Is private school cheaper in Charleston or Clearwater?

Charleston has lower average private school tuition at $9,400/year vs $10,200/year in Clearwater. That's $800/year less, or $10,400 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Charleston over Clearwater?

Average tuition in Charleston is $800/year less than Clearwater. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $10,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,800/year in Charleston, $7,100/year in Clearwater.

How do Charleston and Clearwater private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Charleston averages $9,400/year ($2,950 below average). Clearwater averages $10,200/year ($2,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Charleston vs Clearwater

Charleston averages $800/year less for private school (9% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $10,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Charleston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $10,200/year in Clearwater. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Charleston

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg

Lower cost

Clearwater

$10,200

avg tuition/year

$2,150 below national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Charleston	Clearwater	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,400/yr	$10,200/yr	-$800
Religious Schools	$6,800/yr	$7,100/yr	-$300
Independent/Prep	$19,400/yr	$21,100/yr	-$1,700
Elementary (K-5)	$8,000/yr	$8,700/yr	-$700
Middle School (6-8)	$9,400/yr	$10,200/yr	-$800
High School (9-12)	$11,300/yr	$12,200/yr	-$900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charleston

$122,200

Clearwater

$132,600

Choosing Charleston saves $10,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $20,800.

Sample Schools

Charleston

Porter-Gaud School

Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr

Bishop England High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Clearwater

Calvary Christian Academy (Clearwater)

Christian · PK–12 · $10,400-$12,800/yr

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy

Independent (Episcopal) · PK–12 · $14,200/yr

Full Charleston breakdown → Full Clearwater breakdown →

South Carolina private school costs Florida private school costs

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.