[rich2202]

I presume that you have already paid the entry fee.

At this point, it is transportation and lodging.

For our team, it is primarily the kid's responsibility to raise funds for transportation and lodging.

I'd make a short list of who has to go, and see if you can raise enough money (or parent's cover the cost) to cover those people.

If you tell the school that you have already paid the $5,000 entry fee, they might be able to come up with $1,000 to get a core team to the competition.