Question

To what extent are school fees mandatory at Naperville schools? According to the rundown below, it looks like some of them are for optional programs like band and sports, but there are some that sound unavoidable, like the "tech" fees and the "Grade 6-8" fee. Do they really charge families a fee to enroll their kids in mandatory schooling?  
https://www.naperville203.org/cms/l...1LFQU

Answer 1

It's online I looked because you can claim it on tax Lol It's like $150

Comments

Yeah, it's not a prohibitive amount, at least not for my family. And apparently there's aid or waivers or something for lower income families. But as a few of the people above have pointed out, it can add up if you have multiple kids with sports, clubs, drivers ed, etc. I'm from Washington state, and we didn't charge fees for things like that. This system just seems odd to me, and I'm trying to learn more about it. I get that most people--especially in Napervile--CAN afford it, but I'm surprised anybody likes a system that offloads those expenses directly onto families with kids.  

---

@kraul Welcome to IL They tax you to breathe.  

---

Well, that's another thing. With taxes like this, it seems kind of scandalous to add another layer of fees!  

---

@kraul One of the worst states.  

---

@kraul it’s because Illinois is broke.  

---

@scalenus There's that. Don't get is started on the tolls  

---

@echovirus84758 but then add on lab fees, material fees, and workbook fees that are not on that online list.  

---

@scalenus, why is the state broke? I know about the pension fiasco, but is there more on top of that?  

---

@kraul Greed.  

---

@kraul decades of electing the same corrupt people over and over again is a start.  

---

@echovirus84758 you can claim it on taxes? Not sure if we’ve done that before.  

---

There are historical facts as to why the state is in hock to the public servants who financed the citezen welfare queens who wouldn’t pay taxes, don’t forget the corporate welfare Queens who stole even more on their free ride in their Cadillac s.  

---

@illogic Turbotax asks you if you paid school at all. It's great!  

Answer 2

Yes $100 something dollars isn’t bad.  

Answer 3

If you qualify for free/reduced you’ll pay less or won’t have to pay at all which I thinks bogus.  

Comments

@estimable why is it bogus?  

---

Why is it bogus? Are you jealous of those that don't have enough money for basic necessities?  

---

All kids should be covered.  

---

@estimable people need to chill out, looks like they were ready to attack without knowing your intentions. It’s your opinion either way.  

---

@estimable agreed. I can't believe with the tax base here, they have the stones to charge anyone extra to do school stuff. Obscene

Answer 4

All school districts charge fees!  

Comments

@calefacient21677 In Illinois! I grew up in Texas and the school district doesn't charge fees. The range of fees just around this area are nuts.  

---

@authentic2594, I agree the fees are high. Unfortunately, Illinois has misused money for education for years. We as parents have paid the price.  

---

@calefacient21677 I know we are in a great school district but I would move in a heartbeat.  

---

Yeah, I grew up in Washington state, and my school was pretty poor, but we didn't have fees, not even for optional programs like band and sports. It seems really strange to charge a fee (on top of taxes) for a mandatory public service.  

---

@calefacient21677 I'm from the East coast and they never charge fees. Ever

---

@authentic2594 no comparison as far as education is concerned.  

Answer 5

204 fees are $145 for grade school

Answer 6

› . PDF Web results A Student's Guide to NNHS Free/Reduced Lunch and Waiver . - Naperville School District 203
https://www.naperville203.org

Answer 7

My daughter graduated in 2019 from Kaneland and her fees since elementary school were never under $200 and sometimes were over $300. Naperville isn’t bad.  

Answer 8

Of all things Illinois taxes on with little service, we have pretty good schools statewide, and in Naperville we have some great schools. This is something I'd happily throw a few extra bucks at.  

Comments

I, too, am VERY willing to pay for public schools, but I think we should do it with public money. No argument here that public schools are worth paying for, though.  

Answer 9

Dist 204 high school fees are near $200, then add up some book fees and field trip fees and other “presentation” fees for speakers to come and it’s about $300 per year at Neuqua.  

Comments

Per kid, too, right?  

---

@dunkin170 don’t forget fees for any athletics and drivers Ed!  

---

@kraul yes, not including sports or clubs

---

@keeley oh Driver’s Ed was $350 but that’s $200 cheaper than doing it privately

---

@dunkin170 EDS was $300 for my daughter so cjeaper

---

@dunkin170 except you loose taking a class that maybe needed or they want with outside programs the kids get thru faster and my daughter had only one other person for driving which gave her more quality EDS is about the same as the school

---

@thurlow I paid $500 for Excel twice tor two kids. Just saying.  

Answer 10

Yes, IL doesn't really believe in a free public school education

Answer 11

It was brought up at the last school board meeting that perhaps the surplus should be used to pay fees. However the other board members did not agree.  

Answer 12

We had yo pay for text books in Lombard!  

Answer 13

If you qualify for free lunch programs they waive fees.  

Answer 14

High school is even worse. When we questioned it, we were told by the administration that Illinois Constitution doesn't guarantee a free education. We averaged about $300 in fees per year, per child.  

Comments

If they won't provide free education, it doesn't seem like they have a leg to stand on to make that education compulsory.  

---

(I'm fine with compulsory education, but it seems like a society that believes education is so important as to make it compulsory should also cover the costs with public money. )

---

@kraul it’s not truly compulsory, people can always homeschool their kids, but I get what you’re saying.  

---

@kraul especially when our taxes are 5 figures

---

@mycosis I know there are alternatives to public school, but schooling is still compulsory, right? If the state compels you to do it, they should provide a fully publicly funded option, in my opinion. Also, single parents and working couples can't reasonably homeschool.  

Answer 15

$175 in homer glen ‍♀️