PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Charlotte vs Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale averages $1,800/year less for private school (15% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $23,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,700/year vs $13,500/year in Charlotte. Religious schools run $8,100/year on the low end.

Charlotte

NC

$13,500

avg tuition/year

$1,150 above national avg

Fort Lauderdale

FL

$11,700

avg tuition/year

$650 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Charlotte Fort Lauderdale Difference
All Schools (Average) $13,500/yr $11,700/yr +$1,800
Religious Schools $8,400/yr $8,100/yr +$300
Independent/Prep $25,000/yr $24,100/yr +$900
Elementary (K-5) $11,000/yr $9,900/yr +$1,100
Middle School (6-8) $13,500/yr $11,700/yr +$1,800
High School (9-12) $16,700/yr $14,000/yr +$2,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charlotte

$175,500

Fort Lauderdale

$152,100

Choosing Fort Lauderdale saves $23,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $46,800.

Sample Schools

Charlotte

Charlotte Latin School

Independent · K–12 · $26,800-$29,200/yr

Providence Day School

Independent · PK–12 · $24,800/yr

Myers Park Traditional School

Magnet (Free) · K–12

Charlotte Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr

Fort Lauderdale

Pine Crest School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,800/yr

Cardinal Gibbons High School (Ft. Laud.)

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Westminster Academy

Christian · PK–12 · $18,400/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.