Wish you could afford private school? But your limited budget is stopping you. These seven smart strategies can help you afford private school on a budget.
Several months ago I shared the news that my husband and I had decided to send our girls back to school rather than homeschool. It was an incredibly difficult decision to make, for so many reasons, but ultimately we decided that–at least for this year–a small private school just a few blocks from our home was the right fit for our family.
Although we were very nervous at first, we honestly couldn’t be happier with the school. The classroom sizes are small—there are only ten children in my oldest daughter’s combined 2nd/3rd grade class—and every child is treated like an individual. With longer school days, fewer kids to compete for the teacher’s attention, and no standardized testing, they have time for both music class and Spanish three times a week, as well as regular PE and even a private violin lesson each week. Although we were afraid she might again wilt like she did in Kindergarten,our daughter has instead blossomed under the guidance of a firm-but-loving teacher who expects nothing less than excellence. It is such an answer to prayers!
While private school may seem like an extravagance, it can actually be far more affordable than you might think. When we began looking into school options we were very surprised at not only the wide range of tuition costs between schools, but the number of scholarships, tax programs, and grants available.
If you are considering a change in your child’s education, these seven practical and field tested options for affording private school on a tight budget are a great place to start.
Not all private schools are created equal, and tuition rates can vary between schools as much as $5,000-20,000 a year. A more expensive school does not necessarily mean a better school, although it might mean a fancier building, more amenities, and (possibly) a snootier student body.
Take the time to shop around in your quest for the right school. Tour the grounds, talk to the principal, talk to the teachers—particularly the one that will teach your child—and observe them in the classroom, if possible. Pay close attention to where tuition money is being spent. Classrooms and hallways should be bright, cheery, and clean, but needn’t be overly fancy. Cherry paneled walls are not essential for a quality education. Remember that the funds for every bell and whistle have to come from somewhere, so make sure that what the school offers is really what your child needs.
Here are some good questions to ask during a school visit:
While scholarship options do vary significantly from state to state, there are a number of nationwide scholarship options available, including those from the Commonweal Foundation (offering scholarships to partner Christian schools), A Better Chance (offering scholarships to low-income children of color), the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (offering scholarships to low-income high school students), and The Children’s Scholarship Fund (offering scholarships to low-income students in grades K-8).
In addition to these programs, most private schools also offer a large variety of in-house scholarships for students that can help greatly reduce tuition costs, and this is one of the most important questions to ask when considering the different schools in your area. There are even a handful of private schools across the country that offer free tuition!
Additionally, many churches offer tuition assistance to member families who wish to send their children to schools within the same religious affiliation. If you are a member of a local church, definitely inquire with your pastor or church administrator to find out if this is an option.
There are currently no federally funded school voucher programs (though you can always write your Congressman to request this!) but a few states, including Florida, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Georgia, and Washington D.C. have established some type of voucher program that provides funds to either low-income or special needs families (or both) for attending the private school of their choice.
The Alliance for School Choice has assembled a comprehensive list with detailed information about the different state vouchers currently available.
If your children are younger, many states also offer free preschool programs at the private school of your choice. Our youngest daughter, who is four, currently attends VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) at the same school as her sister, but her tuition is paid for by the State of Florida. While Florida’s program is one of the best in the country, more than 40 states currently offer some sort of free or reduced-cost Pre-K program. Your local Pre-K school should be able to provide you with more information on your own state’s program.
Several of these same states, including Florida, Utah, Arizona, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Georgia, as well as Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Virginia, and North Carolina also have set up Tax Credit programs to give parents paying for private school a break on their taxes.
Again, the Alliance for School Choice has also assembled a comprehensive list of all the different state tax programs currently available. If your state is not currently on this list, contact your local state representative to find out how to get a tax program initiated.
It is a little known fact that private school tuition rates are rarely set in stone, especially for schools that may be eager to boost their enrollment rate. During your search for schools, be sure to inquire as to whether there is any wiggle room within the published tuition rates. Many schools have a “cushion,” with room to adjust rates as necessary, particularly if you are thinking of sending more than one child to the school. There may also be a credit available in exchange for a certain number of volunteer hours, so be sure to inquire about this possibility as well!
In addition to negotiating tuition rates themselves, consider negotiating your payment schedule. A lump sum payment of $4,800 is overwhelming for most families, but a 12-month schedule of $400 per month might be more manageable, especially when incorporated into a monthly budget.
One way to help offset the tuition costs that may not be covered by grants or scholarships is to take advantage of rewards programs in your everyday spending. Many private schools participate in some sort of tuition reimbursement incentive program (also called TRIP or SCRIP) that gives tuition reimbursement when you purchase gift cards through the school.
Here is how it works: Parents (or even grandparents and other friends and family members) may purchase a gift card or gift cards for participating gas stations, restaurants, retail stores, or even grocery stores. The cards are usually purchased directly from the school. The participating retailers then give a certain percentage of the gift card amount back to the school, and the school passes those savings (usually between 5-10%) on to the family in the form of tuition reduction. Thus, say you normally spend $400 per month on groceries and another $200 in gas. If you purchase gift cards for your gas station and grocery store you could get up to $60 off your tuition for that month.
