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The Real Cost of High School

A practical guide to preparing for the financial move to high school.

The Real Cost of High School is a free guide from UCT Online High School. It sets out what no-fee state, fee-paying state, private and online high schools really cost, including the hidden costs. It also covers funding and savings tips, a family budget calculator and a printable checklist for comparing up to five schools.

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Written by Martin Hall and Thomas Wrigley

Cover of The Real Cost of High School guide: an illustrated school building, a laptop, stacked coins and a percentage sign

What’s in this guide

Statistics on the financial benefits of investing in education
Tips on finding high school tuition funding and savings plans
A cost calculator to work out your family budget, with scenarios for different schooling options
The hidden costs of schooling to plan for
Four steps to working out which high school is right for your family
A printable checklist to help you evaluate up to five schools
A curated list of South African and international guides on choosing a high school

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Written by

Martin Hall
Emeritus Professor at the UCT Graduate School of Business, and Strategic Advisor for Valenture Institute
Thomas Wrigley
Blended Learning Specialist and Education Researcher at Valenture Institute

Learn more about Valenture Institute

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About this guide

Preparing for high school is challenging, whether your child is in Grade 7 or much younger. If your child is already in high school, you’ll know there’s a lot to consider. It can be confusing, even overwhelming, especially when it comes to costs.

This free guide focuses on the real financial cost of schooling options in South Africa, taking every expense into account. It takes a practical approach to the rising cost of high school, with tools to help you make an informed decision for your family.