You’ve got a NC private school voucher. Will that be enough to pay for tuition?
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North Carolina School Choice
North Carolina is about to see record expansion in the number of students who get taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools. But it’s not a cause for celebration for public school supporters at a time when they say they don’t get enough help. Here’s ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.
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Tens of thousands of North Carolina families could get Opportunity Scholarships this fall, but it won’t be enough to cover tuition costs at some private schools.
Under the new eligibility rules, voucher recipients will receive between $3,360 and $7,468 per child. That will be enough for the less expensive private schools.
But in other cases, voucher recipients will have to foot the rest of the bill themselves or seek additional financial aid. State lawmakers have eliminated income restrictions so some well-off voucher recipients will have no problem paying the tuition and other school fees..
What’s the average tuition in North Carolina?
According to Private School Review, the average private school tuition in North Carolina in 2024 is $10,442.
The website breaks it down further to an average tuition of $9,637 for elementary schools and $10,937 for high schools.
How much do the top private schools charge?
The top private schools are not cheap. Here’s the five top-ranked K-12 private schools in North Carolina, according to Niche.com, along with their tuition amounts:
▪ Durham Academy: Between $25,250 and $34,050 in grades K -12.
▪ Providence Day School: Between $24,035 and $31,175 in grades K-12.
▪ Gaston Day School: Between $16,540 and $19.250 in grades K-12.
▪ Charlotte Country Day School: Between $22,220 and $29,480 in grades K-12.
▪ Ravenscroft School: Between $17,720 and $30,690 in grades K-12.
High-demand voucher schools
Tuition rates can be cheaper at the private schools that accept large numbers of Opportunity Scholarship students. Here’s the tuition rates at the five Triangle private schools that have received the most voucher money so far this school year:
▪ Cristo Rey Research Triangle High School in Durham: Specifically geared to students of limited means so average family monthly contribution is $70.
▪ Al-Iman School in Raleigh: Between $8,150 and $8,450 in grades K-8.
▪ Liberty Christian School in Durham: $6,000 per student in grades K-12.
▪ Al-Huda Academy in Durham: $7,000 per student in grades K-8
▪ Raleigh Christian Academy: Between $6,750 and $8,849 in grades K-12.
Some schools have not yet announced their 2024-25 tuition rates. Some North Carolina private schools are raising their tuition rates by more than 10% this year.
NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published February 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM with the headline "You’ve got a NC private school voucher. Will that be enough to pay for tuition?."
