Should You Pay For Your Kids To Go To Private School?

When it comes to achieving financial stability, most will agree it can’t be obtained without investing. We invest in our future through various retirement accounts, and many choose to invest in their children’s future through college savings such as 529 plans. There are varying opinions on if and when parents should pay for college for their children, and if so…how much. But what about the pre-college years…before our children can work and financially contribute? Should parents pay for a private school?

Before you read any further, let me warn you that I don’t plan to provide a “one size fits all” answer because there isn’t one. Instead, I’m going to present facts, scenarios, alternatives, and priorities to you can use to make sure your child gets the best education possible.

Private vs Public School Facts

• Approximately 10% of all U.S. students attend private school Pre-K-12
• Out of families that make over $75,000; 85% send their children to public school

*The cost of non-sectarian secondary private school tuition is more than the average cost of tuition at a 4-year college. That amount is $22,261.

Why Consider Private School?

Most choose to pay for private schools because they generally perform better than their public school counterparts. Some parents feel it is a safer alternative, and others feel they can form a stronger bond with teachers. Most who choose to attend private schools are religiously affiliated. This could be because these schools align with their own personal belief system. However, after reviewing the tuition costs, I’m sure finances are a major factor when considering the type of private school.

Is Private School For You?

Ask yourself these questions to determine if private schooling is the right decision for your family.

Why are you considering private school?
Putting little Susie in private school to keep up with the Jones’ just isn’t a good reason in this financial climate. But if your concern is based on values, education, safety, or other factors, you owe it to yourself to investigate further.

How do the public schools fare in your district?
Statistically speaking, private schools fare better academically than public schools. But there are quite a few hidden gems out there. For example, my high school was ranked #4 in the U.S. a few years ago, and consistently ranked #1 in its state. This school had a private school education with a public school price tag!

If you are fortunate enough to live in a neighborhood with a thriving school district, take advantage of it! Alternatively, if your district is at the other end of the spectrum, private school may be a viable alternative. Last year a Midwest school district lost its accreditation and became the first school system under direct state oversight. Families had the difficult decision to keep their children in an unaccredited school or let them be displaced and bussed to a neighboring district. Unfortunately, the students are not excelling because they are being tossed around due to circumstances that are not their fault.

Will my child excel?
If you have an older child, you already have an idea of what type of learner they are and what type of environment will help them excel academically. Would you rather your child be an A student in a public school or a C student in a private school? The rigorous academic standards placed by some institutions aren’t meant for every child. Alternatively, many public schools offer advanced placement and/or enrichment classes for those students who are looking for more of a challenge.

Can I Afford It?

Probably the biggest consideration when considering private school is whether or not you can afford it.

• Do you have an emergency savings fund?
• How secure is your job / source of income?
• Is financial aid or scholarships available?
• Are you planning for retirement?

Just like college, I don’t believe parents should pay for their children’s education until their future years are secured. If you cannot afford to invest in an employer retirement plan (401K or TSP), or some sort of Individual Retirement Account (IRA), then you cannot afford private school tuition. Ideally, you would max your retirement savings first, but even if you can’t contribute the allowed maximum, contribute something to retirement before considering private school tuition.

Some private schools offer financial aid. Before I was accepted to my high school, I applied for private school (for the wrong reason — my best friend was going there). The tuition was the same as what I would eventually pay for college. I was eligible for need-based financial aid, but there was still a generous portion we would have been responsible for.

Evaluate the security of your job. Last year, the government shut down and those who had what are considered some of the most stable jobs in the country (government employees) were indefinitely furloughed. For the non-Department of Defense employees, that lasted 17 days. Eventually, they were all granted back pay, but that was a time of great uncertainty. It would be a shame to start a private school and not be able to finish it. Which brings me to my last point…

– A healthy emergency fund can help offset job uncertainty. An e-fund should not be used as a standard means to pay tuition, but if an unexpected job loss occurs, a 3-6 month funded emergency fund would be there to help until things return to normal.

Alternatives

If you’ve determined that you cannot afford private school, you do have some alternatives:

• Increase your income (I know, easier said than done)
• Decrease your expenses (Again, easier said than done)
• Move to a neighborhood with a better public school district
• Consider homeschooling. If you don’t have the time, there are homeschool co-op programs offered in some states

My Conclusion

I am considering private Christian education for my son. We have a school at my church that promotes early reading and math skills. I’ve seen firsthand the academic achievements of these students, as well as monitored their transition to high school. I am fortunate because the schools I am considering fall well below the statistical average for Religious private school tuition.

Also, since my 3-year plan involves buying a bigger house, we plan to move closer to the private academy we have our eyes on and move to one of the top-rated school districts in the area. This will give our future home great resale value and, should we decide private school is not for us, there will be top-rated public schools we can transition to.

I Would love to hear from you ~

What is your opinion or private & public schools?
Have you or would you pay for your child to go to private school?
Have you ever moved, or would you consider moving, to be in a better public school district?
Was schools a major factor when renting/buying a home or apartment?