According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for elementary and high school tuition and fees were 1,401.63% higher in 2020 versus 1978 (a $280.33 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2020: Elementary and high school tuition and fees experienced an average inflation rate of 6.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, elementary and high school tuition and fees costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $300.33 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.34% during this same period, inflation for elementary and high school tuition and fees was significantly higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 3%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for elementary and high school tuition and fees during the 1978-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for elementary and high school tuition and fees was much lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Elementary and high school tuition and fees:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| CPI | 57.600 | 59.331 | 64.600 | 72.346 | 81.031 | 91.008 | 99.615 | 109.354 | 119.062 | 129.238 | 141.292 | 154.585 | 167.962 | 182.808 | 198.031 | 213.662 | 228.931 | 242.631 | 259.223 | 272.815 | 288.100 | 307.892 | 327.315 | 349.892 | 372.615 | 398.415 | 424.892 | 453.500 | 483.169 | 511.223 | 539.442 | 570.583 | 600.396 | 624.473 | 648.102 | 671.214 | 695.784 | 722.824 | 750.706 | 777.085 | 804.950 | 838.132 | 868.069 | 890.926 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Elementary and high school tuition and fees, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 3.00% |
| 1979 | $21.78 | 8.88% |
| 1980 | $24.39 | 11.99% |
| 1981 | $27.31 | 12.00% |
| 1982 | $30.68 | 12.31% |
| 1983 | $33.58 | 9.46% |
| 1984 | $36.86 | 9.78% |
| 1985 | $40.13 | 8.88% |
| 1986 | $43.57 | 8.55% |
| 1987 | $47.63 | 9.33% |
| 1988 | $52.11 | 9.41% |
| 1989 | $56.62 | 8.65% |
| 1990 | $61.62 | 8.84% |
| 1991 | $66.75 | 8.33% |
| 1992 | $72.02 | 7.89% |
| 1993 | $77.17 | 7.15% |
| 1994 | $81.79 | 5.98% |
| 1995 | $87.38 | 6.84% |
| 1996 | $91.96 | 5.24% |
| 1997 | $97.12 | 5.60% |
| 1998 | $103.79 | 6.87% |
| 1999 | $110.34 | 6.31% |
| 2000 | $117.95 | 6.90% |
| 2001 | $125.61 | 6.49% |
| 2002 | $134.30 | 6.92% |
| 2003 | $143.23 | 6.65% |
| 2004 | $152.87 | 6.73% |
| 2005 | $162.87 | 6.54% |
| 2006 | $172.33 | 5.81% |
| 2007 | $181.84 | 5.52% |
| 2008 | $192.34 | 5.77% |
| 2009 | $202.39 | 5.22% |
| 2010 | $210.51 | 4.01% |
| 2011 | $218.47 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | $226.26 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $234.54 | 3.66% |
| 2014 | $243.66 | 3.89% |
| 2015 | $253.06 | 3.86% |
| 2016 | $261.95 | 3.51% |
| 2017 | $271.34 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | $282.53 | 4.12% |
| 2019 | $292.62 | 3.57% |
| 2020 | $300.33 | 2.63%* |