Have you been thinking about enrolling your child in a private school next school year? If so, you are not alone. According to reports, “There are 34,576 private schools in the United States, serving 5.7 million PK-12 students. Private schools account for 25 percent of the nation’s schools and enroll 10 percent of all PK-12 students.”
With that being said, one important consideration is private school transportation. Since private schools run differently from public schools, families should expect the way their child gets to and from school to be different, as well. It’s important for families to plan ahead for private school transportation because this may tack on additional costs to the amount you are already putting aside to pay for schooling.
To help you better understand, we are answering the most common questions regarding private school transportation.
What is the difference between private schools and charter schools?
Essentially, private schools are independent, non-governmental schools, while charter schools are independently run but are still supported and held accountable by government authorities. But, the biggest difference comes in cost. Charter schools offer free education because they are governmentally funded.
In contrast, private schools require students to pay tuition to attend. While private school tuition varies by state, “the private elementary school average is $9,638 per year and the private high school average is $14,522 per year” nationally.
Do private schools provide transportation?
Parents should not expect private school bus transportation. Since private schools are independent, they are not required to provide transportation for their students. Additionally, private school students often travel great distances to attend school, which makes it difficult for a school bus to be available for all students.
However, you may be offered private school bus service for an additional cost. Some private schools work with private school transportation providers. In these cases, privately-owned local bus companies work with private schools to plan routes according to the school’s need for private transportation for students. When considering a private school, this is a question you will need to have answered by the school.
Do private schools or charter schools run school buses?
For private schools, this varies from school to school. If they do run school buses, it is likely an additional fee, and these buses are contracted from the local bus service and not the school’s own buses.
How far do students travel to private schools?
Private school students travel farther than their peers attending public schools or charter schools. Since public school and charter school students have an average commute of 18 minutes, private school students likely have a commute that is more than 18 minutes. Keep in mind – an 18-minute commute each way adds up to about 12 hours of driving each month! However, this will vary significantly from one family to the next.
How to find out if your local schools offer transportation?
The best way to find out if the private school you are interested in is to contact the school directly. If the school does claim to offer private school bus service, be sure to ask about additional tuition fees for transportation as well as the bus route. Just because the school offers private school bus transportation, it doesn’t mean they will pick up and drop off where you live.
What are other options for school transportation if it is not provided?
Fortunately, there are other options for school transportation for students if they are not provided by the school. For example, many private school families opt to carpool. Not only is carpooling great for saving families huge chunks of time, but it’s also great for the environment!
If you are looking for a way to make carpooling easier at your private school, then you should consider carpooling with GoKid. GoKid allows you to create your own carpools with other families you know and trust from the same private school. By sharing rides with just one other family you could save around 6 hours of driving each month and even more by sharing with 3 or 4 families.
Why does my school need GoKid Connect?
When it comes to issues with private school transportation, GoKid has created a solution. GoKid Connect is an add-on for schools that helps families in your school find one another and form carpools conveniently. Our school partners are already pleased with the difference GoKid Connect has made regarding their school transportation problems. GoKid Connect leads to better attendance, higher enrollment, and less traffic around the school.
