Private vs Public Schools in Texas

The first surprise for most California families is how much less Texas private school tuition costs. California families accustomed to paying $17,000 to $25,000 per year for a nonreligious private school, and $30,000 to $45,000 for top-tier schools in the Bay Area or Los Angeles, find that Texas private school tuition is roughly half that amount [2].

The statewide average private school tuition in Texas is approximately $14,009 per year, slightly below the national average of $14,882. In the Hill Country, the options are even more affordable for many families [3][4]:

• Geneva School of Boerne (Christian, K-12): $7,650 for grammar school, $8,550 for high school [5].
• Crestmont Christian Preparatory School (Christian, K-12): $5,900 for K-5, $8,900 for middle school, $9,900 for high school [6].
• St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School (Catholic, Pre-K3 through 6th grade): $10,215 per year [7].
• Hill Country Montessori School (Montessori, PK-8): Tuition not publicly listed but comparable area Montessori schools range from $8,000 to $12,000.

In San Antonio, the range is broader. Catholic schools through the Archdiocese of San Antonio typically charge $7,000 to $12,000 per year. Nonreligious college-preparatory schools in the city can range from $15,000 to $25,000. The most expensive options in San Antonio are still well below the cost of equivalent schools in California [19].

For context, the average private school tuition in San Antonio is approximately $12,126 per year, with a range from as low as $580 at some faith-based programs to over $34,000 at the highest-end preparatory schools [3].

The most important fact that California families need to understand is that Texas public schools are not the underfunded, struggling institutions that national narratives sometimes suggest. In the Hill Country, they are exceptional.

Boerne ISD serves approximately 6,500 students across eight campuses, all of which have earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency. The district offers over 20 Advanced Placement courses, a robust dual credit program through Alamo Colleges, and strong extracurricular programs in athletics, fine arts, and academic competitions [18]. The M&O tax rate is $0.924 per $100 of assessed value, which is moderate by Texas standards.

Comal ISD, serving approximately 27,000 students across five high schools, also earns an A rating from the TEA. Northside ISD, the largest district in the San Antonio area with approximately 103,000 students and 120-plus campuses, earns a B rating but offers the widest range of specialized programs, including magnet schools, career and technical education pathways, and dual language programs.

The quality of Hill Country public schools means that for many California relocating families, the public school option is not a compromise. It is a strong first choice. The decision to pay for private school in a district with A-rated public schools requires a specific reason, not a general assumption that private is better.

In May 2025, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2, creating the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, the largest school choice initiative in Texas history. The program launches for the 2026-2027 school year and fundamentally changes the private school equation for Texas families [8].

Under the TEFA program, eligible students receive approximately $10,474 per year, representing about 85% of the statewide average per-student public school funding. Students with qualifying disabilities may receive up to $30,000 per year depending on their IEP level. The funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, educational therapy, and other approved expenses [8][9].

The program has a $1 billion first-year budget with an estimated 90,000 students expected to participate. Over 274,000 applications were received during the initial application window, which ran from February 4 to March 17, 2026. Awards are distributed through a tiered lottery system, with priority given to students with disabilities from households at or below 500% of the federal poverty level [10].

What this means for relocating families: The TEFA program significantly narrows the cost gap between public and private school. A family paying $8,000 in private school tuition with a $10,474 TEFA award effectively pays zero tuition and has funds left over for educational materials. However, participation is limited by lottery, and there is no guarantee of approval in any given year. Families should not make school decisions based on the expectation of receiving a TEFA award unless they already have one secured.

For California families considering a move to Texas in 2026 or 2027, the TEFA program is an important factor to include in your planning. The application window for the 2027-2028 school year has not yet been announced, but based on the 2026-2027 timeline, it will likely open in February 2027.

The honest answer about academic outcomes is that the data does not support a clear advantage for either public or private schools when you control for the most important variable: the family.

National research consistently shows that private school students report higher SAT and ACT scores and higher college enrollment rates than public school students. However, when researchers control for family income and parental education level, that advantage largely disappears [11][12]. The difference in outcomes is driven primarily by the demographics of families who choose private schools, not by the schools themselves.

In Texas specifically, the comparison is harder to make because private schools are not required to participate in the STAAR testing program or the TEA A-F accountability system [17]. Only about 21 of Texas's approximately 900 private schools voluntarily administer the STAAR test, meaning there is no standardized way to compare academic performance between public and private schools across the state.

What we do know is that Texas public schools in the Hill Country produce strong outcomes. Boerne ISD graduates are admitted to UT Austin, Texas A&M, Rice University, and out-of-state universities including the Ivy League. The district's STAAR performance data shows strong proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grade levels [1].

