Deciding whether a private school is a good value depends on your financial circumstances, what’s available in your area, and your child’s educational aptitudes and needs.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics and Educationdata.org, the average cost of one year of private elementary school is $12,790 (in 2024). One year of private high school is $16,420 (in 2024). And that amount doesn’t take into account boarding schools, which can easily cost $60,000 or more per year. But there are several other factors to consider besides tuition when you’re evaluating private schools.
Key Takeaways
- Private school tuition at an elite high school may cost more than a year of college or university.
- There is often more diversity to be found in public schools than in private schools.
- Deciding whether your child would benefit in a private school setting is a personal choice for families.
- A high-ranking school district is usually an essential attribute for homebuyers, meaning homes in neighborhoods with good schools are often more expensive than those in underfunded school districts.
Public School Is Seemingly Free
Public schools are designed for the children of the area they serve and are usually funded (in part) by taxes collected from the residents. But not every school is created equal, and the public schools in one neighborhood may be outstanding, but two towns over, they might not be. So while your child gets a so-called free education, it may not be a quality one.
You may have heard the term “high-ranking public school district” or something similar used in discussions about public schools in your area. It’s important to consider that while public systems are free to attend, an education from a highly reputable public school system has other costs that reduce the benefit of them being free.
Cost of Living
In many cities across the country, high-ranking school districts are usually accompanied by higher home prices because of demand for the schools. This is because homebuyers that can afford it are willing to pay whatever they can to get into a certain school district—the costs of which might far surpass a private school’s expense.
Important
The cost of a private school does not stop with tuition; it also includes books, supplies, and in some cases, pricy extracurricular activities.
Public Schools Have More Diversity
Depending on the private school you attend, your child may spend their day surrounded by like-minded people from the same circle and economic class. A public school may have more diversity in terms of culture, religion, class, and race. That diversity can be hugely beneficial to students in the long run. Parents have to weigh the value of that diversity against education at a private school.
Private School Educations Can Produce Better Outcomes
Education is all about preparing your child or children to become healthy, happy adults that positively contribute to society. Parents also want to see their kids succeed financially and may think a private school is a way to achieve that.
While it is well known that students in private schools tend to test better than their public school counterparts, people may not realize that private schools are more likely to have a dedicated staff focused on college admissions. That’s not the case for many public schools around the country.
The hand-holding and the private school connections can put a student at an advantage when applying for top colleges, stacking the odds in their favor that they will come out of school and land a high-paying job. That is not to say everyone who attends private school will go on to a successful career, but many do.
Private Schools Come With Unique Costs
When weighing whether you want to send your child to private school, you also have to consider the other costs outside of the tuition, books, and supplies. Students of private schools tend to have wealthy parents, which means your private school child or children may get invited to fancy parties, want expensive items, or engage in pricey extracurricular activities.
If you have the money, it is a non-issue, but if you are stretching your money to cover tuition, those extra expenses will make it much more difficult to afford. On the other hand, if you send your child to a public school, many extracurricular activities will be free or cost a nominal amount.
29,727
The number of private schools in the United States from 2021-22, serving 4.7 million PK-12 students, according to the most recent National Center for Educational Statistics survey.
What Your Child Needs May Drive Value
Parents can spend all the money in the world sending their kids to the best private schools in the country, but whether the child thrives there often depends on making a good match between your child and the school.
If their child is not inclined to learn and push themselves, they may need smaller class sizes and more one-on-one help. If your child is predisposed to math or science and your local public school can’t offer advanced classes, a private school may be necessary to expand your child’s academic talents.
When determining if private education is worth it, you have to look at your child and what kind of setting the child learns best in, your child’s natural talents and interests, and what kind of social setting your child thrives in.
Knowing your child is one of the best ways to determine if those thousands of dollars in private school bills are worth it.
How Much Do Private Schools Cost?
As of 2023, the yearly amount you’ll pay for private school per child averages $23,839 for a kindergarten through twelfth-grade school. The private high school average amount is $15 645.
Do Private Schools Kids Have It Easier?
Academic performance is generally higher on average in private schools than in public schools, often making it easier for graduates to get into competitive colleges.
Why Is It Called Private School?
Schools not funded by the public are called private schools because the people who enroll their children in these schools pay tuition, allowing the schools to operate.
The Bottom Line
Whether or not a private school education is worth it depends on your unique situation and the type of student your child is. For some people, private education will be a way to flourish academically and get into a top-notch college. For others, it can be a waste of time. While there are critics on both sides of the aisle, parents must consider more than just the cost when deciding whether to send their kid to a private school.
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