Private School Possible with Household Income <$80K

[Anonymous]

OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, everyone. Thank you for all of your insights and opinions. OP here ...

I can imagine there are several scenarios where households may be 2-parent, 1-income like ours. I see there was some speculation that in all cases this would be a parent "staying-at-home" or just not working (a choice I also made while my kids were little as a low-income earner who found childcare unaffordable and a poorer substitute given our particulars). That's one possibility. But others include: care of a child with illness/special needs, dependent adult, out-of-work parent, sick parent, parent who works outside the home without receiving an income (volunteer/intern), and likely others. In our case, we our longtime, pre-pandemic homeschoolers ... so I've been working years without getting paid

As I mentioned previously, I've never made an income (in my previous non-profit / education roles) as much as many of these private high school tuitions. So, I was mainly wondering how others made it work. If it's realistic even with aid. What the imputed wage of a non-working parent might be. Thanks to all of you who provided some useful insider knowledge there.

Others suggested Catholic schools as a less-expensive alternative. We are considering those as well, though we are not Catholic. From reading other threads, it seems that could limit admission / aid in some cases.

Best wishes to everyone searching out the right path for their kiddos next year! If anyone has more helpful information / experiences to offer, we would love to benefit from your words of wisdom.

Thank you!

No. I have never seen a SAH parent be exempt for "volunteering" or having an internship.
Homeschooling is optional. You chose it for your child. Staying home to provide an optional alternative education for your child, who doesn't seem to have special needs that would warrant this, is not sufficient reason to forego an income.
I have colleagues who are full-time adjunct professors and earn $25K/year. I know of preschool teachers who earn $35K/year. Having a low-paying career is not a valid excuse to stop working to earn an income.

This. If you chose a low income field and chose to homeschool due to personal choice, they won't have much sympathy. We all make choices and you could choose to get a job.

You realize that kind of income are for professionals with masters degrees doing the jobs we as a society need done - teachers, social workers, fire fighters, nurses, police, etc. By the time you take out child care, even making $40-60K doesn't pay. For me, day care was $2200 for one child. So, by the time I paid day care, taxes, union dues and all the extras, I'd end up owing. Plus, health issues made it hard to work. And, caring for a SN child, then later another family member with dementia. I couldn't afford a nanny to take my child to services and an aid to handle an abusive family member.

If you have real SN reasons to homeschool that's one thing. If you're doing it because you want to, I don't think anyone would find that compelling. The number of people who can't afford private school because they've spent time and money caring for family is vast. They can't all get admitted with FA.

It's unclear to me why you don't have a job now.

I don't have a job now because my spouse's income has slowly gone up to the point where we are comfortable and we live very modestly so its a non-issue. And, if you actually read the post, I now have some pretty significant health issues. But, you really think my going back to work, starting at the bottom, making $40K a year (with 35%+extra) will really make a difference. By the time its all done, if I net $20K. Then, pick up/drop off and other things would be an issue and if we paid someone to do it, we'd spend more on child care/driver than I'd bring home.

I wouldn't homeschool and right now my kids are in virtual. We do private school summer school as I'm no longer able to tutor my kids. We looked into privates, could possibly full pay as we are close to having our house paid off but are hesitant because of our kids exposed to people like you whose look down on us for where we live, how much our house is worth/size, etc.

If anything families who earn $80K or under, far more deserve the financial aid. Its appalling to hear schools scream about diversity when that only means skin color and they are giving high income families who are living above their means the financial aid instead. Many people earn that and have masters and doing important jobs, including teaching your kids. You want all to quit, to earn more money. Then who will teach your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, everyone. Thank you for all of your insights and opinions. OP here ...

I can imagine there are several scenarios where households may be 2-parent, 1-income like ours. I see there was some speculation that in all cases this would be a parent "staying-at-home" or just not working (a choice I also made while my kids were little as a low-income earner who found childcare unaffordable and a poorer substitute given our particulars). That's one possibility. But others include: care of a child with illness/special needs, dependent adult, out-of-work parent, sick parent, parent who works outside the home without receiving an income (volunteer/intern), and likely others. In our case, we our longtime, pre-pandemic homeschoolers ... so I've been working years without getting paid

As I mentioned previously, I've never made an income (in my previous non-profit / education roles) as much as many of these private high school tuitions. So, I was mainly wondering how others made it work. If it's realistic even with aid. What the imputed wage of a non-working parent might be. Thanks to all of you who provided some useful insider knowledge there.

