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I appreciate all the replies. It is interesting to hear about what registration is like in other districts and states. It's helpful when the replies include where the referenced schools are located.
I don't like the idea of an e-yearbook, I'd rather pay extra for the real thing. But then again I'm an old-school book-in-hand, pen & paper sort of person. No e-readers for this mama. But I'm sure in ten or so years, heavy yearbooks with their thick glossy pages and hard covers will be shelved forever, on to be forgotten along with cassette tapes, land line home phones, and cars without USB3 ports.
JustJulia - thank you for the new perspective. These school fees are indeed small potatoes compared to what's on the horizon!!
The optional fees and costs are sometimes easy to omit, and sometimes not. School pictures, for example. We don't need to purchase school photos. Especially in this day and age where we have camera's on our phones and tons of digital photos of our kids, and it's even so easy now to take good family portraits ourselves at home. But, I've never not been able to purchase my kids school photos. Mainly for sentimental reasons. We've purchased the same pose, same background, same package, for years and years. To stop would seem like breaking a family tradition. Even though now we do have the option of purchasing only the CD with the digital version of the photo on it... there is something about holding the real photo in your hand. Even cutting apart the smaller photos - there's just something about that process, a ritual perhaps. Mainly mothers (I'm sure some father's do this, too... but it's usually the mother's) for many generations have done this with their child's school photographs for many generations. It's just one of the things I can't not purchase, even though it is optional.
Ugh, school fees. Both girls are in high school now, so ouch. I don't recall whether there were separate fees for core classes, but there was a ~$100 general fee per girl, tech fee, and various course fees. Add the yearbook, athletic pass, and a few other fees.
Ask for an accounting of your tax dollars. If it's X dollars per student, ask how the money is used. Since it's your tax dollars that paid for the school, why are you paying a fee to use a locker?
I also forgot to mention that our district no longer provides bus transportation for high school students. So, in addition to the registration fees, we also purchase a bus pass. (Our son currently rides the bus to school. If the kids drive, they pay for a parking permit.)
Bus passes aren't too expensive for students, thankfully - $24 per month. But still - they used to provide free bus passes to high school students. I was a bit irritated when they suddenly stopped doing that last year. $24 per month for the school year adds up to a little over $200 per year. We can afford it, but it's one more little expense in addition to all the other little school related expenses that we didn't have to budget for before. It all adds up.
This is a very interesting thread. We do private, so I was curious what fees you paid in public school. Tuition covers all academic fees, but I wonder about AP exams (not there yet). Sports fees will cost us well in excess of $1200 for two kids. I just made a nice tax deductible donation for new cross country uniforms not in the budget. School trips? Probably $600-700 a piece. I do love our school, but the expenses go way beyond tuition. I realize not everyone can or wants to do what we have chosen, but sadly I feel this is necessary for a decent, college prep education in our area
I also forgot to mention that our district no longer provides bus transportation for high school students. So, in addition to the registration fees, we also purchase a bus pass. (Our son currently rides the bus to school. If the kids drive, they pay for a parking permit.)
Bus passes aren't too expensive for students, thankfully - $24 per month. But still - they used to provide free bus passes to high school students. I was a bit irritated when they suddenly stopped doing that last year. $24 per month for the school year adds up to a little over $200 per year. We can afford it, but it's one more little expense in addition to all the other little school related expenses that we didn't have to budget for before. It all adds up.
What State are you in? My system tried to do that last year and got ***** slapped by both the MD State Department of Education and the Feds.
Our district provides bus transportation if you live further than 2 miles I think - but charges for it. I forget what it is. .50 each way maybe? IDK. It started a couple years ago.
Our district provides bus transportation if you live further than 2 miles I think - but charges for it. I forget what it is. .50 each way maybe? IDK. It started a couple years ago.
Again it would vary by State but you parents ought to be raising Holy Hell about that. Compulsory education laws require your kids to be in school and I have no doubt school taxes are significant. Many states subsidize the transportation costs for regular and require transport for Special Ed (that's Federal).
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It all adds up.
