by 90066DAD » Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:41 am
The annual tuition at private high schools in LA County can be upwards of $26,000 - $30,000, but some schools (mostly Catholic) are as low as $6,000. One should not assume a strict correlation between tuition cost and quality. For example, Loyola High School (Catholic, boys only) is one of the premiere high schools in Southern California and their tuition is less than ($13,000). Notre Dame Academy, an excellent all girls Catholic school, only charges $10,000.
At the more selective private high schools, proven athletic ability may give the applicant an edge in terms of admission. There are no athletic scholarships per se. However, if a family can objectively demonstrate a need, the schools with large endowment funds may offer a grant to cover some portion of the tuition.
There are many considerations in choosing a private high school, and each family will weigh them differently. The school’s academic reputation, cost of tuition, driving distance, and perhaps religious affiliation are all important factors. For most parents (or so it seems) looking at private high schools, the matriculation list, i.e., where did the school’s recent graduates enroll for college, carries the most weight.