What is a Private Schools?
Private schools are schools that operate independently of the public system and are funded primarily by tuition (plus donations and endowments) rather than taxes. They set their own curriculum, admissions, and policies, and include religious schools, secular independent schools, boarding schools, and specialized programs.
History & origins
Private education in America predates public schooling and has long included religious academies and elite preparatory schools. Today private schools educate roughly one in ten US students across a wide spectrum of missions, sizes, and price points.
Philosophy & approach
Private schools exist to offer a distinctive alternative to public schooling — whether a particular faith, pedagogy, academic rigor, small classes, or specialized support. Freed from many public-system rules, they can shape their own culture, curriculum, and community.
Curriculum & academics
Academics vary by school and mission, but private schools often emphasize smaller classes, college preparation, and enrichment (arts, languages, athletics). Many offer AP or IB, and college-prep private schools track strong college placement.
The classroom & school day
Common draws include smaller class sizes, more individual attention, strong extracurriculars, and a defined community or values. Facilities and resources depend heavily on tuition and endowment.
Grade levels & structure
Private schools span preschool through grade 12. Some are single-level (e.g., a private elementary), others are full PreK–12; many are religious, others secular/independent.
Admissions & enrollment
Private schools select their students through an application process that may include records, essays, interviews, and admissions tests (such as the ISEE or SSAT for many independent schools). Competitiveness ranges from open-enrollment to highly selective.
Costs & financial aid
Private schools charge tuition, ranging from modest parish-school fees to premium day- and boarding-school prices. Many offer financial aid, scholarships, and sliding scales, and in some states, vouchers or education savings accounts (ESAs) can help cover costs.
Accreditation & governance
Private schools are not run by school districts; they are governed independently (often by a board of trustees or a religious body) and typically seek voluntary accreditation from recognized regional or association accreditors as a mark of quality.
Is a Private Schools right for your child?
A private school can suit families seeking a specific faith, philosophy, rigor, small setting, or specialized support, and who can manage tuition or qualify for aid. Families should weigh cost, commute, admissions selectivity, and fit against public and charter alternatives.
How it compares to other schools
Private schools charge tuition and select students, unlike free, open public schools. They differ from charters and magnets (which are public and free) and overlap with categories like independent, religious, and boarding schools — all subtypes of private education.
Finding Private Schools
Ready to explore specific schools? K12 Academics lists thousands of schools of every type across the country.
Key facts
- TypeIndependently run, tuition-funded schools
- IncludesReligious, independent, boarding, and specialized schools
- AdmissionApplication; may include testing (ISEE/SSAT)
- CostTuition, with aid, scholarships, and (in some states) vouchers/ESAs
- OversightSelf-governed; voluntary accreditation
Where to learn more
To learn more and find specific schools: