If your child is in private school...

Sammysu

My oldest daughter started her first year at a private school yesterday and she absolutely loves it, surprisingly! But I had a question about all these fees!

Her school doesnt require for fundraising but they do alot of it and if you participate, you get a deduction on your tuition.

I got her invoice for this month and on there is:

 her monthly tuition $454, additional $15 fee for misc supplies that the teacher purchased for classroom and needs help with, $6 for a school bbq feild trip and $127 for a girls only 7th grade over night trip next month to a ranch.

Is this normal to have all these additional charges in additon to your regular monthly tuition?  Do you pay alot in addition to their tuition?

Of course I am going to pay for these things but I really hope this isnt a monthly thing. She has back to school night this Thursday and they are offering free childcare as well as a fundraiser dinner ($5 adults. $4 kids)  

neverblushed

I teach at a private school, and my sense is that it's the norm.  The beginning of the year is probably heavier on fees than the end.  My kids don't attend the school where I teach, so I'm not sure what the fees look like from the parents' perspective.  I know they have to buy textbooks, and that the cap is $50 per course.  The kids take NINE different classes in my school, so the books alone can really add up.

Know, however, that I get hit with a ton of fees and "extras" by my own kids' public schools!  At the beginning of the year I run through an insane number of checks for this'n'that supply or subscription from the school.  We get hit up for:  the assignment book/planner, the subsrciption to Time for Kids, classroom party supplies, science materials, art materials, and then throughout the year for field trips.  Last year my DD went on a field trip that cost $50 and another one that was $40.

 

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Sammysu

Yeah I was surprised that the fees weren't told to me upfront either. I dont mind paying it since it makes sense as to what the money is needed for but I would of course just love it to be included in my tuition that I pay monthly. There is the option of paying the whole tuition upfront with a discount but I dont have the money for that so thankfully they have a month to month payment plan. 

I was asking this question to those who are aware of the public school systems more to find out if this is something that i should expect every month or mainly in the beginning of the year but sounds like mainly in the begining of the year is where it is more pricey. I am thankful that her school doesnt madate all these fundraiser things too but the other fees that were in her invoice this month are not optional they are needed this month. So, I will just bite the bullet and close my eyes when writing the check

littlemermaid

My kids attend a parochial school and yes there are additional fees that we pay throughout the year.  $150 registration fee, $200 fundraiser fee, $5 PTO fee.  Then you are required to volunteer 34 hours of your time or pay $340 dollars.  It's one or the other, so I always make sure to volunteer 34 hours throughout the school year.  Then any field trip or school event you attend there is always a fee too.  So yes it's normal.  Our school also allows the parents to pick a payment plan that best suits their budget(full payment, 2 payments. 4 payments, or monthly).

Halo79RN

-auntie-:

Maybe the nickel and diming is a function of the very reasonable tuition you are paying. It looks like you pay about $5K a year, where I live that's 2nd tier pre-K. My godchild's middle school was about $16K, her high school went about $19K for a day school. All her instructional materials were included but field trips and private lessons were extra.

this is what I was thinking.  I know the private schools here are closer to $26K for elem. parochial are closer to $7-8K for elem but they are big into parents volunteering and fundraising.  

Julie004

My DS is starting private school on Monday. We just transferred him out of public school.

We have to pay a $100 registration fee. Than his tuition is about $680 a month because we didn't get the in-parish rate since the deadline passed. Next year, we'll only pay $360 a month. They go on a 10-month plan.

The school does fundraising throughout the year which I don't mind at all. We're actually getting ready to do a candy sale in October.

The only other things we have to pay for are supplies. Crayons, markers, pencils, etc. 

Kindergarten also doesn't have to wear the uniform but they can't wear jeans. Khaki's or grey pants/shorts are preferred. Next year, in first grade is when the uniform is required than we'll obviously have to purchase that.