A lot of church-connected private schools will offer scholarships to kids whose parents can't afford the fees, especially if you're a member of that church. And smart parents, grandparents, all of us, need to be pushing hard for voucher programs in your state. I want to see my local government spending used by parents to make sure their kids have a good education rather than spending it on local public schools. BTW, you want a real eye opener, take a gander at your city or county's school budget for the year. Look in detail, not generalities, at where the money is going.