When considering education for our children, we often start by looking at public schools.

When it comes to private schools, the first thought is often, "Wow, how expensive is the tuition going to be?" However, I found that there are schools in Irving with a clear educational focus.

The first one that caught my eye is Cistercian Preparatory School. Established in 1962, it is a Catholic boys' school that operates from 5th to 12th grade. Notably, it features an all-honors curriculum, with all classes offered at the honors level. According to the school's current data, there are 363 students, and the student-to-teacher ratio is 7 to 1.

However, what parents are most curious about is, of course, the cost. For the 2026-27 school year, tuition ranges from $26,400 to $27,800 depending on the grade, and including registration fees, the annual cost is between $27,300 and $28,800. For 12th grade, the total is $28,800. While that breaks down to a significant amount per month, they do offer financial aid programs.

The second option is The Highlands School. Located on Northgate Drive, it is a Catholic PK-12 school that emphasizes not only academics but also the development of intellect, character, and faith. It offers college preparatory courses such as Honors, AP, and Dual Credit, so if you think, "Isn't a religious school a bit lax on academics?" that's not necessarily the case.

Especially starting in the 2026-27 school year, it's important to consider Texas Education Freedom Accounts, known as TEFA, when looking at tuition. According to the school, the standard support amount for eligible private school students is expected to be around $10,000 annually, and Highlands is listed as a participating school. Of course, this doesn't mean every family will automatically receive $10,000; eligibility and priority will apply. This is a change worth checking out for families who might have given up on private school tuition from the start.

The third option is StoneGate Christian Academy. This school focuses on education centered around Christian faith, making it appealing for families looking for a smaller, community-like atmosphere rather than a large private school. For these types of schools, I believe it's more important to see if the school's environment and our child's personality match rather than just comparing SAT scores or college admission rates.

Ultimately, the characteristics of these three schools vary slightly. Cistercian is worth considering for families looking for a rigorous all-boys school, Highlands is for families thinking about Catholic education and college preparation, and StoneGate is for those seeking a more faith-centered environment.

Also, when looking at private school tuition, you can't just look at the number listed on the website. You need to factor in registration fees, uniforms, textbooks, sports and extracurricular activities, and transportation costs to get the actual annual expense. For Cistercian, the estimated round-trip school bus cost for the 2026-27 school year is $3,465.

After comparing these three schools, I strongly recommend visiting the campuses in person. Observing the classroom atmosphere, seeing the children, and talking with the teachers will give you a better sense of the school.

Choosing a private school can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, and it's too significant a decision to make based solely on tuition and school rankings.