Her son is now a senior about to graduate. And once he does, he has a college athletic scholarship waiting for him.