private school Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Every parent wants the best for their children, including the best education possible. While public schools offer a comprehensive education aligned with national standards, many parents choose to send their kids to a private school to ensure a well-rounded education with additional opportunities.

If you’ve considered this alternative route, you’ve probably wondered what the average cost of private schools really is. We’ve got your guide to what you’ll need to spend to get your child into a private school.

What are the Different Types of Private School?

There are different types of private schools, and each has a different tuition model. It’s important to know which school you’d like to send your child to before looking into cost, as they can be vastly different.

Traditional Private School.These schools, which can be Kindergarten through graduation, aren’t funded by the federal government like public schools. It’s why they require a fee to attend. They may be run as for or non-profit, depending on the organization that runs them.
Boarding School.These types of private schools also include food and lodging in the cost of tuition. They create a special kind of community because students and faculty live on campus together. These schools are a blend of athletes, artists, and scholars.
Language Immersion School.The classes at these schools are taught in another language. Partial immersion begins at 50% of classes being taught in the language, up to 100% immersion with all classes in the chosen foreign language. These schools are chosen by parents who want their children to develop fluency in another language.
Montessori Schools.Montessori schools put a great deal of emphasis on learning through exploration and individual interests. They are designed in three-year blocks, where children will have the same classmates for the entire term. They also focus heavily on the home environment, which means Montessori is a lifestyle choice, not just a school.
Religious Schools.These are also called parochial schools, or private schools attached to a specific church. These differ from a traditional private school that is affiliated with a religious organization. The first is funded by the entity it’s attached to, the second is entirely funded by student tuition.

What are the Benefits of a Private School?

There are several different reasons a parent may choose to send their child to a private school.

Better academic opportunities.Most private schools offer expanded extracurricular activities and advanced placement classes.
Higher test scores and college placement opportunities.Privately schooled children generally score better on college placement exams than their publicly schooled peers. Further, private schools boast an almost 100% rate of their students attending their first-choice college.
Smaller classes.Private schools typically have smaller class sizes than public schools, allowing teachers to more individually coach each student.
Parental involvement.Parents are encouraged at a higher level to be part of their children’s education. Instead of brief parent-teacher conferences, parents are kept involved and apprised on a regular basis of student progress.
Better resources.Because they don’t depend on government funding and receive both tuition and donations from alumni, they typically have higher quality resources in their classrooms.

What if the Average Cost of Private Schools?

Now that you understand what each of the different schools entails, we can begin to break down the cost of each.

According to the Private School Review, the average cost of private school during the 2019 – 2020 school year was $10,676, down from $14,575 the previous year. The costs vary depending on the type of private school and the state it’s located in.

Nebraska has the lowest average annual cost at $3,565. The East Coast boasts the top five states for annual cost, with Connecticut coming in at a whopping $24,433 average.

Elementary programs are generally several thousand dollars cheaper than high schools annually. This is contributed to the competition between options – at lower grade levels there are more choices for parents. By high school, there are only a few options for continuing education and so the cost increases.

Location within each state also plays a factor. You’ll pay more for a school located in a bustling city than one on the prairies of Kansas, for instance.

The Cost of Different Kinds of Private School

Private school cost varies wildly within those averages, dependent not just on the location, but the type of school.

Boarding schools top the list, with some costing up to $40,000 or $50,000 a year in tuition. However, this includes the cost of room and board, food and many extracurricular programs.

Religious schools offer the lowest tuitions of all private schools, with some as low as only several thousand a year. They also generally offer the most in scholarships for students wanting to attend who may not otherwise be able to afford it.

Montessori schools have the largest gap between the highest and lowest tuitions. This is because there is such a broad spectrum of schools that fall under the Montessori heading. There are small programs with less than 50 students in total, and large schools that have hundreds of participants. Tuition will depend on where the school is located, how big it is, and what it offers.

Gifted schools that focus on developing specific talents are going to be on the higher end of the tuition scale. Because they employ teachers who are credentialed in these specific areas of study, a student will pay more to have access to the teaching.

Are There Additional Fees Related to Private School?

When figuring out the annual tuition of a school, you’ll want to factor in additional costs. These include one-time registration fees, books, transportation, and meals, if they aren’t included in the tuition.

Many private schools also require a uniform that can add hundreds or even thousands to the cost. Private schools also frequently host trips overseas or to special locations that might require additional funds to attend.

