Ask three tutors what an hour costs and you will get three answers that look like they came from different planets. That is normal. The hourly line is the least useful number on the page, because the same hour can cost very different amounts depending on what is inside it. Before you compare anything, figure out which parts of the hour move the total.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
The format changes the math
A one-on-one session is the most expensive form of the hour, and it is also the one where the tutor can give your child full attention. A small group costs less per child, but it asks more of your child to keep up and speak up. Ask how many students share the room and whether the tutor will adjust the lesson for one child who is behind. A group that is too big is not a bargain if your child spends the hour waiting.
The subject and the level matter
Reading support, basic math, and test prep are not priced the same way, and neither are the tutors who teach them. Ask the tutor what their background is in this specific subject, not just in teaching. Ask how they would start with your child, and what they would measure after four sessions. Those answers will tell you more than a title on a business card.
The drive and the sessions per week
In West County, the drive can quietly change the whole plan. A tutor who comes to your house may cost more per hour than one who meets at a center, but you may save the trip across town on a day when you are already running the afternoon. Ask whether the tutor travels, whether there is a fee for travel, and how many sessions you would need in a month to make the schedule work. Count the car time as part of the cost, because it is.
The cancellation and make-up rules
This is where a lot of families get surprised. Ask what happens if your child is sick, if the split week changes, or if a practice runs long. Ask whether a missed session is paid, credited, or lost. Get the answer in writing. A tutor with a clear rule is easier to plan around than one with a generous feeling and no paper behind it.
Put the four drivers side by side
Write down the format, the subject, the drive, and the cancellation rule for each tutor you are considering. Then look at the total your month will actually cost, including the trips you will make. The cheapest hour on the list is not always the cheapest month on the calendar.