Getting the city's students back to school can put a significant dent in a parent's wallet.
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The ASG Planning for Education Index estimates that parents of a student starting kindergarten this year in a regional centre like Wagga will pay up to $75,714 over the next 13 years in a public school.
If the same student began school in a city area, such as Sydney, the cost over 13 years would drop to $68,224.
A student of the same age attending a private school in the regions will blow out to $210,084 by the time they have finished the HSC.
While their metropolitan counterpart will be looking at footing up to $477,534 by the time they finish their school career.
While the most dramatic costs are felt at this time of the year as parents foot the bill for all the equipment required for day one, the most enduring costs come from clothing a student.
For a female student starting year seven, at Wagga High School for example, it will cost at least $166 to purchase a full uniform with a skirt, unisex fleece top and sports attire.
Add to that the cost of shoes, which retail for about $15 at Big W, the full cost to dress a female student on day one comes to at least $181.
For a male student at the same school, the cost comes to $162 to buy a uniform with one pair of shorts, a shirt, a unisex fleecy jumper and sports uniform. Shoes bring the total to roughly $177.
Parent of two Wagga High School students, Helen Mundy believes the cost is somewhat arbitrary.
"When you think, they're in these clothes five days a week, seven hours a day, they need to [be durable]," Ms Mundy said.
"You'd be spending the same amount on their regular clothes if they didn't wear uniforms. You have to clothe them either way."
The uniform system was particularly highlighted to Ms Mundy's 15-year-old daughter who has recently returned from a three-week exchange to America.
"She lived with a family with two daughters going to school, and she actually said when she got back that she was grateful for their uniforms," Ms Mundy said.
"Watching them having to choose each day what they wanted to wear made her very thankful she didn't have to make that decision [at home]."
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While Wagga High School supplies its students with uniforms through its internal store, other schools - including private and independent - only allow uniform purchases through Lowes.
Some, like the independent Lutheran School provide the option of purchasing a second-hand uniform through the school.
Purchased new, a full girl's ensemble at the Lutheran Primary School would cost roughly $264, including the sports uniforms, summer dress, winter pinafore, one shirt and a zipped fleece jumper.
Meanwhile, for boys the total comes to roughly $260, including the winter and summer shirts and shorts, sports uniform and a zipped fleece jumper.
When contacted, a spokesperson for the Lutheran School confirmed that all students are required to wear the uniforms with either the school's monogram or insignia embroidered.
But, the spokesperson also said that a pre-loved jumper, for example, could be purchased through the second-hand store for as little as $15. Bought new through the Lowes store, the woolen jumper would otherwise cost $59.95.
"If people are going through hard times, there are always ways to help [their children] stay in uniform," said the school's principal Peter Weier.
According to this year's YouGov back to school survey, across the nation the average spend to get one child ready for school is $538.
That figure represents a 13 per cent rise - or $62 more - than in 2019.