The cost of private school should be calculated across all the years of attendance, not from a single year’s tuition. Kindergarten through grade 12 spans 13 years; a student may change schools once or twice along the way, and each school charges different tuition. The calculator below adds up each year’s tuition as published by each school in this site’s Orange County private school database to produce a total.
1Starting year and grades
2School for each stage
3Total tuition
$0Enter grades and tuition to see the total here.
Tuition only. Registration fees, deposits, bus service, lunch, uniforms and extracurricular activities are extra; see the tuition and fee details on each school page. With a 0 percent annual increase, the total assumes current tuition stays the same.
How to Use This Calculator
- Set the grade range first. For example, for “kindergarten through grade 8 at a K-8 school, then grades 9 through 12 at a private high school,” enter two stages. To calculate high school only, enter one stage.
- Select a school, or enter tuition manually. Selecting a school fills in the tuition from this site’s school database and states the school year. When a school charges different tuition by grade, the lowest tier is filled in first, and it can be changed to match the student’s grade.
- Enter the annual increase based on your own expectations. By default, the calculation keeps current tuition unchanged.
Costs Beyond Tuition to Include in the Budget
Registration and new student fees
Charged once at enrollment or every year. For example, Harbor Day School charges new families $2,000 when their first child enrolls.
Deposits
Paid when signing the enrollment contract; some are applied to tuition, and some are nonrefundable. For example, the Harbor Day School deposit for the 2026-27 school year is $4,000.
Books, uniforms, and devices
For example, Pacifica Christian High School lists books at about $500 to 700, uniforms at about $300 to 400, and an iPad at $1,000.
Annual and graduation fees
For example, Santa Margarita Catholic High School charges an $875 technology fee each year and a $475 graduation fee for the graduating class.
The same tuition can lead to different actual costs depending on the payment method. The practices of three schools can be compared:
Paying in full and discounts
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: $750 off for paying the full year's tuition by May 31
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: $500 off for the second child and $750 off for each additional child
- Pacifica Christian High School: 5% off for the second child and 10% off for each additional child
Extra costs for installment plans
- Pacifica Christian High School: an additional $450 for two installments and $800 for 11 installments
- Harbor Day School: families choosing a ten-payment plan must purchase tuition refund insurance at $400 per student per year
- Santa Margarita Catholic High School: installment plans through FACTS carry a setup fee of $25 to $55
All amounts above are for the 2026-27 school year and come from the tuition pages of each school’s website. Santa Margarita Catholic High School states that families receiving financial aid do not receive any other discounts except the Catholic family discount.
Tuition Is Not the Only Criterion
Total tuition helps families set a budget range, but choosing a school also involves courses, class size, commute, and whether the student will adjust well. Most private schools offer need-based financial aid, so the tuition actually paid may be lower than the published tuition; see the private school financial aid guide for details.
