It’s easy to formulate an image in our minds of the well-heeled parents and family of students in private school and yet that image is inaccurate. Parents, perhaps like never before, are invested in – and investing in – their children’s education, and middle class families are often stretching their budget to afford a private school option.
Although much has changed economically in the world in the last 14 months, BankWest research in Australia found that a tenth of private school parents are spending half of their income on their children’s private education. Even though that means 90% of parents are spending less than that, I was shocked by the number. Additionally, half of all parents surveyed reported that affording private school was a financial strain on the family.
All of this goes a long way to shattering the notion that private school is for the privileged class, and it also begins to shed light on what lengths parents will go to for their children’s education.
In the Boston area, one family tried making public school work for their son for 8 years before finally deciding on private high school. It’s clear that the school is working, but the $31,000 price tag for tuition and a tutoring program has dramatically altered the family’s lifestyle: less travel, less dinners out and only two Christmas presents. But the mom, Jackie, knew that the money they expected to spend for university would never get used for that purpose if they didn’t spend it on high school. For that family, the day-to-day sacrifices are worth it for the investment in their son’s education.
Closer to home, a Fraser Institute article from 2004 (pdf) breaks down a lot of the myths surrounding private schools: that they are expensive, exclusive, that lower-income families aren’t interested, that private schools have no rules and that religious schools are only for faith-based curriculum. Not only are there a number of sacrifices parents are willing to make, but as this article points out, there are a number of programs in place to help families out.
In fact, an Our Kids Go To School article features a mom who was relieved to be paying university tuition. Because it was less than that of the private high school. Her sacrifices were numerous, but for her, completely worthwhile.
The bottom line is, quite simply, that a whole lot of people can afford private education. “It’s too expensive” should not be a parent’s refrain at the mere mention of private school. And that may be the most surprising thing of all.
