Why Private School

Many parents tend to dismiss the idea of sending their children to private school without exploring it in depth. Similarly, many teachers flirt with the idea of teaching in a private school without delving into the matter deeply. Supporting your alma mater financially is another concept many alumni figure is somebody else's job. Of course, it isn't.

Send my child to private school?

You would want to send your child to private school for several reasons. The public schools in your area may not offer all the academic programs you want your child to have as she prepares for college a couple of years from now. The local public schools may have had to cut extracurricular activities because of financial constraints. You want your child to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. Sports programs may have been cut as well. Many school districts are struggling with their budgets and that impacts academics, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs across the board. Those kinds of fiscal pressures make the extras problematic at best. Who wouldn't want their child to be in academic surroundings where anything is possible as this short video suggests.

In this video, a student explains his math project.

Making the decision to send your child to private school requires some serious analysis and discussion of your aims and objectives. When we were having that discussion, we had two concerns:

1. Stretching out children academically

This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.

Late Night Show host David Letterman retired at the end of May 2015. So, with his famous Top Ten lists in mind, here is my list of Top Ten Facts About Private Schools.

10. There are schools for just about every need you can imagine.

Perhaps this should be number one on the list. In any case, it is true. There are private schools for just about any need or requirement you can think of. Private schools come in all shapes and sizes. There are primary schools, K-8 schools, junior boarding schools, Roman Catholic schools, military schools, schools that offer programs for students with learning differences, schools in urban areas, schools out in the country, large schools, small schools, schools with instruction in languages other than English and on and on. According to the latest available National Center for Education Statistics Private School Universe Survey, there were 29,727 private schools serving approximately 4.7 million students in the United States in 2021-22. With approximately 30,000 private schools in the United States, the chances of finding what you are looking for are pretty good.

9. Private schools are more affordable than you think.

Private school is an extra expense and a substantial sacrifice for many families. On the other hand, most private schools offer need-based financial aid. The individual schools determine the amount of aid. Some schools even provide a tuition-free education if your family's

Cristo Rey schools are unabashedly Roman Catholic. Through and through.

• They teach Catholic values and religious beliefs.
• However, they do something more unusual and significant.
• Cristo Rey schools serve students from low-income families in urban areas who could not otherwise afford a private school education.
• The way the Cristo Rey schools do this is to combine a work-study program with the academics, sports and extracurricular activities the schools offer.
• Simply put, the Cristo Rey schools offer quality education with a work-study component.

History

The Cristo Rey schools got their start back in the 90s in Chicago.

• The Catholic academic scene was a familiar, though depressing one.
• The diocesan high schools were facing serious financial challenges.
• Those schools had always been the ray of hope for struggling lower-income families who dreamed of an education for their children.
• The Catholic schools run by various orders were in good shape because they attracted a clientele that could afford the substantially higher tuition that those schools charged.
• The Jesuits met with parishioners in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago and asked what they needed most.
• "A good high school" was the unequivocal response.

This short video clip shows what the Jesuits did.

The Program

As noted above, Cristo Rey schools have a work-study program, which is an integral part of the life and rhythm of each school.

• Students work the equivalent of 5 days a month.
• The school arranges the students' work-study assignments

1. How many private schools are there in the U.S.A.?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) surveys private schools through its Private School Universe Survey. According to the latest data published by the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 4.7 million students attend private schools nationwide, representing about 9% of all K-12 students in the United States.

Families interested in enrollment trends and school selection may also enjoy reading Choosing the Right Private School Path: Cost, Readiness, and Fit.

2. How many boarding schools are there?

The Association of Boarding Schools reports nearly 300 member schools in the United States, Canada, and abroad. While membership numbers change slightly from year to year, the total remains just under 300 schools.

3. Which private school offers the most Advanced Placement courses?

Quite a few private schools offer more than 25 Advanced Placement courses, which is impressive considering that the College Board now offers more than 40 AP subjects.

Rather than identifying a single school as the leader, it is more accurate to say that many large college-preparatory schools offer extensive AP programs, while others have shifted toward International Baccalaureate programs, dual enrollment, capstone research, or advanced school-designed courses.

As advanced academics continue to evolve, many schools are expanding beyond AP coursework. For additional insight, see How Private Schools Teach Tech & AI Skills, Not Just Tools.

In this video, an expert answers questions about the optimal number of AP courses a student

1. Private schools are really private.

By design, American private schools are really private. While in most cases they observe applicable state laws with respect to minimum requirements concerning what is taught, private schools are answerable to their boards and their clients, i.e., the families who send students to them.

2. Private schools are more affordable than you think.

Granted, some private schools are very expensive. Especially boarding schools. However, since they generally seek to attract a diverse student population, most private schools offer generous financial aid packages.

3. Several private schools are free.

This video gives an overview of one of the free schools, Girard College in Philadelphia.

Years ago several benefactors established schools that will cost eligible students virtually nothing to attend. In more recent times the Cristo Rey Network of schools has made a private school education almost free for families of limited means.

4. Some private schools are residential.

Residential private schools are known as boarding schools. Your child will attend classes as well as eat and sleep at the school. Professional, experienced adult supervision ensures the safety of your child 24/7.

5. Most private schools are day schools.

In a day school your child attends classes during normal daytime hours. Extracurricular activities and sports are typically included within that day time schedule.

6. Some private schools offer a blend of day and boarding options.

Boarding schools located in a town