How Can I Afford Private School?
Private school is more affordable than you might think. Though tuition and fee payments can seem like a lot at first, there are many options that private schools provide to families that make these payments affordable. Most schools provide financial aid, scholarships and payment plans. Furthermore, if you are looking for a private school in the state of Florida, such as private middle schools in Tampa FL, additional state scholarships are available.
Finding the right fit
First and foremost, you should find a school that fits your family’s values and needs. If you are looking for a Christian education for your child, you should look for a private Christian school. If STEM is important to you, look for a school with a good STEM program.
Additionally, it is beneficial to compare tuitions of different schools that meet your needs. Some schools ask for tuition that is unreasonable for what the school provides. Other schools do not provide financial aid or scholarships. These are things to take into consideration when searching for a private school.
Financial aid
Most private schools provide some type of financial aid. Financial aid helps cover some of the cost of tuition, and in some cases fees as well. Unfortunately, many families think that they will not qualify because of their household income. They think that they make too much to be eligible, so they do not apply. However, the average salary of families who apply for financial aid is $100-150K, and many families receive some financial support. You will not know if your family qualifies unless you apply, so we recommend that you do!
School scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to help with tuition costs. Many private schools offer scholarships, including athletic, merit-based, and academic scholarships. Scholarships benefit both the school and families. The school has the opportunity to attract a more diverse group of students, and families can take advantage of the lower tuition rates.
State scholarships
The School Choice Office through the Florida Department of Education has a number of different scholarships for families. If you are looking for a school in the state, such as private middle schools in Tampa FL, or an elementary or high school, your family or child might be eligible for these scholarships:
Scholarships for low-income families.
The maximum qualifying income has raised over the past year so that more families are eligible for this resource.
Scholarships for dependents of military personnel.
Scholarships for children with disabilities/special needs and siblings of children with special needs.
What is considered a “disability” varies widely among private schools. This definition greatly depends on what each school can accommodate. Your child may not be accepted into a school, not because they do not want you there, but because they do not have the resources to provide assistance that will benefit your child.
Some disabilities that many schools recognize include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), speech and language impairments, developmental delays, mental and emotional disorders, and physical impairments that require accommodation.
Students that have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 from public schools are eligible for the McKay scholarship and the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA). Both these scholarships are in place to help fund a family’s choice of a private education for their child with disabilities.
Financing plans
Most private schools also offer financing plans for families. These payment plans are in place to alleviate the burden of having to pay tuition in full. Instead, these plans allow you to pay smaller monthly fees throughout the school year.
South Tampa Christian Schools
Are you looking for a private Christian school for your child? We might be a great fit for you. Bayshore Christian School is a South Tampa Christian School for grades pre-K through 12th grade. We offer low tuition rates, as well as financial aid, payment plans and scholarships for additional support.
Contact us, today, if you have any questions about financing, as well as if you have any general questions about our programs!
Is Private School Really Worth It?
Deciding where to send your child to school can be difficult, especially if you are trying to choose between public schools and private schools. You might be wondering if enrolling your child in a private school would make that big of a difference in their life. After all, from an outside perspective, private schools can appear to just be smaller schools that cost more money and require students to wear uniforms. However, there is a lot more to them than those things.
Sending your child to a private Christian school gives them the opportunity to create a foundation for their faith. Building this foundation doesn’t just stop at elementary or middle school. Enrolling your child in a private high school in Tampa FL will provide a continued space for growth in their faith to prepare them for college and beyond.
Is private school right for your child?
Though we believe that private school is worth it, how much of a positive difference it makes for students depends on a few factors.
It depends on the family. Some children may benefit more from attending a private school than others. This is especially true for students from Christian families. Unlike most public schools, Christian schools in Tampa FL have character development lessons incorporated into their curriculums. Additionally, the teachers have the opportunity to teach about God, so these lessons are often faith-based. Enrolling your child in a private Christian school provides them with the opportunity to learn and develop in an environment that encourages living how God has called us to live. This stands true for high school-aged students as well. We recommend looking for private high schools in Tampa FL so that your child can continue to grow their faith into adulthood.
It depends on the school. It is important to find a private school that lines up with your families values and priorities. When evaluating different private schools, we suggest that you ask about their beliefs about things such as teaching methods and behavior management strategies, as well as about their doctrine of faith. Attending private school may be the right choice for your child, but finding the right private school can greatly impact how “worth it” it is to send them there.
Christian schools in Tampa FL
Bayshore Christian school is a private Christian school in Tampa FL with a vision to shape young people in Christ to make an impact on the world. We offer curriculum for pre-K up through 12th grade. Contact us, today, if you are searching for a private Christian school for your child. We might be the perfect fit for you!
What Questions to Ask When Looking for a Private School
Searching for the right school for your child can be stressful. You want what’s best for them and their education, as well as what is best for your family financially. Whether you are looking for a private preschool, elementary school, high school, or a private middle school in Tampa FL, these are some things you should ask about.
What is your tuition and what additional fees are there?
Private schools are required to publish their rates and have that information available for families. Unfortunately, some schools exclude hidden fees or requirements from the public, which is deceiving to new and interested families. If it seems that a school has hidden fees, that is a red flag. There should be no surprises when it comes to how you will be spending your money.
Thankfully, most schools do make this information public. However, it is always good to ask questions to get more information or confirm the information that they have provided. Some things to ask about involving finances are:
Admission fees: Make sure you are aware of all of the fees required during the admissions process, including possible application fees and acceptance fees.
Fees required throughout the school year: These are additional fees that are separate from admission or tuition costs. Some examples are testing fees, extracurricular fees, and curriculum fees. It is a good idea to ask about these costs and to find out which are required and which are optional.
Tuition: Tuition varies from school to school, as well as within schools based on grade level. For example, tuition for private middle schools in Tampa FL is generally higher than tuition for private preschools. There may also be financing fees that are not included in the tuition price.
What discounts or scholarships are available?
Many schools offer various discounts on costs. Some schools apply a discount if tuition and fees are paid upfront. They may also offer other discounts, such as sibling discounts and active military discounts. These opportunities are not often brought to the surface by the school, so you’ll probably need to ask about them to be aware of your options.
There may also be scholarships available through the school or scholarships through other entities, including the state, which they are aware of. Yes, some public state scholarships or programs can be used at private schools. These scholarships may cover fixed amount or a percentage of your child’s tuition.
Fundraising and volunteer hours
A lot of funding for schools in Tampa FL comes from family fundraising efforts. Though you might be able to pay a set fee to opt out, most private schools require it. Obtain as much information as you can about fundraising and consider asking these questions:
- Is there a specific amount that each family will be asked to provide throughout the year?
- When and how often are we required to fundraise?
- Are there volunteer opportunities that can count for some of the fundraising amount required?
Generally, private schools also require a certain number of volunteer hours. At Bayshore Christian School, we only require 4 hours a year, but many schools require a lot more. Be sure to ask about these volunteer requirements so that you can decide if you want to and/or are able to make the commitment expected of you by the school.
Private schools in Tampa FL
Bayshore Christian School is a private school in Tampa FL that offers Pre-K and grade school education up to 12th grade. We make all of our information about tuition, fees and requirements publicly available. Regardless, we would be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have, so feel free to contact us!