Private schools still pricey compared to high-fee public options

When parents are stuck with several hundred dollars in fees to send their children to public schools, some wonder if private schools can be much more of a financial hit. But a survey of Catholic and independent schools indicate that a high-quality public school education is still a steal.

In the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., which includes suburban Maryland, elementary school tuition ranges from $3,800 to $6,500, according to officials. The Diocese of Arlington shared similar figures, with elementary schools ranging from $3,190 to $6,800 for the 2007-08 school year.