Important news on school costs

Via the Adam Smith Institute blog, MJ Perry, a professor of economics from Michigan reports on tuition costs in US schools. It appears that private schools are cheaper than state schools.

Average private school tuition ($6,600) was about 1/3 less than the spending per pupil in public ($9,620) in 2003-2004 (the most recent year available), and average Catholic school tuition ($4,254) was less than half of public school spending per student.

It's been reported that the spend per pupil in UK state schools has rapidly been approaching levels in private schools. In fact, the government have often stated their desire to equalise the remaining imbalance. I've said in response that I believe that the only reason that private schools appear more expensive per pupil is because of all the fees they charge for fripperies like stabling for Matilda's pony and rifle range fees for Cuthbert.

This report from the US confirms that if only tuition is taken into account, private schools are cheaper.

Are there any arguments left for state education?

Comments

[Devil's Kitchen]

"I've said in response that I believe that the only reason that private schools appear more expensive per pupil is because of all the fees they charge for fripperies like stabling for Matilda's pony and rifle range fees for Cuthbert."

Ah, no, sorry. You will find that the quoted fees will not include this sort of stuff: they come under "extras". Generally, the fees cover academic teaching only.

So, for instance, art materials are included, but pony stabling is not; you get to keep your English Literature texts, but the rifle range goes onto extras.

Also note that in boarding schools, extras can be really quite mundane things, such as laundry.

DK

[Bishop Hill]

I take your point, but I think there are still lots of things not directly related to tuition included in school fees aren't there? Swimming pools and so on?

[Kit]

The price of private education is high because of limited supply. If restrictions on building new schools were lifted I would expect private education to expand rapidly and prices would undercut state schools.

[Mark Wadsworth]

"Are there any arguments left for state education?"

Nope.

As it happens, full spend per State pupil is now more than school fees for the cheaper private schools. I shall do a post on this shortly.