PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Dayton vs Houston

Dayton averages $7,700/year less for private school (95% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $100,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Dayton is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,100/year vs $15,800/year in Houston. Religious schools run $5,700/year on the low end.

Dayton

OH

$8,100

avg tuition/year

$4,250 below national avg
Lower cost

Houston

TX

$15,800

avg tuition/year

$3,450 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Dayton Houston Difference
All Schools (Average) $8,100/yr $15,800/yr -$7,700
Religious Schools $5,700/yr $9,200/yr -$3,500
Independent/Prep $18,700/yr $28,000/yr -$9,300
Elementary (K-5) $6,900/yr $13,000/yr -$6,100
Middle School (6-8) $8,100/yr $15,800/yr -$7,700
High School (9-12) $9,700/yr $19,500/yr -$9,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Dayton

$105,300

Houston

$205,400

Choosing Dayton saves $100,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $200,200.

Sample Schools

Dayton

Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $11,400/yr

Dayton Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $9,600-$12,000/yr

Houston

St. John's School (Houston)

Independent · K–12 · $33,900-$36,200/yr

Kinkaid School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,500-$37,000/yr

Strake Jesuit College Preparatory

Catholic · 9–12 · $20,400/yr

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

Catholic · K–12 · $20,100/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.