Because of a perceived superiority, real or imagined, most people assume that children who attend private schools have a better chance of achievement than those who attend public schools.
But what are the costs of sending your children to private schools?
Private schools in Australia can be divided into two groups: religious systems of education and the Independent schools. Religious systems of education are operated by the Anglican, Lutheran, Roman Catholic denominations. Catholic schools are run by state Catholic Department of Education whilst the more prestigious Catholic schools are independent.
Larger independent schools charge higher tuition fees and are therefore able to afford facilities that government Schools and Departmental Catholic Schools cannot. Whilst state schools are run and funded by the government, private and Catholic schools are run privately (and in the case of Catholic schools, run by Catholics) but are also subsidised by the government. Some parties, like the Australian Education Union and the Australian Labor Party, criticise funding for private schools.
In general, private school fees in Australia vary from under $1,000 per year to $20,000 upwards, depending on the size of the school and the student’s year level. Generally speaking, the older your child the more expensive it gets. Most schools, however, provide a discount for families where multiple children attend the same school.
For comparison purposes, the table below shows the school fees payable at some well known colleges in Australia for Year 12 students. These are prestigious schools and their fees are generally higher than regular private schools, such as Catholic schools. The table indicates some differences in fees between Melbourne and Sydney and other mainland state capitals.
Note that these fees apply to Australian citizens. For non-Australian citizens, different fees may apply. They can also get grants. Typically though, private schools in Australia are competitively priced compared to private schools in countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, among others.
The difference between private school fees for Australian citizens and non-citizens can be quite substantial. For example, these figures apply to an Anglican Church Grammar Year 12 boarder.
In addition to private school fees, the cost of attending an Australian private school includes other potential additional costs. These costs include application fees (from $50 to $200), enrolment fees (from $500 to $2,500 and may be higher), uniforms, schools camps and trips, book charges, school bus services, etc.
Obviously, private school fees need to be very carefully examined within your financial planning if you have decided to send your children to a private school.
Of course, there are many factors to be considered if you are to send your children to a private school. Factors like the quality of education, the training of the teachers, the interplay of academic and non-academic training, your financial capability, your religion and beliefs (especially in the case of sectarian schools) must all be taken into account when evaluating a school for potential attendance of your children. Even mundane reasons such as the distance from your home to the school must be considered.
Choose carefully. Look for options and do your homework. Consider costs as well as all other factors that are important to you and you will hopefully make the right decision in choosing the right private school for your children.