TRIP programs vary a lot from school to school, so be sure to ask what sort of reimbursement programs are offered when you do your school visit.
Credit card reward programs that offer cash back on purchases can also be a good way to earn money back on everyday purchases. But please remember that running a credit card balance and paying interest will negate any rewards earned, so ONLY use this if you are 100% diligent about paying off the balance in full each month!
You may want to consider having a sit down with your parents, grandparents, or any other close-knit family members to see if they might be willing to assist with private school tuition. Many grandparents or even aunts and uncles are eager to shower their grandchildren or nieces and nephews with toys and clothes, but don’t always think about offering something more long lasting, such as contributing towards a private school education.
To Summarize, here are some ways to afford Private School on a budget:
Obviously, every family’s financial situation is different and this may not be a viable option for everyone, but even if family members are not able to contribute regularly, you can explain that you would be very grateful for tuition assistance in lieu of birthday or Christmas gifts. If they are not comfortable with paying for school itself, perhaps they would be willing to help with other expenses or needs, such as transportation (if the school doesn’t have a bus system) or uniform costs.
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Private school may not be for everyone, and is certainly NOT the only option when it comes to providing a great education for your child! Depending on your school district, there may be charter schools, virtual schools, and or other great public school options available. Furthermore, homeschooling can also be a very cost-effective alternative to traditional school, and great sites like Free Homeschool Deals and How to Homeschool for Free help prove just how affordable it can be. That said, if you are looking to make a change in your child’s schooling, don’t automatically rule out private school because you think it is too expensive. It may take a little effort to come up with a plan, but it could also be more affordable than you know!
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View Comments
I'm so sad none of these programs are available in SC.
For now, we have opted to stay in an apartment rather than buy a house. That's how we're able to afford tuition. Our school offers parents $10 for each lunch period they supervise, and for each sports event they offer to referee/score/sell tickets. That really helps a lot! They also sell gift cards at face value, but credit anywhere from 2% - 8% to your tuition account. Another program has you download a program and when you shop online at certain stores, a reminder pops up that a percentage of your purchase is credited to your tuition account - I have about 100 family/friends across the country signed up to do what they do every day anyway, but they are helping us pay for private school.
I couldn't imagine our daughter in any other school. Yes, it is VERY expensive, but they have a zero tolerance policy for bullying that's actually enforced - very strictly - and a code of conduct that applies to their actions both in and out of school. Their ideals are old-fashioned (think 1950's nuns in Catholic school) but it is exactly what our daughter needed after a year and a half of relentless bullying at her former school. I would live in a cardboard box if I had to, in order to be able to afford the tuition!
Great article! We are homeschooling currently, but one day may decide to send the kids to private school again. Louisiana just recently started giving tax relief for private school payments.
I love this post!!! I went to private schools K-12, so I have a lot of knowledge about private schools and very little about public. However, my husband and I specifically moved to a certain neighborhood because of the great public schools knowing we had the option to do private. I think it is smart for any parent to ask these questions of any type school they go to (and thank God for people like you who make it easy to find these questions!!). I also think it is parental duty to figure out what is best for your kid, not just what you grew up with (constant sour point between my mother and me). I recently took my 2yo out of daycare because something was so off, although I had no real complaints about the place. It is amazing that in only a few months he has changed so much for the better. So kudos to you for seeing that in your little ones!!!
Did you end up choosing private or sticking with the good public school option? I am in the exact same boat and don't know anything but private and today's (theoretical) changes in public schools has me frightened....
My children attend the same Private Christian School my husband and I both graduated from, and my husband teaches there as well. It is a wonderful environment with people I know love and care for them. Great post.
Thanks for sharing this. Having gone through the public school system (and come out alive), I really didn't know much about private schools. What is the process like for applying for scholarships? How many kids actually receive some sort of help?
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!
Great information! My kids attend a private Christian school and it was a difficult choice since putting 4 kids in private school is expensive. But there are lots of ways to ease the financial burden as you've shown! I have become the Scrip Coordinator for our school and the average family saves hundreds a year. Some families get their entire tuition paid for by using Scrip for their business and personal purchases. Amazing!
Love to hear you are making the sacrifice - it is worth it. Keep up the great work and great post Ruth.
{Kathy} I couldn't agree more with everything you stated. Our parochial school offers exactly what you have stated — and more. One VERY important question to ask regarding the school is "How do the kids that attend the school perform beyond the institution?" For St. Charles Borremeo, I have had 3 kids graduate and another in 5th grade. Historically, our students are consistently present in the upper 5% of their high school classes. That's no accident.
Wow, this is an incredible post and so timely for our family as my kids have been so stressed out this week by FCAT testing. My husband and I have talked a lot about making a change but weren't sure we could afford it. This post gives me so much hope and a great idea of where to start. I can't wait to share this with my husband and to start looking into schools in our area. Thanks Ruth!!!