If you’ve clicked on this blog post, chances are you’re either a parent trying to make sense of independent school tuition, or you’re an educator working in one and wondering what’s being said about the profession. Either way, welcome! I’ll admit, the title was designed to grab your attention—but rest assured, this is not meant to be a controversial take. Instead, this post is a reflection on my observations from working in independent school education for the past 25 years.
This past week, across all 44 CIS Ontario independent schools, admission season came to a close, and offers were extended to families. For many parents, this marked the culmination of an anxious and emotional process—one that ultimately leads to a significant financial commitment. Choosing an independent school is no small decision, both in terms of values and finances, and for those receiving offers, it’s the beginning of a long-term investment in their child’s education. For schools, this is also a time of anticipation as they welcome new families into their communities while continuing to serve their current ones.
So, if you’re reading this as a newly admitted parent weighing the financial leap, a long-time independent school parent who knows the drill, or an educator who has seen this cycle play out year after year, you’re in the right place. This blog post will break down the allocation of tuition dollars, push back against the narrative of unsustainability, and highlight the broader economic context that positions independent schools as a relative bargain. It will also explore the role of philanthropy in school growth, the expectations placed on faculty, and why independent schools operate differently from their public counterparts. Ultimately, my goal is to reframe the conversation—independent schools are not outpricing themselves into obsolescence; rather, they are sustaining an educational model that places a premium on excellence, innovation, and community.
The Allocation of Tuition Dollars
To understand the cost of independent education, it is crucial to examine where tuition dollars go. It’s a little-known fact outside of those who work in independent schools that 85% of the total operating budget is allocated to faculty and staff salaries—compensating teachers, administrators, support staff, and specialists. This heavy expenditure reflects the fundamental truth that education is a people-driven industry, where the quality of instruction, mentorship, and student experience is directly tied to the quality of faculty and staff.
Unlike public schools, independent schools are in direct competition with one another to attract and retain the best educators. They do not have a centralized hiring system but instead must differentiate themselves through their brand, reputation, and workplace culture. Schools strive for excellence in a way that aligns with their unique educational philosophy and mission, which in turn influences their ability to recruit top talent. This emphasis on excellence helps elevate the teaching profession within independent schools, positioning educators as integral to institutional success.
These dual pressures—competition among schools and the pursuit of educational excellence—encourage independent institutions to offer compensation packages that exceed public school rates. Beyond salary, independent schools often provide additional incentives such as professional development funding, enriched classroom resources, smaller class sizes, and workplace environments designed to support teacher well-being. The investment in teachers, while costly, is fundamental to ensuring a high-quality education and ultimately benefits students by fostering an environment of innovation, expertise, and deep professional engagement.
This leaves only 15% of the budget for operational expenses, including facility maintenance, classroom resources, extracurricular programs, and technological investments. Unlike private enterprises that allocate significant portions of their budgets to marketing, capital expansion, or profit generation, independent schools are non-profit institutions that reinvest every dollar into student learning and development. This means that despite rising tuition, the actual margin for discretionary spending remains narrow, reinforcing the argument that tuition alone cannot fuel major school improvements.
The Unique Consumer-Provider Dynamic in Independent Schools
One unique challenge that independent schools face stems from the contrast between their tuition-based model and the perception of public schools as a “free” alternative. Because tuition is a significant investment, a natural service-oriented relationship forms between families and the institution. While this is an understandable dynamic, it also creates a unique pressure: families, as paying clients, may at times link their satisfaction—or dissatisfaction—directly to the tuition price. It is not uncommon to hear, “For $40,000 a year, I should be getting [blank],” which positions independent schools in an interesting predicament. Any organization that charges for a service can be subject to such scrutiny, but in education—where so much is intangible, relational, and evolving—the connection between price and perceived value is especially complex.
What is often overlooked in these discussions is that independent schools are expensive not because they are choosing to be, but because of the fundamental costs of running them. The reality is that independent schools operate on lean budgets, with the majority of tuition dollars (often 85% or more) allocated to faculty and staff salaries. Unlike public schools, which receive government funding and standard salary scales, independent schools must compete with one another to attract top educators and maintain an institutional culture of excellence. This means offering competitive compensation packages, robust professional development, and enriched workplace environments that differentiate them in a crowded marketplace.
The “Hidden” Premium in Education
Education has never fit neatly into an eight-hour workday, and independent schools exemplify this reality. Faculty do far more than teach—they contribute to co-curriculars, clubs, and student support not just because they are contractually obligated, but because the culture of independent schools encourages them to bring their passions and expertise beyond the classroom. These schools foster an environment where educators are supported in sharing their skills in meaningful ways, creating an ecosystem of engagement that enhances student experiences and drives excellence. This deeply ingrained culture makes the breadth of programming and student involvement feel natural rather than forced, reinforcing the extraordinary value independent schools provide.
The breadth of opportunities—athletics, arts, leadership programs, and individualized support—demands this extra effort. If families were to itemize each service, the true cost would dwarf tuition fees. Independent schools, therefore, deliver an all-encompassing education at a fraction of its real market value. This isn’t about overworking faculty; it’s about a deeply ingrained commitment to the school’s mission. Educators are drawn to this environment, where their contributions are valued and they actively shape the school culture.
Independent schools, while offering competitive compensation, expect a higher level of engagement. This results in a deeply invested faculty and a richer student experience, demonstrating that tuition reflects the immense value delivered, not an inflated price.
Independent schools in Canada are not unsustainable; they are a reflection of the broader economic realities of running a high-quality educational institution in today’s world. Tuition dollars are predominantly allocated to teacher salaries, with minimal discretionary spending for innovation and expansion. Rising tuition is not a symptom of inefficiency but a natural response to inflationary pressures that affect every sector of the economy.
Rather than viewing independent schools as out-of-reach or unsustainable, we should recognize them as partners in a broader educational ecosystem, working alongside public schools to provide families with diverse learning environments. By shifting the narrative from cost to value, we can better appreciate the unique opportunities independent schools offer and the ways in which they contribute to shaping the next generation of leaders, innovators, and engaged citizens.
