Given the high per-pupil cost of Berkeley Heights Public Schools (BHPSNJ) and ongoing discussions about declining enrollment despite rising expenses, I wanted to end the 2025 Budget series by seeing how BHPSNJ stacks up against private schools in terms of cost.

I selected five private K-8 schools and five private high schools to compare their tuition costs with BHPSNJ’s reported per-pupil spending.

Since BHPSNJ treats its budget as a state secret, obtaining precise per-pupil costs by grade level is not possible. Instead, I applied a flat per-pupil cost of $29,520 across all grade levels, assuming costs remain stable over a 12-year period. While a deeper projection across all 11 schools would be ideal, I just don’t have the time for that.

Important Caveats

1. This is not a comprehensive policy analysis but rather a starting point for deeper discussions about spending efficiency.
2. The methodology disadvantages private schools by assuming every private school student would receive special needs funding, which is not the case.
3. Tuition costs at private schools can vary from grade to grade, whereas public school spending is averaged across the district.
4. Public schools are required to accept all students, including those with special needs, English language learners, and those requiring additional academic support.

K-8 Private School vs. BHPSNJ Cost Comparison

The selected five private K-8 schools have varying tuition rates, which fluctuate by grade level. To ensure a fair comparison, I included the special needs cost per pupil in the private school figures, as a common argument against private schools is that they spend less because they do not provide special education services.

The total K-8 cost for BHPSNJ comes out to $265,260 per student, making it the third most expensive option if included in the private school table. This places BHPSNJ $10,000 above the average private school cost for K-8.

Only Kent Place and Oak Knoll, with adjusted tuition exceeding $400,000, rank higher.

While BHPSNJ appears more expensive, it is important to recognize that private schools do not have the same legal obligation to provide services to all students. Many private schools limit the number of students with special needs they accept or charge additional fees for accommodations. Public schools, on the other hand, must provide these services regardless of cost, which may contribute to the higher per-pupil spending.

High School Private School vs. BHPSNJ Cost Comparison

Unlike K-8 tuition, private high school costs tend to be consistent year over year. Again, I factored in the special needs cost per pupil to adjust private school tuition for a more direct comparison.

The total four-year cost for a BHPSNJ high school education is $118,080 per student, making it the third most affordable option among the five private high schools. It is also approximately $30,000 lower than the average private school cost when adjusted for special needs.

K-12 Education Cost: BHPSNJ vs. Private Schools

When combining both averages, private school education costs just $20,000 ($1,500 a year) more than BHPSNJ for a full K-12 education.

• Total K-12 cost for BHPSNJ: $383,760 per student
• Total K-12 cost for private schools (adjusted with special needs supplement): $404,497 per student

However, private high schools often provide financial aid and scholarships, which can reduce tuition costs for some students. Unlike public schools, private institutions can also rely on endowments, donations, and alumni funding, which gives them more flexibility in budgeting.  This means that while private schools often appear more expensive on paper, the actual cost difference can be relatively small.

At the same time, not all families have equal access to private schools. While BHPSNJ must educate every child in the district, private schools can selectively admit students, set enrollment caps, or decline students who require additional support. Even with vouchers or financial aid, factors such as transportation, extracurricular fees, and additional academic requirements may make private schools an unrealistic option for some families.

Yet despite its mandate to serve all students, BHPSNJ’s spending does not necessarily translate into stronger academic outcomes. The district has consistently had the highest per-pupil cost of any district on the Dashboard since we began tracking it—without the proficiency scores to justify the expense. In other words, BHPSNJ’s spending aligns with top-tier private schools while exceeding the costs of higher-performing public districts.

Given these realities, financial transparency is no longer optional—it’s essential. The Business Administrator must commit to an open, detailed budget process, and the new Superintendent has a crucial opportunity to prove that real change is coming. If the district is truly serious about improving outcomes while maintaining financial responsibility, now is the time to turn spending into results and restore public trust.

Over the past several weeks, a troubling picture has emerged—one that makes the 11th-hour maneuver by the BOE President and the new Superintendent even more concerning. Their decision to push forward a lease agreement that remains under negotiation, without securing any financial benefit for the school—whether through revenue sharing from field usage or PILOT contributions from wealthy developers who conveniently donate to political campaigns—is deeply irresponsible.

BOE members must stay focused on the budget and reject this agreement until the Township commits to a fair and transparent deal that prioritizes our students’ academic success.

The fact that we pay substantially more than any District on athletics ($475 per student) and General Admin Support Services ($562 per student) while paying the least for textbooks (0.56 cents per student) is an absolute embarrassment as is the Board President’s and Superintendent’s capitulation to the Mayor and Recreation Department’s bullying of our district.

Making the budget more aligned with the needs of our students’ should be the focus – not a turf field agreement still under negotiation that gives nothing back to our schools.

7- District Budget Comparisons – All The Snaphots 2025

2025 7-District Dashboard Budget Comparisons- All The Articles

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