The 11 Most Expensive Private High Schools in Michigan

First, I'm a public school kid raised by two public school teachers with a Michigan public school education. Second, I have nothing against private schools other than Lumen Christi (the powerhouse private school where I grew up), which dominated athletics (and still does), and we always played the underdog who could never quite catch up. All that said, to say this: HOLY COW, ARE THESE SCHOOLS EXPENSIVE! (keep scrolling for Michigan's 11 priciest private schools)

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My son and daughter are also the product of public education, and as many public school parents and children do, we met with a teacher or principal a time or two that ended up with a—spirited—conversation with my child. Those frustrations came at no charge and with no tuition. They were ticking me off for free.

Public vs. Private: Do Higher Test Scores Mean a Better Life?

I don't begrudge anyone for providing their kids with the best education available, and if you have the financial means to do so, fantastic! But, just as we faced a lot of private school kids in sports, I've seen some prosper, and I've seen some on police blotters.

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According to research conducted by Robert Pianta, a professor of early childhood education at the University of Virginia, speaking with U.S. News, private school students overwhelmingly outperform their peers in public school on standardized tests. However, Pianta's study shows that higher scores are more a direct result of their "parents' education and income."

Michigan Private School Tuition vs University Tuition

I'm sure numerous counterarguments and studies show the exact opposite results. But for what a public school kid's opinion is worth, if you're paying more for a year's tuition at a private school than in-state tuition at the University of Michigan ($37,696, according to US News), I would certainly like some concrete evidence that it was worth it.

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Otherwise, remember when you're sitting in the fancy private school principal's office ahead of a—spirited—conversation with your child: You're paying to get ticked off. Curious how much Michigan's most elite private schools cost? Keep scrolling...