Why Private School

- Austin Private Schools
- Catholiclinks.org
- Florida: Miami-Dade County
- Peterson's Guides
- Private School Search
- Rockland County, NY: Private and Parochial Schools
- San Francisco: Bay Area Private High Schools
- San Francisco: Bay Area Private Primary/Middle Schools
- San Francisco: Online Guide to Bay Area Private Schools
- Schools for the Deaf
- Washington, DC Area: Private Schools

- Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
- Association of Independent Schools of New England
- Cleveland Council of Independent Schools
- Fairchester Independent Schools
- Independent Schools Association of the Central States
- Independent Schools Association of Northern New England
- Independent Schools Association of the Southwest
- Long Island Association of Private Schools and Day Camps
- Los Angeles Area Schools
- New York Interschool
- Pacific Northwestern Association of Independent Schools
- Southern Association of Independent Schools
- Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools
- Western Boarding School Association

- Advancement for Delaware Valley Independent Schools
- Alabama Independent School Association
- Association of Colorado Independent Schools
- Association of Independent Maryland Schools
- Association of Independent Michigan Schools
- Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
- California Association of Independent Schools
- Connecticut Association of Independent Schools
- Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
- Florida Council of Independent Schools
- Georgia Independent School Association
- Hawaii Association of Independent Schools
- The Minnesota Independent School Forum
- New Jersey Association of Independent Schools
- New York State Association of Independent Schools
- North Carolina Association of Independent Schools
- North Carolina Christian Schools Association
- Ohio Association of Independent Schools
- Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools
- South Carolina Independent Schools Association
- Tennessee Association of Independent Schools
- Virginia Association of Independent Schools
- Washington Federation of Independent Schools

- American Association of Christian Schools
- American Montessori Society
- The Association of Boarding Schools
- Association of Christian Schools International
- Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the U.S.
- Association of Waldorf Schools of North America
- Catholic Boarding Schools Association
- Council for American Private Education
- Department of Defense Schools
- The Friends Council on Education
- Islamic Schools League of America
- Jesuit Secondary Education Association
- National Association of Episcopal Schools
- National Association of Independent Schools
- National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools
- National Association of Private Schools for Exceptional Children
- National Association of Street Schools
- National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs
- National Catholic Educational Association
- National Coalition of Girls Schools
- National Independent Private Schools Association
- National Lutheran School Association
- NAFSA: Association of International Educators
- Sacred Heart

Private K-12 schools are non-public schools. In other words, they are not part of the public K-12 education system. While private schools are regulated in the same way most businesses are with respect to safety, zoning and registration, they are not required to do many of the things public schools must do such as state testing and accepting any student who applies.
First, let's take a quick look at the history of K-12 education in the United States of America. What were the first colonists were up against as far as education was concerned? The challenges were enormous simply because there was nothing here. Native Americans did not have school buildings. They educated their offspring in their natural surroundings. The colonists, on the other hand, had left a country with an organized educational system. For example, King's School, Canterbury, opened its doors in 597. In the Middle Ages, the kings and queens of England established schools and universities to educate young men. In most cases, these educational establishments were founded to educate and train clergy, judges, and other public officials. Edward VI set up free grammar schools which were open to all, regardless of religious beliefs or ability to pay. Many of the great cathedrals and abbeys had choir schools where they provided for the education of boys.
Leaving a country with a long history of education, the earliest settlers in America arrived here in the early part of the 17th century and very quickly and resolutely set about providing schools.