II.

Types of Private Schools

Private schools in the United States may be broadly classified as either religious or nonsectarian (nonreligious) institutions. The most common types of religious schools in the United States are supported by various branches of the Catholic Church. Some private schools are known as boarding schools because they offer lodging to students in addition to academic instruction. Private schools that do not offer lodging are often called day schools. Private schools that focus on academic preparation for college are sometimes called preparatory schools or prep schools. Both religious and nonsectarian private schools may feature other distinguishing characteristics, such as single-sex enrollment or residential facilities.

The term independent school refers to any private school that is independently governed by a board of trustees, rather than by a church or religious organization. Independent schools may have a religious or nonsectarian orientation. They are financed primarily by tuition, fees, charitable contributions, and income from investments, rather than by tax or church funds. The main organization representing independent schools in the United States is the National Association of Independent Schools.

A.

Religious Schools

Approximately 85 percent of all private school students attend schools affiliated with religious organizations, and about 50 percent of all private school students attend Catholic schools. However, private religious schools in the United States encompass a remarkable diversity of religious affiliations, educational objectives, and curriculums. Some religiously affiliated schools operate under the principle that religious instruction should be a key element in the daily education of children. Other schools attempt to provide some religious content but emphasize traditional academics. Many private religious schools primarily strive to offer an alternative to the relatively secular (nonreligious) spirit of public schools.

A.1.

Catholic Schools

The majority of Catholic schools are parochial schools, which are supported and controlled by individual parishes (local administrative units of the Roman Catholic Church). Most Catholic parochial schools provide only elementary level instruction. Aside from Catholic parochial schools, entire systems of schools are operated by Catholic dioceses (large districts under the jurisdiction of a bishop). These school systems are generally known as diocesan schools. The organization of these institutions often has features that resemble those of large public school systems, such as a district superintendent and a central administration. Tuition at Catholic parochial and diocesan schools is generally low compared to other private schools because parishes and dioceses subsidize part of school expenses.

Other Catholic schools are controlled by independent religious orders of the Catholic Church, such as the Jesuits, Benedictines, and Christian Brothers (see Brothers of the Christian Schools). These schools usually offer only high school level instruction, and their academic programs are typically more demanding than either parochial or diocesan schools. They also often charge higher tuition than parochial or diocesan schools because they receive less in church subsidies. The National Catholic Educational Association is the largest national group representing Catholic schools in the United States.

A.2.

Other Religious Schools

Non-Catholic, religiously oriented schools enroll 34 percent of all private school students in the United States. Most of these schools are supported by various Protestant organizations (see Protestantism). The majority of Protestant schools are affiliated with so-called conservative Christian associations. Many are operated by individual churches, much as Catholic parochial schools are associated with local parishes. Since the 1960s the number of conservative Christian schools and their enrollments has grown more rapidly than any other type of private school. In addition to these schools, many other national Protestant denominations support private schools, especially Adventists, Baptists, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and Quakers (see Society of Friends). The majority of Protestant and Catholic students, however, attend public schools.

Non-Christian religious organizations also have established many private schools, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. Among the most common are Jewish schools, sometimes called Hebrew day schools (see Judaism).

B.

Nonsectarian Schools

Nonsectarian, or secular, private schools are usually not affiliated with any religion or church. Some nonsectarian schools originated as religious institutions but now welcome all students. These schools generally emphasize the development of moral character more than the study of organized religion. Other independent schools may have highly specialized educational programs that focus on particular subjects, such as science, math, and the performing arts.

Independent college preparatory schools (prep schools) are generally the wealthiest, best known, and most expensive of all private schools. Some of the most prestigious preparatory boarding schools—such as Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire—draw students from across the nation and, increasingly, from around the world. Some of the most prestigious preparatory day schools include the The Dalton School and The Brearley School in New York City; Roxbury Latin School in Boston, Massachusetts; Francis W. Parker School in Chicago, Illinois; and Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington. In 1995 the average annual tuition for high school students at independent day schools exceeded $10,000.