HOUSTON – As the Texas school voucher program opens statewide, many parents are weighing whether private school is finally within reach. But new data shows that even with vouchers, the cost of private education in Houston remains a major financial commitment for most families.
According to General Academic, the average cost of private school tuition in the Houston area for the 2024–2025 school year is $26,896 per child. That’s nearly a 5% increase from the previous school year and more than a 21% increase since before the pandemic.
General Academic is an independent education data and analysis website that tracks private school tuition, fees, and enrollment trends in U.S. cities including Houston.
“Tuition rates right now the average rate for a kindergarten student is right around $23,000 a year. For ninth graders, it’s about $30,000 a year,” said Samuel Pearson, General Manager of General Academic. “And that’s just tuition. That’s not including all of the fees involved technology fees, registration fees, school trips, uniforms. There’s a lot more than just the sticker price.”
Tuition varies by grade level:
- Kindergarten: about $22,379 per year
- Sixth grade: about $25,251 per year
- Twelfth grade: about $28,853 per year
Tuition is only part of the price
If tuition continues rising at its current pace, families with a child starting kindergarten today could be paying more than $54,000 a year by high school graduation.
Experts estimate that families who enroll a child in private school from kindergarten through 12th grade could spend more than $460,000 in tuition alone. When additional fees are included, that number can climb past $500,000 over 13 years.
“Every single year, it gets more expensive,” Pearson said. “Families that send their children to private school from kindergarten through 12th grade will pay almost half a million dollars in tuition by the time their student graduates. And I don’t think many families understand that.”
Private school costs don’t stop at tuition. Many Houston-area schools charge additional fees that can add thousands of dollars each year, including:
- New student enrollment fees
- Laptops or tablets
- Textbooks and classroom supplies
- Food services
- Transportation and bus fees
- Field trips and travel programs
Some schools charge more than $2,000 for technology, $1,600 for food services, or several thousand dollars for trips and transportation. A few schools bundle these costs into tuition, but many bill families separately.
“Just that tuition number isn’t the whole story,” Pearson said. “There are new student fees, re-enrollment fees every year, technology fees that can be upwards of $3,000, uniforms, and school trips that are often mandatory. The $10,000 voucher will help, for sure but it’s not going to cover the full cost of attending the school.”
Are any private schools more affordable?
Catholic schools tend to offer lower tuition compared to other private schools. In Houston, the average cost of Catholic school education for the 2024–2025 school year is $20,761, which is more than 20% cheaper than the overall private school average.
Even so, tuition at Catholic schools has also been rising and may still be out of reach for many families without financial assistance.
Financial aid is limited
Unlike elite private colleges with large endowments, most Houston private schools rely heavily on tuition to operate. While some well-funded schools offer financial aid, assistance is limited and competitive. Families are typically required to pay tuition upfront at the start of the school year or through monthly automatic payments.
Getting accepted isn’t guaranteed
Cost isn’t the only barrier. Admission into private schools can also be highly competitive.
“Families typically start preparing for applications more than a year in advance,” Pearson said. “Students often take the ISEE a very difficult entrance exam and for the most selective schools, you really need to score in the 80th percentile or higher. Admissions are holistic, but testing is a huge part of the decision.”
Challenges for students with disabilities
For families with children who have disabilities, options are even more limited.
“Private schools in general don’t have the resources to support an IEP,” Pearson said. “And by law, they are not required to. There are only a small number of private schools in Houston that can accommodate students with IEPs — and those schools are tremendously expensive.”
Specialty schools that serve students with significant learning differences often charge $45,000 a year or more, far beyond what vouchers would cover.
“So even $30,000 in voucher support isn’t going to cut it,” Pearson said.
What this means as vouchers roll out
Supporters of the Texas school voucher program say it could help families offset private school costs. Critics argue the funding may not keep pace with rising tuition, especially in large urban areas like Houston.
For parents considering private education, experts say it’s important to look beyond the voucher amount and budget for the full cost of attendance, including long-term tuition increases and added fees.
What parents should consider before applying
Before committing to private school, families should ask:
- What fees are not included in tuition?
- How often does tuition increase?
- What payment plans are available?
- How much financial aid is realistically offered?
As vouchers open the door for more families to explore private education, the numbers show that cost remains a major deciding factor and for many households, a significant financial stretch.
If you have any questions or comments, reach out to KPRC 2’s Re’Chelle Turner directly at rturner@kprc.com.