Schools

How Much Does That Free Education Really Cost You?

Parents not only are required to purchase school supplies and clothing for their children but also must cough up curriculum, textbook and registration fees as they work to meet their back-to-school financial obligations.

Did you know in-district students who attend District 202 high schools pay $125 more for driver's education courses than similar students at Minooka Community High School?

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  • That's one of the revelations that came out of a Patch survey of some area schools that compares the costs of curriculum, textbook and registration fees. Following is an illustration of how a "free" public education is anything but free (and these costs do no include school supplies or clothing):

    Plainfield School District 202

    Elementary fees: Preschool four-day program: $250/month; three-day: $200/month; two-day: $150/month; kindergarten (half day): $88; kindergarten (full-day special education): $125; Grade 1: $125; Grade 2: $125; Grade 3 (includes planner): $128; Grade 4 (includes planner and recorder): $132; Grade 5 (includes planner): $128

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    Middle school fees: Text book fee: $150; PE lock: $5; eighth-grade promotion fee: $18; school agenda book: $10; band fee: $92; chorus fee: $66; interscholastic sports: $50; FACS club: $15; National Honor Society: $15; yearbook: $20

    High school fees: Text book fee: $170 (does not include workbooks/consumables); activity fee: $30; ID fee: $2; driver's ed: $250 (in district; up $50 this year); $350 (out of district; up $50 this year); lock fee: $5; parking: $90; senior cap gown (school specific); competitive sports: $129; non-competitive sports: $24; Special Olympics $57; band: $106; chess: $24; fall play: $74; math club: $24; Scholastic Bowl: $24; speech team: $63; spring musical: $38

    Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

    Alternative academy fees: middle school text book fee: $150; high school book fee: $170; turnabout book fee: 170; P-STEP book fee: 170; therapeutic academic program book fee (HS): $170; therapeutic academic program book fee (MS): $150; therapeutic academic program agenda book (MS:) $10; activity fee: $30; ID fee: $2

    More Plainfield back-to-school news

    Valley View School District 365-U

    Book fee plus registration: Early childhood: $55; all-day kindergarten: $200; grades 1-5: $80; grades 6-8: $145; grades 9-12 and STEP: $220 (late fees apply).

    Middle school fees: PE lock: $5; band instrument rental: $50; band uniform rental and cleaning fee: $35; sport fee: $50 (maximum $100 for multi-sport students)

    High school fees: Driver's ed: $250; parking permit: $100; PE/band lock: $5; activities: $50 (maximum $300 if multi-sport/club student); band instrument rental: $50; band uniform rental and cleaning fee: $40; sports fee: $125 (maximum $300 if multi-sport student)

    Troy CCSD 30-C

    Curriculum/Textbook Fees

    Kindergarten–4th Grade: $150.00 per student

    5th–8th Grade: $200.00 per student (this fee includes all extra-curricular and club fees)

    Minooka District 201

    Early Childhood/Kindergarten Registration: $105; 1st-8th Grade Registration: $150; 6th-8th Grade Registration (if not in need of a new P.E. uniform): $134.

    Channahon District 17

    Kindergarten-7th Grade: $135.

    8th Grade: $170 (includes the cost of graduation).

    Joliet West High School District 204

    Student Fees: Full-Time Student Registration Fee - $160; Part-Time Student Registration Fee - $115; Parking Permit Fee - $100; Participation Fee (per sport) - $50; Participation Fee (per competitive activity) - $25; Driver’s Education Fee - $250 (in-district), $350 (out-of-district).

    Minooka Community High School District 111

    Student Fees: Full-Time Student Registration Fee - $210; Part-Time Student Registration Fee - $105; Summer Driver’ Education Fee - $265; Parking Fee - $120; Bowling Fee - $30 (new); and School-Year Driver’s Education Fee - $125 (up $25 from $100).


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