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Private Schools in a Minute

Quick Facts and Stats

By , About.com Guide

Groton SchoolAndy Anderson/Groton School
Think of Private Schools in a Minute as a snapshot of private schools. It gives you facts and stats at a glance. The links will take you to the detail you need. Looking for schools? U.S. Schools lists schools by state, by city and by type. Private School Profiles A-Z contains detailed profiles of schools. Use Choosing a Prep School to help you choose a school.

Admissions

Our Admissions Guide walks you through the admissions process. Getting into a private school covers interviewing and testing. The most common private school admissions tests are the SSAT and ISEE. Roman Catholic high schools generally use the COOP, HSPT and TACHS as their standardized admissions tests.

Admissions Deadlines

Middle and end of January is when most schools set their admissions deadlines. Many schools have rolling admissions. Keep on top of the school choice process with this handy calendar.

Alternative Schools

Alternative schools offer troubled teens a boarding school setting where they can learn to cope with a variety of emotional and other issues.

Curriculum

Private schools set their own admission and graduation requirements which generally meet or exceed state requirements. What's taught varies from school to school according to the philosophy and mission on the individual schools. Emphasis in most college prep schools is on the IB and AP programs. Because private schools accept no state funding they do not have to 'teach to the test'.

Early Education

The most popular early education genre is the Montessori school. Waldorf or Steiner schools offer another early education approach. Find out how Montessori and Waldorf schools differ.

Elitism

Private schools had a reputation for being elitist decades ago. That's pretty much changed. Most schools pride themselves on being diverse communities.

Famous Alums

Yes, children of the rich and famous do attend private schools. Usually they go because of the fine academic and athletic programs as well as the generally high level of security and privacy most schools afford.

Free Schools

While most schools charge tuition for their services, a few schools are tuition-free.

Financial Aid

Most private schools offer financial aid which typically ranges from small scholarships and grants to full tuition. Always ask about financial aid. How Can I Pay for a Private School Education? offers other options.

Independent vs Private Schools

An independent school and a private school are essentially the same thing, i.e., a non-public entity.

The Meaning of Prep

Prep is short for preparatory. A prep school's mission is to prepare its graduates for college.

Number of Private Schools

According to the National Center For Educational Statistics there were approximately 29,000 K-12 private schools in the United States in 2008. This amounts to about 24% of all K-12 schools.

Number of Private School Students

Private school enrollment for 2006 was 5.1 million students or about 10% of the total student population. NCES projects an enrollment for 2015 of 6.9 million students.

Number of Private School Teachers

There were approximately 435,485 teachers in 2006 or about 12% of all teachers.

Combined or K-12 Schools

About 30% of private schools are combined or K-12 schools. By contrast only 4% of public schools are K-12.

The Oldest American Private School

Collegiate School in New York City is the oldest private school. It was founded in 1628.

Progressive Schools

Progressive schools, as a general rule, focus on student-centric learning. They usually avoid teaching to the test. As a result you won't usually find AP courses or grades in progressive schools.

Ranking Schools

Each private school is unique. Therefore, private schools are impossible to compare apples to apples. Ranking private schools is a futile exercise. Finding the right school is all about finding the right fit.

Religious Schools

There are religious schools covering just about every religion you can think of.

Schools for Every Need

There are private schools catering to just about every need: learning differences, ADD/ADHD, military, sports and the arts.

Single Sex Schools

Most schools are co-educational, but single-sex schools are enjoying renewed popularity because parents and educators have come to understand that boys learn differently from girls. There are approximately 400 boys' and girls' schools.

Vouchers

Vouchers are an initiative in certain states to provide school choice for parents with limited financial means. Parents with money have educational choices; those without money do not have those same options. That is the gist of voucher programs.

Where are Most Schools Located?

The northeastern states have the most private schools. They are also home to a large number of the over 300 boarding schools in North America.

Explore Private Schools

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