My children's elementary school is not a winner. The classes are overcrowded, achievement scores are below the national average, and there are many discipline problems. I never thought that I'd do this, but I am thinking of transferring them to a private school. But I have heard that tuition is outrageously expensive. Is this true? -- Transferring Answer: It can be almost as expensive to go to a private elementary school as it is to go to an Ivy League college. Right now in 2025-2026, the average cost for elementary school is $14,018. However, special program schools such as Montessori may cost more. And private high schools are typically more expensive than elementary programs. And at almost every school, tuition continues to go up every year. Fortunately, many private schools do offer financial help -- available even to middle-class families. You need to understand that not all private schools charge astronomical tuitions. Call several in your area to discover what you are likely to pay. Furthermore, 85 percent of all private schools are denominational schools, affiliated to religions. Their tuition will be much lower than that of exclusive private schools. And in some states there are voucher programs that let parents apply this money toward tuition at a private school. In addition, there are free charter schools that offer alternatives to enrolling in the typical public school.