I'd try talking to the school about some sort of delayed payment for the rest of the year and explain the situation with your X - let her finish out the year. Sorry, but I just think it would be really hard to start at a new school, not at the beginning of the year (did that, worse time of my life).

That also allows for some negotiations of some sort with XH (although sounds like you might not get very far) just in case he lets DD come back to his place.

If that doesn't work, catholic school it is.

If DD does go back to XH, I would be making it very clear to her that you can't afford the fees and that she would have to go to another school if it doesn't work out with Dad. Although this may be putting undue pressure on her, especially if he is having unrealistic expectations of what a 14 year old is like.

Good luck!