DERRY - Pinkerton Academy Treasurer Michael Fox has announced that the school’s regular education tuition rate for the 2005-2006 school year will rise 5.75 percent.
A total of 598 Hampstead students attends Pinkerton, which serves as the town’s local high school.
The rate for the next school year was recently set at $7,840, which is an increase from this year’s figure of $7,414.38 per pupil. The school’s board of trustees set the $426 increase late last week after completing its annual budgeting process.
Pinkerton’s total regular education budget will increase next year to $26,071,271 from the 2004-2005 figure of $24,467,451, representing a rise of about 6.55 percent.
"There were many factors that went into this year’s increase," Fox said. "The two biggest factors were a slight increase in our regular education population and the numerous fixed charges, which includes a 15 percent increase in health insurance benefits, as well as increases in dental insurance and retirement contributions that we offer our faculty and staff."
He noted the benefits increase was very reasonable considering the recent industry benchmark and the actual increase for health insurance was lowered, as the benefits were modified.
According to figures released annually by the state of New Hampshire, Pinkerton Academy has had a history of comparing well with other Class L schools in the state as far as tuition on a per student basis.
"Even with the increases we’re looking at for next year, we still anticipate the academy’s cost per student will be at or below the state average cost per student," said Headmaster Mary A. Anderson. "With the comprehensive curriculum and myriad of programs we offer at Pinkerton we are more than competitive with the state’s large schools. Our merit pool for faculty pay raises is very competitive with area high schools."
Anderson noted that new student offerings for the 2005-06 school year include American Sign Language II and a new course in the business department, Introduction to the World of Business and Finance. Also, an alternative education program will be implemented that will provide a learning experience for students who need a different academic setting in order to succeed.
In 2005-2006, the special education budget will comprise three individualized programs. One is an independent program with its own tuition rate. The ACT (Alternative Comprehensive Training) tuition has been set at $19,000.50, up 2.36 percent.
