Is private school cheaper in Surprise or West Palm Beach?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $11,300/year in West Palm Beach. That's $1,800/year less, or $23,400 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Surprise over West Palm Beach?

Average tuition in Surprise is $1,800/year less than West Palm Beach. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $23,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,100/year in Surprise, $7,800/year in West Palm Beach.

How do Surprise and West Palm Beach private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average). West Palm Beach averages $11,300/year ($1,050 below average).

Private School Cost: Surprise vs West Palm Beach

Surprise averages $1,800/year less for private school (19% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $23,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $11,300/year in West Palm Beach. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

West Palm Beach

$11,300

avg tuition/year

$1,050 below national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Surprise	West Palm Beach	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,500/yr	$11,300/yr	-$1,800
Religious Schools	$7,100/yr	$7,800/yr	-$700
Independent/Prep	$18,100/yr	$23,200/yr	-$5,100
Elementary (K-5)	$8,100/yr	$9,600/yr	-$1,500
Middle School (6-8)	$9,500/yr	$11,300/yr	-$1,800
High School (9-12)	$11,400/yr	$13,600/yr	-$2,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Surprise

$123,500

West Palm Beach

$146,900

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

Sample Schools

Surprise

Surprise Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,600-$10,800/yr

Holy Cross School (Surprise AZ)

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,600/yr

West Palm Beach

Palm Beach Day Academy

Independent · PK–8 · $32,400/yr

Cardinal Newman High School (WPB)

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,200/yr

Full Surprise breakdown → Full West Palm Beach breakdown →

Arizona 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.