Pay to Play: How much are families charged?
There is no state rule or policy that dictates pay-to-participate fees for extracurricular activities, but two elected officials are pushing for the elimination of the fees, saying they discourage kids from playing.
Most local school officials agree that low fees would be ideal, but they’re also trying to offset hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual school athletic costs.
The Dayton Daily News surveyed local districts about their pay-to-participate fees, both how much individuals must pay and how much the districts take in from the practice.
RELATED:Â High fees keeping some kids off the field
HOW MUCH DO FAMILIES PAY?
Local schools charge a wide range of fees to participate in sports. The fees do not ensure playing time.
| High School | Fee per sport* | Annual student maximum | Annual family maximum# |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Dayton Public | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Miamisburg | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Troy | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Trotwood-Madison | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Northridge | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Oakwood | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Eaton | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Greenville | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Springfield | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| West Carrollton | $45 | $200 | |
| Middletown | $50 | ||
| Kettering Fairmont | $60 | $120 | $150 |
| Northmont | $60 | ||
| Mad River Stebbins | $100 | ||
| Greenon | $100 | $225 | |
| Hamilton | $100 | $250 | |
| Brookville | $100 | $350 | |
| Tippecanoe | $100 | $250 | $350 |
| Xenia | $100 | $200 | $400 |
| Bellbrook | $125 | ||
| Fairborn | $150 | $300 | $450 |
| Beavercreek | $150 | $300 | $450 |
| Vandalia-Butler | $187 | $425 | |
| Valley View | $200 | $400 | |
| Centerville | $225 | $450 | $563 |
| Tecumseh | $250 | $375 | |
| Lebanon | $250 | ||
| Springboro | $260 | $1,040 | |
| Huber Heights Wayne | $350 | $950 | |
| Lakota | $400 | $800 | $800-$2000 |
* - The most common fee; a few sports may be lower.
# - May include middle school and music/club fees. For Lakota, it varies by number of athletes in family.
Source: School treasurers, athletic directors, web sites
HOW MUCH DO SCHOOLS TAKE IN?
Local schools collected millions of dollars in pay-to-participate fees in 2014-15, but in no district did those fees come close to covering all athletic expenses.
| School district | 2014-15 sports fees | 2014-15 enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Centerville | $315,000* | 8,094 |
| Huber Heights | $305,173 | 5,803 |
| Springboro | $297,445 | 5,911 |
| Fairborn | $123,729 | 4,256 |
| Valley View | $94,385 | 1,821 |
| Xenia | $56,847 | 4,284 |
| Brookville | $53,975 | 1,389 |
| Northmont | $48,700 | 5,157 |
| Kettering | $45,187 | 7,683 |
| Middletown | $24,100 | 6,304 |
* - schools' estimate
Sources: Sports fees from local schools, enrollment from Ohio Dept. of Education