Others suggested Catholic schools as a less-expensive alternative. We are considering those as well, though we are not Catholic. From reading other threads, it seems that could limit admission / aid in some cases.

Best wishes to everyone searching out the right path for their kiddos next year! If anyone has more helpful information / experiences to offer, we would love to benefit from your words of wisdom.

Thank you!

No. I have never seen a SAH parent be exempt for "volunteering" or having an internship.
Homeschooling is optional. You chose it for your child. Staying home to provide an optional alternative education for your child, who doesn't seem to have special needs that would warrant this, is not sufficient reason to forego an income.
I have colleagues who are full-time adjunct professors and earn $25K/year. I know of preschool teachers who earn $35K/year. Having a low-paying career is not a valid excuse to stop working to earn an income.

This. If you chose a low income field and chose to homeschool due to personal choice, they won't have much sympathy. We all make choices and you could choose to get a job.

You realize that kind of income are for professionals with masters degrees doing the jobs we as a society need done - teachers, social workers, fire fighters, nurses, police, etc. By the time you take out child care, even making $40-60K doesn't pay. For me, day care was $2200 for one child. So, by the time I paid day care, taxes, union dues and all the extras, I'd end up owing. Plus, health issues made it hard to work. And, caring for a SN child, then later another family member with dementia. I couldn't afford a nanny to take my child to services and an aid to handle an abusive family member.

Not clear why you don't have a job now. These are all valid reasons for not working in the past - like caring for a sick family member or having a baby/toddler at home - but what would be your excuse now? You just didn't feel like trying to jump back into the workforce?

Look, I'll give you the eldercare-- definitely a job that needs to be done. But "we as a society" don't need your ONE child to be homeschooled. You wanted to do it, you did it, but unless your child has very significant special needs it doesn't save the public school system any money. Nor does it produce better outcomes on a society-wide level. If you were actually working as a social worker or firefighter or something that would be way more persuasive.

Yes OP posted a bunch of reasons someone may not be able to work, and other PPs posted lower-paying but very necessary jobs.

Choosing not to work so you can homeschool and then expecting FA seems very self-indulgent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Seems well worth it if it gets you health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hello, everyone. Thank you for all of your insights and opinions. OP here ...

I can imagine there are several scenarios where households may be 2-parent, 1-income like ours. I see there was some speculation that in all cases this would be a parent "staying-at-home" or just not working (a choice I also made while my kids were little as a low-income earner who found childcare unaffordable and a poorer substitute given our particulars). That's one possibility. But others include: care of a child with illness/special needs, dependent adult, out-of-work parent, sick parent, parent who works outside the home without receiving an income (volunteer/intern), and likely others. In our case, we our longtime, pre-pandemic homeschoolers ... so I've been working years without getting paid

As I mentioned previously, I've never made an income (in my previous non-profit / education roles) as much as many of these private high school tuitions. So, I was mainly wondering how others made it work. If it's realistic even with aid. What the imputed wage of a non-working parent might be. Thanks to all of you who provided some useful insider knowledge there.

Others suggested Catholic schools as a less-expensive alternative. We are considering those as well, though we are not Catholic. From reading other threads, it seems that could limit admission / aid in some cases.

Best wishes to everyone searching out the right path for their kiddos next year! If anyone has more helpful information / experiences to offer, we would love to benefit from your words of wisdom.

Thank you!

No. I have never seen a SAH parent be exempt for "volunteering" or having an internship.
Homeschooling is optional. You chose it for your child. Staying home to provide an optional alternative education for your child, who doesn't seem to have special needs that would warrant this, is not sufficient reason to forego an income.
I have colleagues who are full-time adjunct professors and earn $25K/year. I know of preschool teachers who earn $35K/year. Having a low-paying career is not a valid excuse to stop working to earn an income.

This. If you chose a low income field and chose to homeschool due to personal choice, they won't have much sympathy. We all make choices and you could choose to get a job.

You realize that kind of income are for professionals with masters degrees doing the jobs we as a society need done - teachers, social workers, fire fighters, nurses, police, etc. By the time you take out child care, even making $40-60K doesn't pay. For me, day care was $2200 for one child. So, by the time I paid day care, taxes, union dues and all the extras, I'd end up owing. Plus, health issues made it hard to work. And, caring for a SN child, then later another family member with dementia. I couldn't afford a nanny to take my child to services and an aid to handle an abusive family member.

