PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Austin vs Chesapeake

Chesapeake averages $1,200/year less for private school (8% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $15,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Chesapeake is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,300/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. Religious schools run $9,400/year on the low end.

Austin

TX

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Chesapeake

VA

$14,300

avg tuition/year

$1,950 above national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Austin Chesapeake Difference
All Schools (Average) $15,500/yr $14,300/yr +$1,200
Religious Schools $9,400/yr $9,800/yr -$400
Independent/Prep $28,200/yr $28,500/yr -$300
Elementary (K-5) $12,800/yr $12,200/yr +$600
Middle School (6-8) $15,500/yr $14,300/yr +$1,200
High School (9-12) $19,200/yr $17,200/yr +$2,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

Chesapeake

$185,900

Choosing Chesapeake saves $15,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $31,200.

Sample Schools

Austin

St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Austin)

Independent · PK–12 · $32,800-$35,400/yr

Austin Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $14,200/yr

St. Michael's Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,800/yr

Hyde Park Baptist School

Christian · PK–12 · $13,400-$15,200/yr

Chesapeake

Greenbrier Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Norfolk Academy

Independent · K–12 · $23,800/yr

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.