PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Fort Lauderdale vs Santa Clarita

Fort Lauderdale averages $6,300/year less for private school (54% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $81,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Fort Lauderdale is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,700/year vs $18,000/year in Santa Clarita. Religious schools run $8,100/year on the low end.

Fort Lauderdale

FL

$11,700

avg tuition/year

$650 below national avg
Lower cost

Santa Clarita

CA

$18,000

avg tuition/year

$5,650 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Fort Lauderdale Santa Clarita Difference
All Schools (Average) $11,700/yr $18,000/yr -$6,300
Religious Schools $8,100/yr $11,700/yr -$3,600
Independent/Prep $24,100/yr $35,100/yr -$11,000
Elementary (K-5) $9,900/yr $15,300/yr -$5,400
Middle School (6-8) $11,700/yr $18,000/yr -$6,300
High School (9-12) $14,000/yr $21,600/yr -$7,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Fort Lauderdale

$152,100

Santa Clarita

$234,000

Choosing Fort Lauderdale saves $81,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $163,800.

Sample Schools

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

Santa Clarita

The Masters School (Santa Clarita)

Christian · K–12 · $14,800/yr

West Ranch Academy

Independent · 9–12 · $12,400/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.