Not clear why you don't have a job now. These are all valid reasons for not working in the past - like caring for a sick family member or having a baby/toddler at home - but what would be your excuse now? You just didn't feel like trying to jump back into the workforce?

Look, I'll give you the eldercare-- definitely a job that needs to be done. But "we as a society" don't need your ONE child to be homeschooled. You wanted to do it, you did it, but unless your child has very significant special needs it doesn't save the public school system any money. Nor does it produce better outcomes on a society-wide level. If you were actually working as a social worker or firefighter or something that would be way more persuasive.

Yes OP posted a bunch of reasons someone may not be able to work, and other PPs posted lower-paying but very necessary jobs.

Choosing not to work so you can homeschool and then expecting FA seems very self-indulgent.

Most people aren't homeschooling then looking at privates. Be real.

There are so many reasons why not to work. No one owes you an explanation but the discussion of making under $80K a year means they aren't living a lavish lifestyle especially in this area. You scream diversity in schools, but in reality there is no true diversity and only kids you deem acceptable are allowed to go.

Public school is a joke for regular SN kids. We did both private early on and public later. We had to increase our therapies in public as they were horrific. Private was warm, nurturing and really provided everything without an IEP. They were so helpful to the point we had to tell them to back off as it was too much help. You have no idea what life is really like for others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Nobody is saying you can pay full private tuition. That is why public schools exist. People are saying you aren't sympathetic enough an applicant to get much FA. With an elementary age child, why can't you get at least a part-time job? People make sacrifices to afford private school all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Nobody is saying you can pay full private tuition. That is why public schools exist. People are saying you aren't sympathetic enough an applicant to get much FA. With an elementary age child, why can't you get at least a part-time job? People make sacrifices to afford private school all the time.

I have yet to see DCUM deem anyone "sympathetic" enough for FA, which really hurts this argument of where people should draw the line.

I agree that PP should get a job or just apply and see.

But if everyone is heckled, it seems that more people are going to think they are deserving and maybe those more "deserving" will be scared off from even trying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Seems well worth it if it gets you health insurance.

Presumably, husband already covers medical. Rec centers offer free or close to summer camp and aftercare.

[Anonymous]

OP, all you can really do is tell them your situation and they'll decide how much they want your kid. But unless your kid is highly desirable, it's unlikely they won't impute at least a little bit of income to you. If your child is in school during the day, can you really literally not earn any money whatsoever? That's just kind of hard to believe.

You can argue all day that they "should" give you FA because of elder-care, illness, special needs, the value of homeschooling, your public school sucks, whatever. But the number of people who could legitimately make that kind of argument is far greater than the number of students the school will accept. And it sounds like you might not have the saddest story in the bunch. You need to open your eyes here. They aren't going to give you a whole lot unless your kid is really a standout in their applicant pool.

At $80K I have to ask, are you on track for retirement? What are your plans for college? It might not be responsible to pay anything at all for private school if you aren't on track here. You're doing your kid no favors by ignoring this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Nobody is saying you can pay full private tuition. That is why public schools exist. People are saying you aren't sympathetic enough an applicant to get much FA. With an elementary age child, why can't you get at least a part-time job? People make sacrifices to afford private school all the time.

I have yet to see DCUM deem anyone "sympathetic" enough for FA, which really hurts this argument of where people should draw the line.

I agree that PP should get a job or just apply and see.

But if everyone is heckled, it seems that more people are going to think they are deserving and maybe those more "deserving" will be scared off from even trying.

I don't need a job now. I also have health issues which makes it hard. And, we have the income to pay for it now. The discussion is about people making under $80K. You know, the amount you regularly spend on a car. These folks aren't living in million dollar houses, taking multiple vacations a year and some are on government assistance. You really have no clue what it would be like to live off $80K and working part time making $20K makes zero sense if there are child care and other issues.

Its appalling schools give out aid to those making $200-250 but not to $80K. Those with $200-250K can reduce their housing and other expenses. Those making $80K cannot not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, all you can really do is tell them your situation and they'll decide how much they want your kid. But unless your kid is highly desirable, it's unlikely they won't impute at least a little bit of income to you. If your child is in school during the day, can you really literally not earn any money whatsoever? That's just kind of hard to believe.

