Private School Cost: Bellevue vs Olathe
Olathe averages $10,400/year less for private school (127% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $135,200 per child.
Bottom Line
Olathe is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,200/year vs $18,600/year in Bellevue. Religious schools run $5,800/year on the low end.
Bellevue
WA
$18,600
avg tuition/year
Olathe
KS
$8,200
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Bellevue | Olathe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $18,600/yr | $8,200/yr | +$10,400 |
| Religious Schools | $12,700/yr | $5,800/yr | +$6,900 |
| Independent/Prep | $39,700/yr | $17,000/yr | +$22,700 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $15,800/yr | $7,000/yr | +$8,800 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $18,600/yr | $8,200/yr | +$10,400 |
| High School (9-12) | $22,300/yr | $9,800/yr | +$12,500 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Bellevue
$241,800
Olathe
$106,600
Choosing Olathe saves $135,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $270,400.
Sample Schools
Bellevue
The Overlake School
Independent · 5–12 · $37,800/yr
Bellevue Christian School
Christian · PK–12 · $14,200/yr
Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma)
Catholic · 9–12 · $18,400/yr
Olathe
Olathe Christian School
Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr
St. Paul's Episcopal Day School (Olathe)
Episcopal · K–8 · $8,800-$10,800/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.