<p>Hmm. Our local public schools spend that much and have 30 kids in a class. BS has 12-15. Public schools send their children home at the end of the day and serve one lousy barely edible lunch. Boarding schools are providing three main meals a day. Public School teachers don’t have to live with their student, Boarding school tuition has to account for the 24-7 lifestyle and must also provide housing. Many also provide daycare for faculty. Now add state of the art buildings and equipment, grounds maintenance and upkeep, and all the “trappings” and ancilary activities and one can easily see why the cost is so high.</p>
<p>Multiple course options, courses well above what is offered at most public schools, lots of extracurriculars, many diverse sports programs (Crew requires shells and a boathouse for instance, Hockey requires a dedicated rink, etc…) and there you go.</p>
<p>Put a different way - it costs 50,000 + to go to MIT or better yet - Bennington in Vermont. You don’t live with the faculty and you have to buy meal plans, and pay for dorms, etc. and you’ll be maxing out.</p>
<p>Cost is relative. A local private day school (which can’t hold a candle to BS) charges $24,000 with little FA available.</p>
<p>I think what our kids are getting is a bargain.</p>