I did a lot of copying and pasting in this post, and somehow the formatting got really screwed up. I'm not sure where all of the arrows and some of the bolding came from!
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So, recently I posted a poll on a board I frequent regarding the cost of private school tuition. The answers were mind-boggling. Over 25% of the respondents voted that they spent over $10,000 per child per year for tuition. This doesn't include books, fees, or extra curricular activities. I understand wanting to give your kids the best start. If, despite all of my precautions I became pregnant, our child would most likely be going to private school, too.
POLL RESULTS: What is your current yearly tuition per child? (Total Votes: 89)
$10,001+ (23 / 25.8%)
My kids go to public school, but I wanted to vote anyway (15 / 16.9%)
I don't have kids at all, but I wanted to vote anyway (14 / 15.7%)
$8,001 - $9,000 (10 / 11.2%)
$5,001 - $6,000 (5 / 5.6%)
$3,001 - $4,000 (5 / 5.6%)
$4,001 - $5,000 (4 / 4.5%)
$6,001 - $7,000 (3 / 3.4%)
My kids are not school-age, but I wanted to vote anyway (3 / 3.4%)
Other (2 / 2.2%)
$9,001 - $10,000 (1 / 1.1%)
$7,001 - $8,000 (1 / 1.1%)
$2,001 - $3,000 (1 / 1.1%)
$1,001 - $2,000 (1 / 1.1%)
Up to $1,000 (1 / 1.1%)
But think about how much money this costs! For a child going from K - 12, it could easily be $130,000 (BASE TUITION!). Then comes college. How do you save for college when you are paying this much for private school? Here is a tuition schedule from a local private school (admittedly, one of the more expensive ones:
Tuition for the 2008-2009 school year:
Grade | Tuition |
K | $14,740 |
1 | $16,180 |
2 | $16,570 |
3 | $16,970 |
4 | $17,220 |
5 | $17,760 |
6 | $18,540 |
7 | $18,870 |
8 | $19,660 |
9 | $20,300 |
10 | $20,880 |
11 | $21,290 |
12 | $22,180 |
The tuition covers instruction in all courses contained in the regular program of studies. The tuition does not include fees for lunch, instructional materials, and the use of technology.
YOWZA! Over $14,000 for kindergarten?!?!? $22,180 for Grade 12?
I look at DH's and my lifestyle, and I am so thankful for our childfreedom. First, we are able to make well over the national median household income simply because we are able to have more demanding jobs. Second, we have no debt. Nada. There's no way we could do that (regardless of our current incomes) if we were paying for tuition like that. Add on the fact that having kids cost a lot more than just those tuition costs, and you really start to realize WHY those childfree couples can go on awesome vacations, afford better homes, nicer clothes, etc.
