Private school

[Toby'sFriend]

I pay almost $3900 for my 6th Grader, a little over $6k for my High Schooler which is a huge bargain compared to what it could cost. I know that we do alot of fundraising, but it is either that or pay it in tuition. We are a Christian school, so the Churches contribute heavily toward the costs of the schools.

It's painful to write the checks, but our public schools are just a madhouse.

I don't live very far from 4formicky, he/she can attest -- our area is having big problems in the area of Education. My kids went to the local Elementary school through 4th grade. It was a good place, with test scores above STate Averages. But at 5th Grade they consolidate into these Mega Campuses and they can't seem to retain any teacher with more than a year's experience. All the campuses in our District above 5th Grade are on the Federal Academic Warning lists. Our local High School is just unbelievable. The town practically has to hire a seperate Police Department just to handle all the Gang Activity, Drug Busts, and fights on campus.

 

[pepperw23]

We pay $1650 per year for one child in high school.

Off topic, I jsut wanted to say GO HEELS!!!!!

 

[Julia M]

Our Catholic School (K-8) is $11,222 for 3 kids. Registration is $462 per child.

Next year, I'll pay for two kids ($8596 for 2) at the K-8 school and then high school is $10,405, registration is $800 and books about $600. So about $21,300, plus whatever percentage of increase (K-8 tends to be about 5%, HS is 7%-10%)

Julia

 

[6ofus2]

Wow! I thought ours was expensive! LOL My kids go to Catholic School and we do get a discount since we are Catholic. It is $8440 per year for four kids. The school is pre-3 through 8th grade. Registration was $90 and book fees are $85 per kid. We have two fundraisers that we are required to participate in (they are in our contract). Scrip and the auction. You have to purchase enough Scrip that the school earns $100 and you have to donate or procure something for the auction.

 

[blanq]

We pay $1700 for our 7th grader in a Christian school. The real cost, and cost for non-members of our church, is $3800. It is anticipated that church members with kids in our school will support the church through regular giving. In 9th grade, DS will switch to a Christian high school, and the cost will rise to close to $6000. We feel this is money well spent.

 

[Alexander]

Our Catholic elementary school tuition paid by families is $2640 for one child, it goes down a couple of hundred for additional children. The Jr./Sr. high school is roughly $5,000 for one child. The churches in our diocese off-set the cost of tuition by 50%, so it would be double if they didn't. We have one family with children in: PreK, twins in Kdg., second, fourth, and sixth grades. Ouch!

Being in NY, we pay extremely high school taxes on top of that (ours went up 41% this year on a contingency budget). There are absolutely no breaks from the NYS government for people who pay tuition. For us there it is not an option. We wouldn't have it any other way. Fortunately, I teach at my son's school so we do get a break on tuition (25%).

 

[mjbaby]

We're in the process of determining the kindergarten "path" for our son. Our first choice K is $14,000, with extra costs for after-school care. In first grade that rises to $18,000.

What we're thinking right now is home educating him until sixth grade and then, if it turns out to be an appropriate choice, enrolling him in my husband's alma mater in 6th grade (the school goes from 6th to 12th). Right now, tuition in that school is about $18,000 for the Lower School and $21,000 for the Upper.

 

[disneymom99]

We have both our DDs in Christian schools. My youngest DD is in the 4th grade and we pay $2800. My oldest is in the 9th grade. Her tuition is $7200.

 

[mom2riceboys]

We pay $7200 year for a 4th grader. $4000 year for our preschooler who goes 3 days week. Tuition will go up $1000 year for our oldest next year.

 

[Feralpeg]

DD (senior) is attending a private school this year. Her tuition for one year was $12,000.

 

[Busymomof2]

Here in Mass. My son in 2nd grade Catholic School we pay 4160.00 for the school year. We have two major fundraisers, have to do 35 Service Hours or we are billed 10.00 for every hour we do not fullfill. Also we have Bingo approx. 2-3 times a year. Should we not attend those or find a replacement we must pay 75.00. It seems like a lot and it is but the happiness and advancement my son has made with the other 17 students is incredible. Surprise!! Surprise!! Tuition for next year increased and additional 300.00.

Mari

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We have three in parochial elementary school. We pay $7500 a year plus numerous fundraisers. That's not so bad considering our high school if $7800 per year per child. THank goodness two of mine are graduating from college this year! That leaves one left in college, three in grammar school (and counting).

 

[MOMOFMNM]

we pay 2800 per year for one...

high school is higher at 400 a month!!!

 

[debaudrn]

Private, independent school (non-religious).
Grades 5-8 $20,950
Grades 9-12 $21,300
Yikes, I work there and don't know how people manage this!

 

[Focusdude]

We are lucky in our school not to have to do bingo or anything like that. We pay $3,200 per child (two next year - no discount for multiples!). We have fundraisers during the year - but only one that penalizes you if you don't participate ($250 extra on your tuition per child). My only gripe with the major fundraiser is that it starts Dec 1st!

 

[stahshee]

Thank you so much for all the info. Our school is loosing 7-8 and we are worried that tuition will continue to rise. Can you name the type of frundrasier that you do. we do magazine sales and raffle a car and 50/50 lottery each month but we still need to raise 20,000 That is to keep the school open.

 

[rach2674]

Right now I'm paying $150 a month for my dd's 3 year old Pre-K. It's a Lutheran school and there aren't many around here. She only goes 2 half days a week. Next year she'll go 3 days a week and it'll be $170. Not too bad in my opinion. There are only 16 in her class and in my opinion, I'm not even sure how that pays for the basics in class and a teacher's salary. But this teacher is great and loves teaching. I'm not sure how much K will be for her because I haven't found a close enough Lutheran school yet. I'd definitely want to put her in private school because FL does not have the best education in public schools and I think our county is one of the worst. And I definately want her to learn about God in her education also. I went to a Lutheran school until high school and I'm so glad I did.

I can imagine that the K-8 might be pretty expensive, but it's worth it to me. I don't think it's as bad as most of you are paying.....Yikes! But I know we all want what's best for our kids and most of us will do whatever we have to do achieve that.

Rachel

 

[minnie1928]

My DS just started Montessori school in January and the tuition is about $7300/year. He had just started public school (first grade) in Sept 2005 and by January 2006 he was starting with his 4th new teacher! The kids in that class, I felt so bad for all of them. I know that my son didn't really do anything in those months, he was constantly having to re-learn the newest teacher's name, style, etc. Then they would re-work the room so he'd have to learn all over again where things were, what was expected, etc.

So, now he's in private and LOVING it! He's learned more in the past month and a half than I would have ever imagined possible. In the next year or two, well have DD join him. First we have to get her potty trained .

 

[mum4jenn]

WOW!!!! These prices are just amazing!!!!

I am SOOOOOO glad we moved to the county we live in now because the schools are excellent!!!! If we had stayed in the next county over we would have had to do private school most likely. I am not sure of the prices though but with it being south GA I do know most of them are quite a bit lower than in the northeren states. We do have one private where all the Drs kids go and it is quite expensive.

 

[nuke]

We pay $3100 and $250 commitment fee for Catholic school. The commitment fee is worked off with fundraising and everything you fundraise over the $250 comes off April's tuition payment. We are already at $275 and it keeps rising. It's easy to do. We sold candy in Sept., Magazines in Oct, we get Market Day every month and certificates(scripts) every week. It all adds up quickly. The school also does Bingo once a month and makes about $1000 a month doing that. We are expected to volunteer for Bingo, market day and casino nights which are twice a year. I don't mind the volunteer and fundraising. It's all about being part of the school/church family.