Brad's science class is heading to Skylight Observatory on a field trip. The observatory offers a group rate for students that is $4 less per person than the normal cost. There are 27 students in Brad's science class. His teacher called ahead and found that the total cost for the class will be $378. What is the normal cost per person?

Let X be the normal cost per person.

The group rate for each student is X - $4.
The total cost for the group rate is 27 * (X - $4).
The equation is 27(X - $4) = $378.
Multiplying through the parentheses produces 27X - $108 = $378.
Adding $108 to both sides of the equation produces 27X = $486.
Dividing both sides by 27 produces X = $486 / 27 = $<<18=18>>18.
The normal cost per person is $18. Answer: \boxed{18}.

Let's assume the normal cost per person is x dollars.

According to the given information, the observatory offers a group rate for students that is $4 less per person than the normal cost. Therefore, the group rate per person will be (x - $4).

There are 27 students in Brad's science class, so the total cost for the class will be 27 * (x - $4) dollars.

We are told that the total cost for the class is $378. Therefore, we can set up the following equation:

27 * (x - $4) = $378

To solve this equation, let's first divide both sides of the equation by 27:

(x - $4) = $378 / 27

Simplifying the right side:

(x - $4) = $14

Now, let's isolate x by adding $4 to both sides:

x = $14 + $4

x = $18

Therefore, the normal cost per person is $18.

To find the normal cost per person, we can use the given information: the observatory offers a group rate that is $4 less per person than the normal cost. Let's assume the normal cost per person is x dollars.

Since the group rate is $4 less than the normal rate, the group rate would be (x - $4) dollars per person.

Now, let's calculate the total cost for the class. We know that there are 27 students in Brad's science class and the total cost for the class is $378. Therefore, we can set up the equation:

27 * (x - $4) = $378

To solve for x, we need to isolate it on one side of the equation. We can do that by dividing both sides of the equation by 27:

(x - $4) = $378 / 27

Simplifying the right side of the equation gives us:

(x - $4) = $14

Finally, we can isolate x by adding $4 to both sides of the equation:

x = $14 + $4

Therefore, the normal cost per person is $18.