The private school industry includes primary and secondary education institutions that are funded through non-governmental means, such as tuition and private donations. Contrary to popular belief, private schools are not just for wealthy kids. In fact, a substantial proportion of private schools serve low- and middle-income students. However, middle-class enrollment in private education has steadily declined since the 1960s due to the decline of Catholic schools as a proportion of all private schools.
In 1992, Catholic schools accounted for almost 35% of all private schools in the country, while non-religious private schools have risen from 20% to about 35% today. When it comes to selling to private schools in the US, it often means having to sell in small schools. According to federal data, out of the 34,576 total private schools, 87% serve fewer than 300 students and 46.3% have fewer than 50 students enrolled. Only 6% of private schools have more than 500 students. Companies looking to gain a foothold in the industry should consider joining private school networks or partnerships that can share information with each other about K-12 providers they like. Marketing plans are essential for success in the private school industry.
They provide a roadmap for initiatives throughout the year and beyond. Additionally, school vouchers, tuition tax credits, and education savings accounts help families pay for private schools that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford. Bellwether Education Partners recently published a useful document on the state of private education in the US. It provides data on enrollment trends and costs, as well as deeper examinations of different models of private schools across the country. On average, Catholic schools are the most affordable private schools in the nation. Microschools can also be used as a lower-risk way to test school models that could grow to serve more students.
This is one of the incontrovertible takeaways from a new trove of data on private schools released by the National Center for Education Statistics. Private elementary and high schools serve a total of approximately 4.9 million students today. When it comes to public schools, most individual public schools tend to serve larger student populations compared to their private counterparts. It is important for those who design private school choice programs to be aware of the regulatory requirements they place on schools. Demand for these programs is driven by perceived deficiencies in the public school system, as well as the desire for a specific curriculum or school culture. Part I of this Rankings report provides data at the state level on topics relevant to public education, such as enrollment and attendance, personnel, financial resources, government revenues and expenditures, and school revenues and expenses.
Part II - Estimates provides projections for school enrollment public, employment, compensation and finance provided by state education departments.
