According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for elementary and high school tuition and fees were 355.31% higher in 2021 versus 1991 (a $71.06 difference in value).
Between 1991 and 2021: Elementary and high school tuition and fees experienced an average inflation rate of 5.18% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, elementary and high school tuition and fees costing $20 in the year 1991 would cost $91.06 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.20% during this same period, inflation for elementary and high school tuition and fees was higher.
In the year 1991: Pricing changed by 8.33%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for elementary and high school tuition and fees during the 1991-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1991 (4.23%), inflation for elementary and high school tuition and fees was much higher.
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 | 2021 |
| 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 | 901.660 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Elementary and high school tuition and fees, over time, for $20 beginning in 1991. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | $20.00 | 8.33% |
| 1992 | $21.58 | 7.89% |
| 1993 | $23.12 | 7.15% |
| 1994 | $24.50 | 5.98% |
| 1995 | $26.18 | 6.84% |
| 1996 | $27.55 | 5.24% |
| 1997 | $29.10 | 5.60% |
| 1998 | $31.10 | 6.87% |
| 1999 | $33.06 | 6.31% |
| 2000 | $35.34 | 6.90% |
| 2001 | $37.63 | 6.49% |
| 2002 | $40.24 | 6.92% |
| 2003 | $42.91 | 6.65% |
| 2004 | $45.80 | 6.73% |
| 2005 | $48.80 | 6.54% |
| 2006 | $51.63 | 5.81% |
| 2007 | $54.48 | 5.52% |
| 2008 | $57.63 | 5.77% |
| 2009 | $60.64 | 5.22% |
| 2010 | $63.07 | 4.01% |
| 2011 | $65.45 | 3.78% |
| 2012 | $67.79 | 3.57% |
| 2013 | $70.27 | 3.66% |
| 2014 | $73.00 | 3.89% |
| 2015 | $75.82 | 3.86% |
| 2016 | $78.48 | 3.51% |
| 2017 | $81.30 | 3.59% |
| 2018 | $84.65 | 4.12% |
| 2019 | $87.67 | 3.57% |
| 2020 | $89.98 | 2.63% |
| 2021 | $91.06 | 1.20%* |