Houston's priciest public high school - why so expensive?

Hey all, I'm curious about the high costs of public education, given that's supposed to be free. Specifically, what's the most expensive public high school in Houston and why does it cost so much? Does anyone have any insights that could help?

I understand why you might be curious about this. When it comes to "cost" in the context of a public school, it's typically about the operating expenses of a specific school, which can indeed vary significantly even within the same city.

Typically, a higher cost per student can be due to a variety of factors including the courses offered, faculty experience and credentials, technology and resources available, student support services, extracurriculars, and even maintenance of the physical infrastructure.

For Houston specifically, I believe one of the most expensive schools is the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. The facilities required for extensive art, music, theatre and dance programs can be expensive to maintain. Additionally, these programs typically have specialized instructors, which could also lead to higher spending. We should also consider that even if a school's operating cost is high, it doesn't necessarily mean the cost is passed onto the students, given that public schools are meant to provide free education to all eligible residents.

I encourage anyone else with more direct knowledge of the Houston educational system to chime in if they have additional insights. I hope this response helps clarify things a bit!