Budgeting for independent school
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Anonymous
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What costs exist beyond the following -
Tuition Aftercare Bus Lunch Clothing that is compatible with a dress code (if applicable) For example are there costs associated with school sports and clubs? Are textbooks supplied, etc? |
Anonymous
| Clubs and textbooks just depend on the school. |
Anonymous
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Bus also depends on the school
Laptop, depending on school and grade Sports depends. For example, varsity and JV teams have no extra cost but club sports do There haven't been any field trips that cost extra at my child's school, but that might not be the case everywhere. |
Anonymous
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Expected donations
Funds so child can participate with wealthy peers who invite them to hang out after school Extra fuel transporting kid to see friends who live all over the DMV and not just in your neighborhood |
Anonymous
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It’s going to vary by school and grade.
Some schools supply tech for all students; some supply it for younger kids (iPads or chromebooks) but not for older kids but still require they bring their own; some don’t supply anything and may or may not require anything. Example: our k-8 provided chromebooks; our HS requires that students have laptops but does not provide them - although you can purchase them at a group discount through the school. Some schools supply all books and materials, others only supply some or none or have additional lab or material fees for certain science or art classes. These can also vary by division (general more is included for younger kids where there is less differentiation and costs can be evenly distributed; by high school, class selection can significantly affect costs of books and materials so they are less likely to be included). Again, our k-8 provided all books and materials. For HS, we have to purchase books for some classes but not all, and there are lab fees for some sciences. There may be optional trips your child wants to go on during spring or summer break. There may be costs for sports equipment or uniforms. |
Anonymous
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There are weird incidentals too - like our school has a yearbook fee (you can opt out by a certain date) and a PTO fee (again you can opt out).
I have an art kid and there are fees to enter competitions like Scholastic. |
Anonymous
This is useful. We can make a small donation. We cannot keep up with the Jones fancy plans but we are happy to have their kids over to hang out with our child without spending money. The fuel costs are a good point. |
Anonymous
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Lunch is included at some schools, but not others.
Books and tech were provided by our k-8 as well as some school supplies (notebooks and folders). No field trip extra costs, no extra costs for sports. Aftercare/after school enrichment programs were extra but after school study hall for MS was free. No bus service so cost of fuel to/from school plus extra distance to friend’s houses. Donations for annual fund were expected though do not need to give a massive amount, auction participation/contribution, contributions to staff holiday and end of year gift fund. Short answer: It varies from school to school. |
Anonymous
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Varies by school. Our K-8 doesn't have additional fees for sports but there is a separate (required) gym uniform that surprised me. No fees for books, iPad, clubs, or school day field trips. PTA covers holiday gifts for teachers.
Ours has an optional spring break field trip in the upper grades that is quite expensive. My kid is not going but really wanted to. Spending on birthday parties (hosting) and birthday gifts has been higher than when we were at public. |
Anonymous
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These are great questions to ask at admissions events! As others have said, it varies by school. All will encourage 100% participation in their annual fund, but at least at our school it truly is whatever amount is feasible for a family, and that is sometimes $0.
Our K-8 charges for things that are optional - aftercare, lunch, and busses. Our DD brings her lunch some days, and gets it at school on others, so we don't have to opt into the whole year. Things like laptops, sports, band equipment, and class trips (even those to other states or countries) are included in the tuition. |
Anonymous
| also plan on a ~3% per year tuition increase |
Anonymous
Some places it is 3-5% per year.... |