The cost of educating your child can vary greatly between public and private schools. Public school usually requires little more than the purchase of school supplies, a few workbooks, and money for field trips. However, now that some public schools are adopting uniforms, parents may have to bear this cost, too. For extra-curricular activities like sports and cheerleading, you may have to buy uniforms or various equipment. This is especially true in smaller towns, where school budgets are tighter. Though it doesn't cost to attend public school, you pay for it indirectly through school taxes. Attending private school is a different matter. Even Catholic schools, typically the most affordable of the private schools, may cost several thousand dollars a year. The annual tuition for some day schools can approach $15,000; add to this the cost of incidentals like uniforms, textbooks and private transportation. Boarding schools are the most expensive of all, running easily twice as much as private day schools. That's because you pay room and board as well as tuition; your child will also need more money for clothing, snacks, and transportation home on holidays.
