Adding up the cost of private education
When it comes to fees, what’s included in tuition and what’s not?
It’s a common question among parents considering enrolling their child in private school: What additional costs are associated with this educational avenue, and what specifically does a standard tuition fee cover?
At Crescent School, a private school in Toronto for boys, the annual tuition fee of $33,250 covers most curricular costs associated with the courses each student chooses, as well as their lunches throughout the year, says Dave Shaw, director of enrolment and financial aid.
“One of the first questions we answer for parents of prospective students is about tuition costs and what extra costs can be expected,” Shaw says. “The short answer is that in their first year, parents can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 beyond the initial fee, depending on the age and level of extracurricular interest their child has.”
For example, a student in Crescent’s Upper School who plays soccer, rugby and hockey would incur higher costs than someone opting to be involved in clubs and local community service, he says. Parents are also required to cover the cost of uniforms, which Shaw says is typically higher in a student’s first year at the school.
At Bayview Glen, a co-ed private school in Toronto, tuition starts at $17,855 for children ages 2 to 4, and rises to $26,520 for those between Grades 6 and 12.
For preschool kids, the fee covers extended hours, holiday programs, two daily snacks and lunch, while snacks, lunch and the early-morning program are included in the tuition for those in senior kindergarten to Grade 8, says Judy Maxwell, director of admissions. For students in the Upper School, tuition covers year-long in-class learning.
As for additional costs, they vary based on a student’s age and level of participation in cocurricular activities, she says.
“Uniforms, lunch for Upper School students, textbooks for kids in Grades 7 to12, tablets for kids Grades 6 to 12, school trips, and after-school programs or applicable transportation costs all fall under this umbrella,” she says.
Blyth Academy, a Toronto coed private school, offers tuition rates starting at $13,595, which covers in-class learning for the year. Books, optional excursions and certain day/club activities are considered additional costs, as is busing, which is offered at certain Blyth Academy locations.
“One of the main differences with Blyth Academy when it comes to private-school tuition fees is that we break down the academic year into four terms, which allows students to focus on two courses per term, and offers a flexible pricing model geared to the needs of each student,” says Jenni Denniston, director of admissions.
If parents are looking to register a child for a full year, for example, they would opt for the six-to-eight course option, but if a child needs only two courses to graduate, parents have the option to register their child for just one term.
Each institute also charges a registration fee, which for Crescent School is a one-time enrolment fee of $8,500. Bayview Glen’s registration fee of $3,000 is applied once for all new students in senior kindergarten and above, while at Blyth Academy, an annual registration fee of $595 applies.
Families with students in Grade 12 should also keep in mind that the costs associated with university applications — OUAC fees, university visits and application coaching, if desired — are not typically built in to tuition rates. Most private schools offer different forms of financial aid — think bursaries, partial/full scholarships, HigherEdPoints and more — to students/families who qualify.
Bayview Glen offers scholarship exams to students in Grades 6 to 12, with successful students receiving $2,000 toward the next year’s fees, while Blyth Academy allows parents, family members, friends and even strangers to use HigherEdPoints (collected via loyalty Aeroplan Miles, TD Points and/ or CIBC Aventura points) toward tuition, fees, optional excursions, taxes or anything related to a student’s account.
Crescent School offers a scholarship program, as well as a needs-based financial aid service in which need is assessed by a third-party organization, and is available to students in Grades 7 to 11.