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Free Schools

Published January 11, 2009

Written by Robert Kennedy

There are but a few free private schools in the United States. Most of them were founded by visionary businessmen who believed that children from working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money.

There are only a few free private schools in the United States. Most of them were founded many years ago by visionary businessmen who believed that children from working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money. The impact these schools have had on society is enormous. The benefits to thousands of students and their families are priceless.

De Marillac Middle School, San Francisco, CA
De Marillac is an example of the very best sort of educational initiative sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. Established by Daughters of Charity and De La Salle Christian Brothers the school provides tuition free schooling for middle school age children in one of San Francisco's poorest neighborhoods.

Epiphany School, Dorchester, MA
Like De Marillac on the west coast, Epiphany serves middle school age children from Boston neighborhoods. This is a ministry of the Episcopal Church.

The Gilbert School, Winsted, CT
William H. Gilbert founded the school which bears his name in 1895. The Gilbert School serves the residents of Winchester and Hartland, Connecticut.

Girard College, Philadelphia, PA
Stephen Girard was one of the richest men in America when he founded Girard College. The school is unique in that all students board at the school from 1st grade through 12th. For free.

The Glenwood School, Glenwood, IL
Established in 1887 The Glenwood school operates day and residential programs for disadvantaged children. Basically you pay what you can afford to attend Glenwood.

The Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, HI
The Kamehameha Schools were established in 1887 by Bernice Pauahi Bishop who was the daughter of the last King of Hawaii. She sought to provide a sound education for the indigenous children of Hawaii. The school serves 6,500 students in grades PK-12 on 3 campuses in Hawaii. Kamehameha's endowment is the largest secondary school endowment in the United States with a value of approximately $9 billion in 2010.

Milton Hershey School, Hershey, PA
Yes, that Hershey. The founder of the chocolate company which bears his name also established a school in 1909. The Milton Hershey School provides tuition free education for children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Regis High School, New York, NY
Regis was established in 1914 by an anonymous benefactor. It educates boys from 9th through 12th grade in the Jesuit tradition. This is a highly competitive school.

If you are reading this article, chances are you are doing so from the comfort of your own home. Why not be proactive in letting others know about these wonderful free schools? You also can probably afford to send any or all of these schools a gift. Keep the vision of Stephen Girard and Milton Hershey alive by supporting schools like these. Your generosity can be a positive, life changing force.

Additional Resources [+]

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Scholarships
Scholarships for private school students are rather limited. Most support students in their area. Here are some organizations which offer funding.

Scholarship Funding Organizations
A Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) is an organization which provides financial assistance for attendance at private school.

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Free Schools and Scholarships

Free schools and organizations which offer scholarships for private school.

Free Schools
There are but a few free private schools in the United States. Most of them were founded by visionary businessmen who believed that children from working class and poor families should have the same educational advantages as children from families with money.
Scholarships
Scholarships for private school students are rather limited. Most support students in their area. Here are some organizations which offer funding.
Scholarship Funding Organizations
A Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) is an organization which provides financial assistance for attendance at private school.

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