Private School Tuition: What You Should Know
You, the parent, only want the best for your child, and especially so when the subject of schooling comes up. Some parents consider private school but have no idea what they’re paying for with regard to boarding school tuition. Knowing these costs will assist your family in making the most informed decision possible.
As boarding school becomes more expensive, parents have to know what they are getting. Parents would like to feel that they pay one amount, and it will cover everything their child would need during their stay in the facility. The worst part is taking your child to school and paying the school fees, only to find that there will be additional fees. Save your family time and frustration by being aware of a detailed breakdown of what boarding school tuition will entail.
This article will help you navigate the waters of tuition for boarding schools and what you can expect.
Breakdown of Boarding School Tuition
As far as going to boarding school is concerned, the nation is facing a decline. This is mainly because of the economy the United States is going through at the moment. It is thus important that you clearly understand tuition fees and what they include.
What Does Boarding School Tuition Include?
- Academic Instruction – Boarding schools offer smaller class sizes and individualized instruction. Tuition costs will include daily classes, curriculum, academic resources, and specialty programs.
- Room and Board – The cost of lodging and meals will be covered by tuition costs.
- Extracurricular Activities – Tuition will cover any extracurricular activities such as clubs, sports, and other activities.
- Basic Health Services – Access to on-campus nurse or health clinic.
What Is Not Covered by Boarding School Tuition
What the tuition covers will all be dependent on the school, so you must get a full list of what the tuition covers before enrolling your child. Below may be some things that you will need to pay for outside of tuition costs. Just keep in mind that every school is different, and this expense may or may not be covered by tuition—but financial aid for private school may help bridge the gap.
- Books and Supplies – Some schools may include the cost of books and supplies in tuition cost,s and others may require covering these separately.
These would include:
- Books
- School Supplies
- Laptops
- Lab Materials
- Other material that is needed to complete the coursework
The following may be additional costs when it comes to understanding boarding school tuition.
- Laundry – Staying on campus seven days a week means your child will need access to laundry facilities. This could be a cost that is included but it is one you will want to check on.
- Personal Expenses – You may want to account for extra spending money that can be used for snacks, entertainment, and any other needs that your child may have while living on campus.
- Travel – Account for extra money that will be needed during breaks for your child to travel home or for you to go visit them. Boarding schools may have planned trips and require parents to pay for transport.
- Extracurricular Activities – Depending on the school, extra activities may be additional fees.
- Uniforms – Boarding schools typically require students to wear uniforms, so be sure you understand if this is a separate charge outside of tuition.
- Medical Needs – Depending on the school, you may be required to cover your child’s medical costs while staying on campus. Some schools do offer on-campus health clinics that are included in boarding school tuition.
- Tutoring – If your child is struggling in a subject, you want to make sure that they have access to private lessons. Just check to see if this is an additional cost to you or if it is included in tuition.
Optional Programs Offered at Boarding Schools
While the tuition cost of boarding schools is high, this type of facility can offer your child the most advanced opportunities in the education field. Tuition costs will typically cover the basics, but if your child is excelling, you may want to take advantage of extra programs offered by the boarding school.
These types of programs may include:
- International exchange opportunities – Allowing your child to study abroad during summer breaks.
- Leadership Retreats or Enrichment programs – there may be areas where your child can advance their skills and take their educational careers to the next level. Again, this would be an additional cost outside of tuition.
- College counseling/Test prep – If your child is at the age where they will be graduating, you may want to take advantage of the many programs that boarding schools offer to provide your child with the greatest success after graduation.
Conclusion
Now that you understand boarding school tuition and the cost that it covers, you will be able to make the best decision for your family. This will help you search for schools that offer most of these things in their tuition cost, so you avoid paying any extra.
