Why New York private-school tuition tops $75,000

Avenues: The World School has set 2026-2027 tuition at $75,300 for full-time nursery (age two) through grade 12, a roughly 4% increase from the current year — about $456 per day. Next year, eight New York City private schools will charge more than $70,000, compared with the National Association of Independent Schools' average of $33,361; public school remains free.

Applications are rising as many parents opt to pay for smaller classes, broad extracurricular options, and perceived prestige. Staffing is the largest cost driver. Avenues points to rising living costs and benefits as reasons for higher compensation; the school maintains a 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio versus about 11.5:1 in city public schools.

Collegiate, with tuition rising to $72,070, reported spending $32 million — 49% of its 2024 revenue — on compensation. Across NAIS member schools, employee salaries accounted for more than half of operating expenses in a 2025 report.

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