Thousands of children have to walk long distances in Africa to go to school. If a child cannot commute because of weather or other circumstances, they don’t get educated. Several organizations have started initiatives across Africa under the “build a school” initiative. The aim is to construct as many schools as possible within a given time frame, using volunteer labor and in partnership with local communities. However, not all of these projects are successful and often struggle to find funds for their campaigns. In this report, I detail different initiatives launched by non-profit organizations and review the progress made to date.
The average cost to build a school is the price tag for building schools in the developing world. The overall cost to build a school includes the expenses for sufficient materials and labor for construction, as well as management and supervision. For example, if you are building a school in rural Cambodia with an ambitious plan to teach 3,000 children, you will need additional funds to provide resources such as books, desks and teaching tools.
There is no average cost to build a school. The cost depends on the size of the building and its amenities, as well as the location.
The average cost to build a new elementary school is $22 million, according to data from 2017-18 collected by the National Center for Education Statistics. The average middle school costs $20 million and high schools cost $45 million.
The actual cost of building any structure will vary greatly based on location, amenities and other local factors like labor costs and materials. Construction costs are also influenced by whether the project is publicly or privately funded.
Public schools tend to be built at higher costs than private schools because they’re required to meet many more regulations than private institutions. Public projects also tend to be more complex since they often include not only buildings but also athletic facilities and other assets that require additional funding sources.
The average cost to build a school varies greatly depending on the size, type and location of the school. The average cost per square foot can range from $100 for a small elementary school to over $500 for a large high school.
The most common types of schools are:
Elementary School – An elementary school is typically located on one campus and includes grades kindergarten through fifth grade. The average cost to build an elementary school ranges from $8 million to $15 million.
Middle School – A middle school is typically located on one campus and includes grades sixth through eighth grade. The average cost to build a middle school ranges from $10 million to $18 million.
High School – A high school is typically located on one campus and includes grades ninth through 12th grade (or 10th through 12th grade). The average cost to build a high school ranges from $15 million to $30 million.