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Region 4 Schools Set Tuition Fees for Out-of-District Students

Families living outside the tri-town area who’d like to explore their education options can now put a price tag on pursuing a Region 4 education, thanks to a fee schedule adopted by the district’s Joint Boards of Education.

At the Dec. 3 Joint Boards of Education meeting, Chester Board of Education and Tuition Committee member John Stack presented the new proposed pricing structure for out-of-district students.

“This is an important and innovative way of keeping our schools afloat, especially in a time of declining enrollment,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Levy. “We have so much to offer.”

The cost for an out-of-district high school student is $16,500 per year for the first student and $15,500 for each subsequent sibling. At the middle school, it’s $15,500 per year for the first student and $14,500 for each subsequent sibling. In the elementary schools, it is $13,500 per year for the first student and $12,500 for each subsequent sibling.

Stack explained that the elementary school pricing is lower in an effort to make it more enticing.

He also explained that paying to go to school in Region 4 would be like paying to attend a private school. Region 4 in no way would be mandated to take any student. Students would be accepted on the basis of appropriateness for the programs that are being offered.

“This is a revenue-generating activity, not [an effort] to build the size of out-of-district students. We are just looking to fill the capacity we are already paying for,” said Stack.

“For instance, we have two teachers per grade in Chester, no matter how many students we have. If we have extra chairs that aren’t filled, we can fill them,” Stack said. “We are not going to be opening the flood gate; we will only be filling seats we are paying for, anyway. We are not in danger of overwhelming the schools.”

Supervision District and the Essex Board of Education Chairman Lon Seidman agreed.

“We have classrooms we could be putting students in,” he said.

Levy added, “This is a win, win for everyone. If these students come to our schools, maybe eventually their families will want to move to our community, which will be good for everyone.”

She added that students with special needs will be better served in their hometown schools.

The tuition fee structure was voted on and passed unanimously by all four BOEs at their Dec. 3 joint meeting.