[kearnyirish2]

Private schools (religious or not) struggle here in NJ because the high public school taxes make the additional tuition unaffordable to most. Growing up my town had six Catholic schools; now there are none. Nobody can pay $6K in school taxes (not total property taxes - just school taxes) and another $6K (or more) in tuition. If they could, they would live miles away from here instead.

[CommerceComet]

Yes, that can be a problem. Fortunately, I make a pretty good salary and we made a few sacrifices so we can afford the tuition that this school charged. Had the cost been too much, homeschooling would have been our option. My wife volunteered at the school, then taught a couple of classes, and now is a full-time teacher there.

I can fully understand why parents home school if the cost becomes too high. In a way, any parents who forego the public school option are making a sacrifice. Private school parents with their checkbooks and the home school parents with their time.

I'm looking forward to the day when we can stop paying tuition. We have four vehicles, the newest of which is a 2004 model. I wouldn't mind getting a new car or truck someday.