Prep Schools - What Are the Expenses Aside From Tuition?

If you are looking into prep schools for your kids, you may have already research the required tuition. You may be prepared to pay for that cost alone, but you should also be ready to pay for additional expenses. These expenses would likely come up in a public school, too, so they are considered typical. However, you should get an idea of what you will have to pay for outside of the tuition every year.

Many prep schools encourage students to have a laptop, especially at the high school level. They might even issue laptops that they deem best for students, so you can ask school administrators if they have any preferences or requirements for laptops. However, if you feel your child does not need one for the year, you probably will not be required to buy one. Keep in mind, though, that many of your child's friends and classmates may have a computer, so he or she might ask for one just for this reason. If you cannot afford a new one, find out if the school loans them for the year, or if you can get a used one.

Of course, prep schools are known for requiring uniforms. This is usually an additional expense that the tuition does not cover. You may have a few options when you buy uniforms, such as the brand, but you typically have to stick to preapproved colors and patterns. You may be able to save some money by looking for sales on uniforms, or by buying used clothes from former students. When budgeting, keep in mind how many uniforms xour child will need, which will reflect on the amount of laundry you want to do through the week.

There are several smaller items you may have to pay for through the year. For example, some prep schools charge students for books, much like colleges do. Find out how much you can expect to pay for the books your child will need through the year. You should also remember that you will likely have to pay assorted testing fees, depending on which grade your child is in. If your student is in high school, you will likely have to pay a lot in testing fees, especially junior and senior year. You can typically find out how much these fees are ahead of time.

Not all prep schools have the same expenses, so find out what you will have to pay for the year when you enroll your child. In most cases, you will know about the costs ahead of time so you can budget. This can help keep schooling affordable.