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CostHelper > Schools & Job Training  > High School

High School Cost


How Much Does High School Cost?

 
low costPublic High School: $5-$700+ Feesaverage costPrivate High School: $6,000-$35,000+high costBoarding School: $30,000-$80,000+

High schools typically include ninth through twelfth grade, and enrollment can vary from a couple hundred to a couple thousand students. While there are many standard academic high schools, most private and some public high schools have an area of emphasis, such as college prep, the arts, sciences, technology, military life or religious studies.

Typical costs:

  • Public high schools don't charge tuition, but may charge fees of $5-$200 or more per item for textbooks, supplies, physical education, clubs, yearbook, technology or participating in sports or other activities. Total fees can be $100-$700 or more a school year. (Fee waivers are typically available for economically disadvantaged or homeless families.) For example, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202[1] in Illinois charges $170 for textbooks, $9-$40 per consumable workbook, a $30 activity fee, $200-$250 for driver's education, $129 for competitive sports, $24 for non-competitive sports, $24 for chess club, $74 for choir, $63 for speech team and $106 for band.
  • Private high school tuition can cost $ 6,000 -$35,000 or more, depending on the school focus, whether it is religious or nonsectarian, the ratio of teachers to pupils, the location and the reputation of the school. Religion-based schools are typically less expensive than nonsectarian schools.
  • The National Catholic Education Association[2] estimates an average high school parish tuition of $9,622. St. Monica Catholic High School[3] in Santa Monica charges $8,900 standard tuition or $8,000 for families who are active members of a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Lutheran High School[4] in Parker, CO charges $8,900 standard tuition or $8,180 for members of an associated congregation.
  • Members of the National Association of Independent Schools[5] charge an average median high school tuition of $22,745 for day students. Tuition is $19,175 at The Colorado Springs School[6] ; $27,700 at Detroit Country Day School[7] ; and $34,268 at Sidwell Friends School[8] in Washington, DC.
  • A residential (boarding) high school can cost $30,000-$80,000 or more a year. Members of the National Association of Independent Schools[9] charge an average median of $45,219. Boarding school costs $46,000 at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School [10] in Waltham, MA and $53,925 at Woodside Priory School[11] in Portola Valley, CA.
Related articles: Elementary School, College, Community College

Additional costs:
  • Private schools and some public schools require students to wear a school uniform. These can cost $25-$500 per outfit, depending on school requirements.
  • Public schools typically provide free bus service for low-income students but other students may have to buy an annual bus pass for $100-$400 or more, depending on the distance traveled. Northampton Public Schools[12] in Massachusetts charges $303 per year for a high school bus pass.
  • Some public schools charge $50-$400 or more per year for on-campus student parking. South High School[13] in Newton, MA has a $360 annual student parking fee.
  • Parent may be responsible for providing transportation to a private school; or it can cost $300-$2,000 or more. Ravenscroft[14] in Raleigh, NC charges annual bus fees of $360-$1,750, depending on the student's location.
Discounts:
  • It might cost less if the entire tuition is paid in advance, rather than in installments. Tuition at Tampa Preparatory School[15] in Florida is $19,025 if paid in full by the previous July, $19,565 in two installments or $20,235 if paid monthly.
  • School schools offer a 5%-25% sibling discount for multiple students from the same family. For example, Chicago Waldorf School[16] has a 15% sibling discount.
  • BabyCenter.com lists tips for finding financial aid[17] for private school tuition.
  • Some states provide online public high school courses for free or for a nominal fee ($10-$25). University-sponsored or for-profit online independent study high schools may charge $1,000-$16,000 or more for an four-year online high school diploma program; ask about fees for registration, graduation, diploma, transcripts and related items.
  • Some public schools offer a free independent study program that allows students earn a high school diploma. For example, Mark Twain High School in San Diego, CA offers the SOAR Independent Study[18] program.
Shopping for high school:
  • Tour the campus, asking about class sizes and educational philosophy. The University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development explains what to consider when choosing a high school[19] .
  • Search for local public schools[20] or members of the National Catholic Educational Association[21] , the National Association of Independent Schools[22] or the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America[23] .
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
School fees
Amount: $185.00 per year
Posted by: Carole Dumas in Orem, UT.Posted: August 8th, 2016 09:08AM
School: Orem Jr Hign
This is the fee that has to be paid before the student can get their schedule. This is not for any extra curricular activities, this just to get the schedule anything else is extra. How is this not tuition?
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External Resources:
  1.  www.psd202.org/schools/index.php?p=fees
  2.  www.ncea.org/news/annualdatareport.asp#tuition09
  3.  www.stmonica.net/page.aspx?pid=271
  4.  www.lhsparker.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=181771&type=d#.UVt8_ZOThQM
  5.  www.nais.org/Statistics/Documents/NAISFactsAtAGlance201112.pdf
  6.  www.css.org/admission-tuition-fees
  7.  www.dcds.edu/page.cfm?p=7584
  8.  www.sidwell.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/index.aspx
  9.  www.nais.org/Statistics/Documents/NAISFactsAtAGlance201112.pdf
  10.  www.chch.org/ftpimages/39/download/13-14%20Tuition%20and%20Fee%20Schedule%20Final.pdf
  11.  www.prioryca.org/admissions/tuition/
  12.  www.northampton-k12.us/index/993148
  13.  www3.newton.k12.ma.us/feebasedprograms
  14.  www.ravenscroft.org/page.cfm?p=24
  15.  www.tampaprep.org/page.cfm?p=85
  16.  chicagowaldorf.org/admissions/financial-aid/
  17.  www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-get-financial-assistance-for-private-school-tuition_64...
  18.  www.sandi.net/Page/10955
  19.  www.cehd.udel.edu/2013/01/helping-your-student-select-a-high-school/
  20.  nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/
  21.  www.ncea.org/news/SchoolDiocesanLocator.asp
  22.  www.nais.org/Users/Pages/SchoolSearch.aspx?src=footer
  23.  www.whywaldorfworks.org/05_FindASchool/?src=trakkware
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