You can argue all day that they "should" give you FA because of elder-care, illness, special needs, the value of homeschooling, your public school sucks, whatever. But the number of people who could legitimately make that kind of argument is far greater than the number of students the school will accept. And it sounds like you might not have the saddest story in the bunch. You need to open your eyes here. They aren't going to give you a whole lot unless your kid is really a standout in their applicant pool.

At $80K I have to ask, are you on track for retirement? What are your plans for college? It might not be responsible to pay anything at all for private school if you aren't on track here. You're doing your kid no favors by ignoring this.

If your kid is being homeschooled, there is no need for private so its a mute point.

If you make 80K, your kids go to community college or a state school with loans. You aren't worrying about retirement. You live in a very nice alternative reality if you don't know what its like to live off $80K as a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Seems well worth it if it gets you health insurance.

Presumably, husband already covers medical. Rec centers offer free or close to summer camp and aftercare.

Its not free and usually income qualifying and $80K would be too much. I worked many years in public benefit programs and nothing is generally free and its income based.

And, health insurance has premiums, deductibles and co-pays. Its not free.

We aren't talking about a family earning $200K who over spent on their million dollar house.

We are talking about a family with under $80K a year. Many schools cost $50-80K. Do you have any idea what that lifestyle looks like? Clearly not.

If you want equity and diversity in these schools, you should have kids ranging from cash assistance and food stamps to billionaires. That's what real diversity is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP I’m calling BS on not being able to earn the tuition of private school. Bank of America bank tellers start at $25/hour. That’s $52k per year. If you’re qualified enough to homeschool your kid, you’re qualified enough to be a bank teller. Costco workers make average of $55k.

Most jobs don't pay that much and you also forget they take out taxes, social security, other things, so at best, you'd bring home $30K (depending on what taxes you pay), then take out things like health insurance, and child care and there is nothing left. Remember people need before/after school and summer child care. Sadly, it often doesn't pay to work. And, you pay taxes on your spouses income level, not yours.

You really live in an alternative world if you think you can pay full private school tuition on that income.

Nobody is saying you can pay full private tuition. That is why public schools exist. People are saying you aren't sympathetic enough an applicant to get much FA. With an elementary age child, why can't you get at least a part-time job? People make sacrifices to afford private school all the time.

I have yet to see DCUM deem anyone "sympathetic" enough for FA, which really hurts this argument of where people should draw the line.

I agree that PP should get a job or just apply and see.

But if everyone is heckled, it seems that more people are going to think they are deserving and maybe those more "deserving" will be scared off from even trying.

I don't need a job now. I also have health issues which makes it hard. And, we have the income to pay for it now. The discussion is about people making under $80K. You know, the amount you regularly spend on a car. These folks aren't living in million dollar houses, taking multiple vacations a year and some are on government assistance. You really have no clue what it would be like to live off $80K and working part time making $20K makes zero sense if there are child care and other issues.

Its appalling schools give out aid to those making $200-250 but not to $80K. Those with $200-250K can reduce their housing and other expenses. Those making $80K cannot not.

I'm confused, or perhaps you're confused. Schools do give out FA to people making $80K, and nobody is saying otherwise. Some schools give most of their aid to the lowest-income families, others spread it higher up the income spectrum and give less to each. But most schools will impute at least some income to a SAHM of one school-aged child unless they have a specific reason not to.

[Anonymous]

My sister was in a similar situation. Her wife is a social worker (makes about 68k) and my sister was not working because she was caring for our great aunt with dementia. She would get their one child off to school, go to my aunts and get her meals prepped, meds, change sheets, do appointments and then get her kid at school. I took the late shift and my mom did weekends. Everyone gave what they could and my sister went from being a temporary stay at home mom to a toddler and then a full time care taker of our elderly aunt. They tried a catholic school but they had a morality contract and we think their family structure affected their aid/was then nudging to not come. They only offered 3k off out of 14k. Then then applied to another private day school (not religious) and got 80 percent off (which left them paying 7k) which my husband and I just paid as it was the least we could do. So I do think situations like this exist. My sister in law is truly dedicated to her work and her role is almost vocational to her and she would never consider being a social worker anywhere else…but I doubt she would really pull in more anywhere anyway. And my sister eventually got a part time job at Costco when my aunt qualified for more VNS and the school kindly didn’t let that affect “their package.”