Private Schools (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: countertops, mortgage, how much)

[bsharynu]

I looked at the tuition for private schools and the average is around $18K. (Not including books, activity fee or other ancillary charges). Do most people pay that? What if you have 2 children in school? $40K. How do people (who are not super wealthy) afford private school? I understand there is tuition assistance, but how much?

[CMMom]

I have two kids in private school. Well, we sacrifice. My kids have never been to Disney World or on a ski vacation, etc... We drive old cars that are already paid for. We have to wait to do home improvements that would be nice, but aren't necessary. We pay full fare. Tuition assistance is not as common as you might think. However, some schools use the FACTS program whereby you can pay monthly instead of in 1 or 2 chunks as many schools require. We are not super wealthy by any means (although Obama would say we are, but I digress). You can find private schools that are not that expensive, but most of the "elite" schools in Atlanta do fall in the range you mentioned.

[BobKovacs]

Originally Posted by bsharynu

I looked at the tuition for private schools and the average is around $18K. (Not including books, activity fee or other ancillary charges). Do most people pay that? What if you have 2 children in school? $40K. How do people (who are not super wealthy) afford private school? I understand there is tuition assistance, but how much?

No- "most" people buy in an area with good public schools and utilize the facilities that they're already paying for through their property taxes.

[lastminutemom]

Originally Posted by bsharynu

I looked at the tuition for private schools and the average is around $18K. (Not including books, activity fee or other ancillary charges). Do most people pay that? What if you have 2 children in school? $40K. How do people (who are not super wealthy) afford private school? I understand there is tuition assistance, but how much?

Yes, most people who use private schools pay full tuition. Some don't even miss it, but for many others they make the sacrifices that CMom talked about.

As to Bob's comments, there are also people who know they are going to be private school families and they buy a less expensive home in a less expensive school district and that is part of their strategy.

[printersdarlene]

I will be moving to sandy springs in Jan and I need to know what are some of the best private school in that area

[Tryska]

Woodward Academy (not in Sandy Springs, but the largest Private School in the country)

[deacongirl]

Originally Posted by printersdarlene

I will be moving to sandy springs in Jan and I need to know what are some of the best private school in that area

You won't be able to get into the best private schools until next year, and it is very competitive. Start a new thread with what you are interested in specifically and you will get better info.

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by printersdarlene

I will be moving to sandy springs in Jan and I need to know what are some of the best private school in that area

Holy Innocents in Sandy Springs is a great school and where my daughter has been the last 3 years. Very expensive @ $20k/yr, but some of the nicest people I've ever met and my daughter had a fantastic experience there.

[Tarzanman]

Originally Posted by CMMom

We are not super wealthy by any means (although Obama would say we are, but I digress). You can find private schools that are not that expensive, but most of the "elite" schools in Atlanta do fall in the range you mentioned.

Lol at this statement. Do you know you know what the median household income and median personal income are in this country?

Household income in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you can afford two private school tuitions and your mortgage then you're probably in the top 20-25% in the USA. That would make you comparitively wealthy, desite the huge disparity in the upper income block.

[DawgPark]

Originally Posted by Tarzanman

Lol at this statement. Do you know you know what the median household income and median personal income are in this country?

If you can afford two private school tuitions and your mortgage then you're probably in the top 20-25% in the USA. That would make you comparitively wealthy, desite the huge disparity in the upper income block.

Why do you assume there is a mortgage? One reason our family can afford 2 private school tuitions is because we bought less house than we could afford 15 years ago and sacrificed to pay it off in 10 years before our kids started school. We kinda did the Dave Ramsey thing before Dave Ramsey was cool.

Our friends all have bigger houses with granite countertops, nice furnishings, basement, etc. . . but we place a higher value on our kids' education. We also don't do expensive trips, vacations, or restaurants.

It's all strategy, planning, and figuring out what your priorities are.