Hawaii’s largest private schools will increase tuition by 3 to 6 percent in the 2012-13 school year, with increases at several schools slightly larger than what parents paid this school year.
School officials say the increases are modest, meant to keep up with rising costs. Trying to be sensitive to parents struggling in the lackluster economy, schools have again boosted financial aid.
At larger schools, increases for next school year range from about $500 to more than $900, still shy of the annual increases of $1,000 to $1,500 they would charge in better economic times. During the worst of the economic crunch, schools tried to limit increases to $300 to $500.
Some even kept tuition the same.
The heftier increases at some schools this year reflect better economic conditions, with officials recognizing parents’ ability to pay has not gone up a lot, but may have increased a little from the last year.
Jim Scott, Punahou School president, said the improving economy does seem to have parents feeling slightly better about their financial situations and not "panicking as much."
Tuition will rise to $19,200 next school year at Punahou, increasing 4 percent — or $750 — from this year. For the 2011-12 year, Punahou increased tuition by $650, or 3.7 percent.
Scott said the increase for next year will cover raises for teachers, higher health insurance costs and professional development. Faculty will get a 5 percent wage increase, the largest in four years.
"We felt the faculty has been patient and they have shared the burden," Scott said, adding, "As costly as Punahou’s tuition is, it’s still 80 percent of what it really costs to sit in that seat."
‘Iolani School will increase tuition to $17,800, up 5.3 percent — or $900 — from this year. The increase is needed to keep up with higher electrical and insurance costs and to give staff a 2.5 percent pay raise, officials say. Going into this school year, ‘Iolani tuition rose by 4.6 percent, or $750.
Hawaii Preparatory Academy on Hawaii island will remain the state’s most expensive private school, with high school tuition for day students next year at $21,600, representing an $800 (3.8 percent) increase.
The increase is $100 less than the one parents paid this school year, though.
"We’ve been really trying to minimize the impact on the families," said Joshua Clark, admissions director, adding the latest increase is to cover higher energy and food costs.
At Mid-Pacific Institute in Manoa, tuition will go up by $700 (3.9 percent) to $18,300 in the 2012-13 school year. For this year, tuition rose by $600 (3.5 percent), the school said.
Joe Rice, Mid-Pacific president, said a number of factors were considered as the school decided the increase.
"You look at the economy and where it’s going," he said. "You do a lot of talking with your parents and supporters about what’s happening."
Rice added that many parents are still struggling financially, so offering aid is vital. Equally important, Rice said, is working hard on "articulating the value received from your school."
Hawaii private schools are also quick to note their tuition is below what many mainland schools charge. The median 12th-grade tuition for National Association of Independent Schools members was $21,995 this school year, up 3.8 percent from the year before.
Myra McGovern, association spokeswoman, said the economic downturn "has really shaken many schools," with donations dropping and financial aid needs rising. But, she added, overall private school enrollment has remained steady after years of growth.
In the islands, enrollment in recent years dipped mostly at small and medium-size schools, in part because they can’t offer much financial aid.
Private-school enrollment statewide declined in 2011 for a fourth consecutive year, to 37,695, which is 6 percent lower than 2007-08 school year total.
Overall, the schools lost 460 students in 2011. Still, Hawaii’s enrollment rate — which hovers at about 20 percent of all school-age children — remains far higher than the national average of 11 percent, the figures from last year show.
To keep numbers steady, larger schools that can tap into endowments or other funding sources have not only tried to keep tuition down, but have increased financial aid.
Punahou’s aid budget will grow by 7 percent next year, said Scott, who said more Punahou students are applying for aid these days, but not "dramatically more."
Enrollment at the K-12 school is at 3,725 students, and annual attrition has stayed at 2 percent. Getting in remains competitive. "We’ve got 2,300 applications for 450 spots," Scott said.
Mid-Pacific gained about 15 students this year, bringing enrollment in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to about 1,556.
"We’re pretty much at full enrollment," said Rice, adding that Mid-Pacific increased the amount it will offer in financial aid this year to offset the tuition increase. It, too, has seen more need for aid.
‘Iolani School will increase aid to $3.5 million from $3.2 million. While applications for aid have gone up, enrollment has remained steady, at about 1,800 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, said spokeswoman Cathy Chong.
Some schools are opting for smaller increases.
Maui’s Seabury Hall will boost tuition by 2.4 percent, or $410, to $17,400. Headmaster Joseph Schmidt said the increase is smaller than in years past.
"We felt we could actually make it even lower," he said.
Enrollment at the school is about 440.
At St. Andrew’s Priory School, tuition will go up to $15,450, an increase of 3 percent, or $450. Sandra Theunik, head of school, said all of the increase will go to salary raises for teachers.
"We tried to keep the increase as low as we could," Theunik said, adding that about one-third of students get some financial aid. There are 379 students in grades K-12 at the all-girls school.
Tuition at Saint Francis School in Manoa will go up by $300, or 3.2 percent, to $9,700 for high school students. This school year, tuition rose by 4.4 percent for the high school.
Sister Joan of Arc Souza, head of school, said enrollment increases in the last few years allowed the smaller increases. The school is expecting enrollment of 530 students in the coming school year, up from about 500 in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade this year.
Souza said enrollment has gone up by nearly 100 students in the last two years, in large part to the school’s move to accept boys in 2006. Souza said tuition has also helped.
"Our tuition is reasonable," she said.
Damien Memorial School, an all-boys school in Kalihi, will begin accepting girls in the fall and is similarly expecting more students.
Bernard Ho, president and CEO of Damien, said the school is projecting a 45 percent increase with about half those students being girls. That would bring the total enrollment at the school to 550.
Ho said Damien’s high school tuition will go up 4.8 percent, to $10,875. Middle school tuition will rise 2 percent (to $8,825), and sixth grade will remain at $8,625.
The increases, he said, are needed to "address health insurance, salaries, additional faculty, deferred maintenance and girls’ sports and facilities." Damien has been an all-boys school for nearly 50 years.
At Saint Louis School, also an all-boys school, tuition will go to $12,810 for high-schoolers, from $12,200 this school year. President Walter Kirimitsu said the increase is needed for salary increases, higher utility costs and the rising "costs of operating a business."
He said the school is considering increasing aid and is also offering more scholarships for students who establish merit and need.
While the economy has improved slightly, many are doing without other things to pay for a private school education, he said.
"At a sacrifice, they’re keeping their children in private schools," he said.