Private schools in the area also produce strong outcomes, but the available data is typically limited to average SAT scores and college acceptance lists, which reflect the self-selected population of students who attend those schools rather than the value added by the schools themselves.

Practical takeaway: In the Hill Country, both public and private schools can provide an excellent education. The choice should be based on fit, not on a generalized assumption about which type produces better academic results. A child who thrives in a large, diverse public school environment may struggle in a small private school, and vice versa.

This is the area where the structural difference between public and private schools in Texas is most significant, and it matters more to some families than others.

Texas public schools operate under the University Interscholastic League (UIL), which governs athletics, marching band, academic competitions, theater, and fine arts for all public schools in the state. UIL competition is deeply embedded in Texas culture. Friday night football at a large Texas public high school is a genuine community event, and the level of competition in UIL sports is exceptionally high [14].

Texas private schools participate in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) or the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC). TAPPS is the largest governing body for private school activities, with competition divisions organized by school size. The level of competition in TAPPS varies widely. Top-tier TAPPS schools can compete at a high level, but the depth of competition is generally not equivalent to UIL in the largest classifications [13].

What this means for your child: If your child is a competitive athlete, the decision between public and private school has real implications. A student-athlete at a large UIL public school like Boerne High School or Smithson Valley High School has access to a wider range of competition, more college recruitment visibility, and a deeper talent pool than a student-athlete at most private schools. If your child is a musician, the same dynamic applies: UIL marching band is a major activity in Texas, while TAPPS fine arts programs are generally smaller.

Conversely, if your child wants to participate in athletics or fine arts in a lower-pressure environment, a small private school may be a better fit. The smaller student body means more opportunities for participation, including for students who would not make the team at a large public school.

Homeschooling is a popular and accessible option in Texas, and it is worth mentioning because the regulatory environment is significantly different from California's. Texas has some of the least restrictive homeschooling requirements in the country, which is both an advantage and a responsibility depending on your perspective [15].

Texas homeschools are considered private schools under state law. There is no state registration requirement, no curriculum approval process, no standardized testing requirement, and no teacher certification requirement for parents. The three legal requirements for a Texas homeschool are: (1) the instruction must be in a bona fide manner, meaning it is not a pretext for truancy, (2) the curriculum must be visual (not just oral), meaning it includes textbooks, workbooks, or other written materials, and (3) the curriculum must cover the basic subjects of reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship [15][20].

For California families accustomed to the state's more rigorous homeschool requirements, which include filing a private school affidavit, teacher qualification requirements, and annual testing, the Texas environment offers substantially more freedom. TEFA funds can be used for tutoring and educational materials for homeschooled students, further expanding the options available to families who choose this path.

Homeschooling is not the right choice for every family, but it is a well-established option in the Hill Country. Local homeschool support groups, co-ops, and extracurricular organizations are active and welcoming to new families.

After working with dozens of California families navigating this decision, I have developed a framework that tends to produce clear answers. It starts with one question: what specific need does your child have that your assigned public school cannot meet?

When Public School Is Likely the Right Choice

• Your child is thriving academically and socially in a traditional classroom setting.
• You value the diversity and scale of a comprehensive public high school with UIL athletics, fine arts, and a wide range of course offerings.
• Your assigned ISD is rated A or B, and you are satisfied with the specific campus your child would attend.
• Your child has an IEP or 504 plan, and you want the full legal protections and service mandate that Texas public schools must provide.
• Budget is a primary concern, and the cost of private school tuition would strain your monthly cash flow.

When Private School May Be the Better Choice

• You want a faith-based educational environment that integrates religious instruction into the school day.
• Your child has specific learning needs that are better served by the smaller class sizes and individualized attention that private schools can offer.
• Your assigned public school is rated below your standard, or the specific campus is overcrowded.
• You want a specific pedagogical model, such as Montessori, classical Christian, or a college-preparatory focus that your assigned ISD does not offer.
• The TEFA program or other financial factors make private school affordable for your family.

The Most Important Step

Regardless of which direction you lean, visit the schools. Walk the campus. Talk to the principal or head of school. Observe a classroom. If possible, talk to parents who have children at the school. The data matters, but the feeling of the school matters more. Your child's daily experience will be shaped by the culture, the teachers, and the community of the school, none of which can be captured in a rating or a tuition figure.

For a deeper look at how Texas public schools are structured and rated, see our article on Texas School Districts Explained. For a focus on Boerne ISD specifically, the Boerne ISD Guide covers the district's campuses, programs, and feeder patterns in detail.