School Tithes
If you thought college was pricey, take a look at some of the most expensive private K-12 schools across the country, from California to New York, and Massachusetts down to Florida. These prep schools—ranked in order of cost per year—give universities a run for their money.
Canterbury School
Location: St. Petersberg, Fla.
Cost: up to $17,100 per year
Situated on two campuses in the greater Tampa Bay area, Canterbury School caters to grades pre-K through high school and has some of the best academics and athletic programs in the region. In 2012 alone, the graduating class earned more than $3.17 million in university scholarships, and one-third went on to play collegiate athletics, according to the school.
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Cost: up to $26,520 per year
Founded by American philosopher John Dewey, the UCLS educates from nursery school through grade 12 and is one of the primary feeder institutions for elite colleges around the globe, according to the Wall Street Journal. The school stresses learning through both critical and creative means, and aims for high standards in academics, athletics and the arts.
Marin Country Day School
Location: Corte Madera, Calif.
Cost: up to $28,330 per year
The school might only house kindergarten through 8th grades, but the landscape and curriculum are both advanced and elite. The Northern California campus sits on 35 acres and contains a marine science dock and PE pavilion. Marin Country Day also recently added a musical theater program for its roughly 500 students.
Polytechnic School
Location: Pasadena, Calif.
Cost: up to $30,180 per year
Take a glance at the school’s past attendees—including cooking legend Julia Child and Nobel Prize winner Bruce Beutler—and you can see why K-12 Polytechnic is considered one of the best in the country, especially for upper grade levels. The College Board called the school a world leader in Advanced Placement exam success, and almost half of this past year’s graduating class earned National Merit finalist honors.
Crossroads School
Location: Santa Monica, Calif.
Cost: up to $31,000 per year
Not only does Crossroads evaluate each admitted student based on academic merit, but also on talents and interests that might bring something new and different to the class dynamic. Community service is a K-12 requirement, middle school students are required to take Latin, and kids are challenged with an 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Actors Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow and director Michael Bay are among the Crossroads alumni.
Francis W. Parker School
Location: Chicago, Ill.
Cost: up to $31,290 per year
At this progressive Chicago school, citizenship and community outreach are paramount. The junior-kindergarten through 12th grade campus also stresses the importance of learning about race, culture, religion and beyond. Alumni include journalist and author Jonathan Alter, actress Daryl Hannah and expressionist artist Joan Mitchell.
Phillips Academy Andover
Location: Andover, Mass.
Cost: $37,000 per year
Even literary heavyweights F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.D. Salinger name-dropped this prep school in their work as a picture of academic excellence—and Andover still shows up across pop culture today, in shows like Gossip Girl and movies like Iron Man. The academy, which was founded in 1778, has a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio and more than 300 available courses to expand horizons. But admission is costly, and extremely competitive: Less than 15% of applicants are generally admitted, according to the school website, making this school more difficult to enter than most colleges.
The Branson School
Location: Ross, Calif.
Cost: up to $38,225 per year
It costs a pretty penny to attend, and the state-of-the-art technology education is one reason why: Every classroom contains major multimedia equipment and interactive whiteboards. The student-to-faculty ratio is also just 8 to 1, and the small class size of about 13 makes for more personalized attention and quaint learning opportunities.
The Spence School
Location: New York, N.Y.
Cost: up to $39,200 per year
The all-girls academy, which boasts six art studios on campus, attracts the likes of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winners to speak to its bright students. There are about 700 students enrolled in K-12, and 100 percent of the graduating class attends college, according to the school.
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The Hewitt School
Location: Upper East Side; Manhattan, N.Y.
Cost: up to $39,400 per year
Located in townhouses on the Upper East Side, this all-girls K-12 school offers a creative arts program that includes a black box theater and digital media studios. Big names, ranging from Aristotle Onassis’s daughter Christina to renowned philanthropist Judith Peabody, have also attended the school since its founding in 1920.
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Trinity School
Location: New York, N.Y.
Cost: up to $39,625 per year
Expect a top-notch education and athletic experience at this K-12 campus on New York City's Upper West Side. All faculty members hold at least a master’s degree, with a large chunk carrying doctorates, and off-campus and international learning are both encouraged. Cool bonus: The sports facilities include a rooftop playing field.
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Riverdale Country School
Location: Bronx, N.Y.
Cost: up to $42,000 per year
This New York prep school hosts kids grades pre-K through 12th grade, immersing students in a liberal arts curriculum that includes music theory and film analysis. Among its alumni are actor Chevy Chase, ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams and former President John F. Kennedy.
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