You are here

OT-ish: Public School Fees are Ridiculous

lieutenant_dad's picture

$525. For public school. $525!!!

It seems outrageous to me that it's that costly. I know it's high school. I know YSK is in special classes that fit better with their learning. But HALF A GRAND feels egregious.

Anyone want to take bets on whether ET will toss in some cash towards it, or even acknowledge that the fees exist? I mean, she likes to forward every other email about $$$ trips and fundraisers hosted by the school. Surely she'll want to contribute to their actual school fees...

Comments

Aniki-Moderator's picture

But but but.... doesn't forwarding the email count as her contribution? *dash1*

lieutenant_dad's picture

Oh silly me, of COURSE it does! Might even account for more than 50%! Maybe DH should write her a check for the difference, especially since she isn't getting CS anymore...oh wait...

lieutenant_dad's picture

I recently said something to YSK about ET taking them to pick up a bare minimum of school supplies (think a pack of pens, some folders, a few notebooks), and YSK just looked at me and said "yeah right".

Well, can't argue with that!

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

that is never going to happen. ET won't even contribute to $10 - $20 of school supplies! That is really sad for your YSK that even he knows that especially after everything he had going on with his mental health, you would think a parent would realize they need to step up for their kid, but not ET.

lieutenant_dad's picture

No, it's because they are taking some advanced-level classes. Even if they dropped from those into "normal" classes (which they should, but don't want to), it would still be $300. Outrageous either way.

Mominit's picture

Ignorance of a Canadian here, but you PAY for public schooling?  I thought that public schooling in the USA was the same as Canada (free to all) and that you paid for private schools.  What would happen if you didn't have $500+?  The child just doesn't go to school?

I understand if it's to pay for extras (like sports or driver's ed, or grad ceremonies etc.), but just for the right to go to school?

lieutenant_dad's picture

We pay taxes which keeps the schools open. Then they do referrenda on the taxes to pay for transportation, sports, arts, etc. Then you pay a fee for books and supplies for the classes your kid takes. In elementary and middle school, where classes are more prescribed, you get a good idea of what fees are because they don't change much year to year. But high school? The fees change based on the classes taken, so you can pay obscene amounts based on the classes chosen (and no, there is no fee schedule that gets sent to your prior so you can choose cheaper classes).

If you don't pay, the kid still goes to school. But, they can withhold their diploma their senior year and I think block them from participating in extracurriculars if you have an outstanding balance. Beyond that, not sure what can happen.

There are programs that can reduce the price of school. Last year, YSK was enrolled while still living with ET so she qualified for the reduced rate of $35. She didn't pay it, so DH got a bill at the end of the year for $35.

If you ever wonder why I call my state "Anti-Canada", this is one of the reasons why.

ETA: Private schools cost thousands of dollars a year, sometimes as much as college tuition. My state has a voucher program where families can take taxes and apply it to private school fees, which I find to be utter garbage.

notarelative's picture

Not all public schools have fees. The only time I ever paid anything was when one of mine took an AP class. I paid the exam fee. The other one didn't take any AP classes and I paid no fees. I had never heard of school fees until I started reading blogs.

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

SD's fees for this year were $200

SteppedOut's picture

I did not pay fees for schools in the midwest or for the current state in the south I live in.

I have had/have to provide basic supplies - but no fees. 

Never heard of this either, unless for special AP classes, drivers ed, etc. 

lieutenant_dad's picture

I'm in the midwest, so apparently it even varies by state in the region. But this is also a state that wants to tax the student loan forgiveness money, yet has enough money to give back to taxpayers because they took too much and constitutionally can't keep it, but will then have to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in order to pay back the taxpayer money which will could potentially create a shortfall in another area.

Not here to discuss politics on the subject, just that the decisions made here are mind-boggling.

strugglingSM's picture

Hmmm...in most states, public schools are not allowed to charge "fees" that are really "tuition" (i.e. if they are just charging for partiicpation in the class). Sometimes, schools or districts get themselves into trouble when they do this, but you'd probably have to research the law and make a stink about it. Also, not sure if this is illegal in all states, but it has been in the states I've lived and worked in (I worked in education for nearly a decade). 

lieutenant_dad's picture

Not sure it is illegal here. My parents paid fees when I was kid and that was a different school district. If it is illegal, I'd have to do some digging to find out more. YSK goes to a large, urban school district that I don't see skirting the rules and getting away with it (though I could be wrong).

strugglingSM's picture

Sometimes these things will get audited, but usually they are only looked into if someone complains. It's also a gray area because you can charge for "supplies", but not for a class that everyone should have access to, but it does vary by state. 

MissK03's picture

Skids paid $70 total for all 4 years. 525.. That's steep!! LOLL to ET throwing money in!! She will avoid like BM here. 

SS17 told SO and I that BM asked him (during that driveway chat) why didn't he tell her he was going to said tech school (SD must have told BM and BM didn't ask him what his after high school plans were?!!??!) and SS17 responded with... I don't know wasn't telling everyone. BM made a comment about SO "knowing" and SS17 goes well YEAHH! Dad is helping me pay for it.

BM didn't even acknowledge that part and just said "oh I just wanted to know."

Thanks for nothing LADY! Haha. 

PetSpoiler's picture

We had to pay a little over $600 for DD to be in marching band.  I also have to pay a $20 fee for her to take AP English and I think another $20 for chemistry.  DS needs $75 for his band fee.  He plans on marching next year so I probably need to start saving now so maybe we can afford to have them both marching next year.  That will be the only year that they'll both march since DD will be a senior next year.  What are our taxes paying for?  It's ridiculous!  It feels like the schools are constantly coming at us with their hands out wanting more money! 

Livingoutloud's picture

I paid quite a bit of money when DD was in high school as she was in International Baccalaureate program. Books etc Of course exams at the end. But I paid nothing for elementary and middle school. No fees