PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Fort Lauderdale vs Tacoma

Fort Lauderdale averages $2,000/year less for private school (17% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $26,000 per child.

Bottom Line

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

Fort Lauderdale

FL

$11,700

avg tuition/year

$650 below national avg
Lower cost

Tacoma

WA

$13,700

avg tuition/year

$1,350 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Fort Lauderdale Tacoma Difference
All Schools (Average) $11,700/yr $13,700/yr -$2,000
Religious Schools $8,100/yr $9,400/yr -$1,300
Independent/Prep $24,100/yr $29,400/yr -$5,300
Elementary (K-5) $9,900/yr $11,600/yr -$1,700
Middle School (6-8) $11,700/yr $13,700/yr -$2,000
High School (9-12) $14,000/yr $16,400/yr -$2,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Fort Lauderdale

$152,100

Tacoma

$178,100

Choosing Fort Lauderdale saves $26,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $52,000.

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

Tacoma

Charles Wright Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $28,400/yr

Bellarmine Preparatory School

Catholic · 9–12 · $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.