Sending Your Child to Private School

While the average cost of private schools is a much greater expense than a public school, the good news is there are financial aid and scholarship programs available for many. When looking for a private school in your area, research the programs each school may have that help parents afford tuition.

And be sure to check out the other parenting articles on our site for more information!

Education has a major role to play in protecting the future of the human race. Despite the learning crisis in the world, education remains the answer and should be entrusted to our children who are the future. Investing in a good education program should be in the best of your interest in your child’s growth.

But how do you determine that you have invested in the right school for your child to study in? Do you choose a public school or a private institution for your loved one?. Do you go to public schools which are cheap but crowded or opt for that private school that will offer special attention to your child although at a higher fee?

When choosing that perfect school, match the institution’s values with yours. By knowing the expectations of the institution you will be able to make that decision easy. Here is why investing in private school education can be a great experience for your child. Read on to learn more about the benefits of a private school.

Committed Teachers

Teachers in private institutions focus their undivided attention to promoting every student’s development. It’s easy for teachers to learn and understand their students’ shortcomings and help in eliminating them since private schools have a small number of students in one class. Private schools have a unique system in selecting highly qualified teachers who show passion, skill, and determination.

As a parent you want your child to get the same level of attention as the rest of the students. Private institutions will definitely achieve this for you. The teacher’s special attention is important in your child’s development and this is why private institution promotes having dedicated teachers. Noticeably you will begin to see the ability of your child to complete tasks with ease.

Teacher performance in private schools gets monitored so as to identify weaknesses and improve on them. This, in turn, leads to teachers putting in more effort in the classroom. It forces them to go the extra mile, to improve the overall performance of the class.

Safety and Security

No parent wants to put their children in harm’s way and the safety and security of your child should be a top priority. Especially with issues like kidnapping and other forms of insecurities, it’s primary that you ensure when you are not in arms reach of your child that you have the sense that they are safe wherever they are.

The number of students’ versus the number of adults will be a factor in ensuring security in learning institutions. Imagine if the number of student ratio for teachers is very high. This will raise some challenges in ensuring that the students’ security is manageable.

A lower number of students provides an easy way to track their whereabouts at all times and also offers a quick response time in case of emergencies. It is also easier to identify missing students in the classroom and contact their parents or guardians for inquiries. In public schools, the high number of students makes it a difficult and expensive affair.

Enough Resources

Resources that facilitate a better learning environment are very important for any educational institution. Private learning institutions are able to thrive in sourcing out the necessary utilities to help in smooth operations.

The enrollment and semester fees charged in private institutions go a long way in ensuring more resources are available for each and every student. Facilities in these schools are in plenty.

From well-equipped libraries to state of the art sports facilities and support for extracurricular activities such as music. These go a long way in nurturing and developing your child’s talents

Private schools are able to contribute part of these resources through a united front from the community, staff, alumni members and parents. This is aimed towards the overall welfare of the school. This is very vital to their overall development.

Uniform Programs and Extra-Curricular Activities

All work and no play makes Jack a dull bull right? Extra-curricular activities provide a much-needed break from classroom work for the students. Learning gets exhausting sometimes. They also provide motivation for the children to come to school and have fun while learning.

Uniformity in programs means that a student can even participate in other extracurricular activities. A balance needs to be there. Private schools try to make this possible all through the school calendar.

Extra-curricular activities also play the role of instilling a form of discipline which is paramount for your child’s development. Most private schools will try to uphold their values through the discipline students learn while participating in extracurricular activities.

Some of the talents they develop in school might end up being their source of livelihood in their adult life. Many talents get spotted at school level and get developed after graduation.

Small Class Count

Public schools have a tendency to have a higher number of students in a class. Imagine the level of discomfort a student feels in such an environment. The level of focus and attention is affected in such a set up as it forces the hand of the teacher.

A lower number of students per class also plays a major part in the development of student-teacher relationships. In an environment where the students and teachers don’t possess a personal but professional relationship, the students end up missing out.

In private school, the teachers are able to identify and target the weaknesses of the students, leading to better academic performance. This would not be the case if the class was too crowded to manage.

Private School Provides a Better Environment for Your Child’s Development

As you are making that decision on which institution you would like to enroll your child in, remember that their future is in your hands. Private school might be costly but comes with numerous benefits as compared to public school. It is up to you to make that decision on what type of school, education, and environment you want your child to grown in.

Check out our website to learn more about family values and to get more insights on private school education for your child.

A Useful Guide to the Average Cost of Private Schools