Private School Tax Credit Costs

Private School Tax Credit Costs

Increased Tuition and Associated Costs

8/29/2024

The Oklahoman reported that after receiving state voucher funds, private schools also increased tuition and associated costs by more than the annualized rate of inflation and more than the cost of the tuition voucher.

“The Parental Choice Tax Credit Program started in December, promising parents a tax credit of up to $3,750 per student for spring tuition. Global Harvest Christian School responded by raising its spring tuition to $3,500… Parents thought the tax credit would reduce what they pay. Instead, many schools raised tuition in a comparable amount to the tax credit.” 

Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an advocate for all schools and with that we wanted to analyze if the private schools in Jacksonville have acted similarly. Given the recent expansion of Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (Private Corporations donate to a nonprofit called Scholarship Funding Organizations to give children money for tuition and then don’t have to pay taxes, Scholarship amounts vary by county and grade but are worth an average of $8,000), Family Empowerment Scholarship  (2023-24 school year, the average award amount was $7,950.) , and The Hope Scholarship (for students who are mistreated in a public school to transfer or attend private schools, between ​​$7,529 and $8,089), keeping accountability on tax dollars is of interest to everyone. 

The five largest private schools in Jacksonville are Providence, Trinity Christian Academy, Bishop Kenny High School, The Bolles School (however Bolles does not accept state funds which serves as a good comparison), and Episcopal School of Jacksonville, all supporting over 1000 students (totaling 6505 or around 4% of Jacksonville’s students.)

 

  *for highest grade available.

With a cumulative inflation rate of 16.1% from 2021-2024, the leading private schools of Jacksonville have managed to keep prices affordable and well below the effects of state dollars being added into their budgets. This cursory glance at these well established schools might not paint the whole picture. According to the Florida Department of Education there are 175 private schools in Duval County.