Parents aren’t just paying for college dreams anymore. Now it’s high school that’s breaking the bank.
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We’ve all seen the drill: parents pushing discipline, piling on extracurriculars, and dropping cash on test-prep courses to get their kids into top universities. But the admissions arms race has moved down a level.
Today’s parents are competing just as fiercely to get their children into elite high schools, and it’s not cheap. With school-choice programs and education vouchers turning K-12 education into a competitive marketplace, families are reportedly spending thousands to give their kids an edge, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. [1] Private school enrollment nationwide has been growing for four consecutive years, according to the Cato Institute 2024 survey. [2]
Private School Review says the average private high school tuition nationwide ranges from around $7,000 in Alaska to over $30,000 in New England states. [3]
And that’s before parents even hire admissions consultants – another booming industry charging thousands to help kids secure a seat.
Lottery systems for high schools?
In extremely competitive markets like New York, where families have to navigate lottery numbers and admissions tests, paying up to $15,000 for a consultant to guide the process can help cut through the red tape and land your kid in a good school. Firms offer services varying from hourly sessions to packages that manage the entire application process.
“Navigating high-school admissions can feel as overwhelming as college admissions,” Admit NY founder and CEO Whitney Shashou told The Wall Street Journal.
And the parents agree. New York couple Laurie and Stephen McCarthy hired a consultant to get their son Thomas into high school in 2023. Instead of spending months on researching, Laurie said $560 and two hours on a Zoom call with a consultant gave them a list of school options.
“It was money well spent,” Laurie said.
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Normal studying and test-prep isn’t cutting it anymore, either. AI has greatly sped up the diagnostic process and can detect students’ weaknesses in mere minutes, not to mention a booming test-prep and tutoring market.
As more students flock to private schools, more kids are registering for the Independent School Entrance Exam. Registrations increased 8.6% from the 2023-24 to 2024-25 school year, said Mike Flanagan, the chief executive of data insights organization E3n, to the Journal.
Parents are clearly willing to pay a pretty penny to get their child through the admissions process and into a top school. But is all the money really worth it?
Do expensive private schools make a difference?
Students attending private high schools do have certain advantages in the college admissions process, as private schools can offer more rigorous courses, smaller class sizes, better access to standardized test prep, and counselors with connections to prestigious universities.
The New York Times also reported on a study by a group of Harvard economists that said admissions committees at elite colleges gave higher nonacademic scores to students from private, nonreligious high schools. [4]
“They were twice as likely to be admitted as similar students — those with the same SAT scores, race, gender and parental income — from public schools in high-income neighborhoods,” said the article. “A major factor was recommendations from guidance counselors and teachers at private high schools.”
On the other hand, it has also been argued that Ivy League institutions may scrutinize the application of a private school student more closely to see if they really took advantage of their privileged education.
Data does show that private school students tend to perform better on tests and enroll in college at higher rates. But many experts tie this data to higher economic status rather than attendance at a specific school.
So if you’re spending thousands to find a school for your child, it may be wise to choose one that’s the best fit for them rather than one with a flashy name. Experts say parents should look at educational outcomes, class size, teacher training, affordability, diversity and availability of programs for learning disabilities, according to U.S. News & World Report. [5]
How much should I budget for high school?
Parents often wonder about when to start saving for their children’s higher education, but dropping thousands of dollars on private high schools is not an option for most families.
For a decent private high school, tuition can range from $25,000-$35,000 per year. On top of that, you may have to spend thousands extra on fees, books, uniforms, supplies, extra-curriculars, and transportation. If you are spending $30,000 for one child in private school, that’s $120,000 for their entire high school education before they’ve even stepped foot on a college campus.
If you are going to budget for your child’s education, start early. Open a 529 savings plan as soon as possible, which in 2026 will allow parents to contribute up to $20,000 annually for K-12 expenses.
If you want to pay for private school, be sure to account for the total cost of attendance with all fees and extras. Determine if the cost of a private high school will hinder your ability to pay for your child’s college – after all, private high schools may give them a better chance at admission, but scholarships are not guaranteed.
As for the extras that make your child shine, like test prep, tutoring, and extracurriculars, allocate an extra $100-$200 a month and reevaluate each month as sports seasons change and testing comes and goes.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
The Wall Street Journal (1); Cato Institute (2); Private School Review (3); The New York Times (4); U.S. News & World Report (5)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.