| There is no getting around it; private schools | | | | programs due to falling revenues. Private schools |
| charge tuition. But just as no student is the same, | | | | on the other hand tend to keep or expand their |
| so it is with tuition, the cost to attend a private | | | | academic programs because they are paid for |
| school varies from almost free to very | | | | directly by the fees charged to students. If |
| expensive. Private schools near larger cities tend | | | | students in a private school want an academic |
| to be more expensive while those in more rural | | | | program, it is usually offered. |
| locations may cost less. Schools with religious | | | | Sports fees |
| affiliation tend to have lower tuition while | | | | Private schools usually charge an athletic fee for |
| prestigious prep schools can often cost more. | | | | each sport a student plays. Public school students |
| Families need to shop for the right school for their | | | | are also paying athletic fees and facing the loss of |
| child by looking at the programs offered, the | | | | less popular or more expensive sports. Private |
| costs involved and the scholarships, financial aid, | | | | school on the other hand have a tradition of |
| and tax credits that can reduce the price tag of | | | | maintaining and expanding their sports programs |
| an independent school. | | | | because they are paid for through the athletic |
| Application Fees | | | | fees, alumni donations or endowments. |
| Most independent schools charge an application | | | | Clothing and uniforms |
| fee to cover testing and processing, and to | | | | Most independent schools require students follow |
| ensure that the applicant is really interested in | | | | a dress code or wear a uniform. While the cost |
| attending the school. The fees range from a low | | | | for uniforms or dress code clothing may seem |
| or no application fee to as high as $300. On | | | | steep at first, over the year it may actually cost |
| average, the fee is $50. In some cases the | | | | less than buying the jeans, shirts or sneakers that |
| application fee is applied against the first year's | | | | are popular at the moment. Used uniform sales |
| tuition. | | | | can significantly cut the costs of clothing bills. And |
| Tuition | | | | most private school students could care less what |
| According to the U. S. Department of Education | | | | type of khaki pants or white shirt they have to |
| Institute of Education Services, Digest of | | | | wear to meet a dress code. Shop the sales and |
| Education Statistics 2009, the average tuition | | | | you could actually save money on your student's |
| charged for all private schools in 2007-2008 was | | | | clothing costs. |
| $8,549. The average elementary school tuition for | | | | Transportation to and from school |
| that period was $6,733, while the average tuition | | | | In most cases, parents of private school students |
| for a private high school was $10,549. Within | | | | have to provide their child's transportation or pay |
| those averages are a wide range of tuition | | | | a transportation fee. Carpooling can reduce the |
| figures. The lowest tuition, $1,552 was charged | | | | costs of transportation and help draw families |
| for a religiously sponsored elementary school while | | | | with students attending the school together. |
| the highest, $30,265, was charged by a | | | | Some states and communities routinely provide |
| nonsectarian high school. A number of private | | | | transportation for private school students |
| schools, thanks to endowments from donors or | | | | especially those attending parochial elementary |
| alumni, are tuition free for any accepted student. | | | | schools. Urban communities may provide reduced |
| Text book and academic material fees | | | | or free fares for students attending any school, |
| Independent schools charge text book and | | | | private or public. |
| academic material fees. The fees can vary from | | | | Boarding schools |
| a modest $50 for a religiously affiliated | | | | Students who live at a private boarding school can |
| elementary school to over $800 for a | | | | expect to pay more about $7,000 or more for |
| nonsectarian high school. Faced with rising costs | | | | their living expenses. Some schools include all |
| and dwindling tax revenues, many public schools | | | | deposits and fees in the room and board cost, |
| are also charging book and academic fees. Some | | | | others use itemized bills. |
| public schools are slashing specialized academic | | | | |