Private school facts for kids
A private school is a school that is not run or paid for by the government. This is different from a public school, which gets its money from taxes. Private schools are also called 'independent schools' because they manage their own operations.
These schools choose their own students. They get their money from fees that students pay, called tuition. Sometimes, students can get a scholarship to help pay for tuition. A scholarship is like a special grant for students with certain talents, like in sports or art, or for those who need financial help. About one in ten families in the U.S. have chosen private schools for their children for many years.
Some private schools are connected to a specific religious denomination or religion, such as Roman Catholicism or Judaism. Even if a private school has a religious link, it is still considered independent if it does not rely on outside religious groups for money or control. This idea applies to both elementary and high school levels.
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Different Types of Private Schools
Private schools come in many forms. In countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the term "private school" usually means elementary or high schools. In North America, it can include schools from pre-school all the way to universities.
High School Options
For high school, private schools include "prep schools" (which prepare students for university), boarding schools (where students live at the school), and day schools (where students go home each day). The cost of private high schools changes a lot. It depends on where the school is, how much parents are willing to pay, and the school's financial resources.
Schools often say that higher fees help them pay better salaries for teachers. They also use the money to create better learning environments. This can mean fewer students per teacher, smaller class sizes, and great facilities. These facilities might include amazing libraries, science labs, and lots of computers. Many military academies are also privately owned or run.
Religious Schools
Many private schools are linked to a religion. These schools often teach religious education along with regular subjects. They want to share their faith's beliefs and traditions with students. Other religious schools use their faith as a general guide but keep academics and religion separate. Parochial schools are a common type of religious private school, often referring to Roman Catholic schools. Other faiths like Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox Christian also have private schools.
Specialized Schools
Some private schools offer special help. These schools aim to improve students' lives by meeting their unique needs. This can include tutoring schools or schools that help children with learning disabilities. Private schools often have more freedom than public schools. They can create their own rules about what they teach. However, most still follow rules about educational quality.
Private Schools Around the World
Private schools are found in many countries, but they work differently depending on the local rules and culture.
Australia
Australia has one of the highest rates of private school attendance in the world. About 30% of elementary students and over 40% of high school students go to private schools. Many private schools are run by religious groups, especially Catholic schools. Catholic schools often charge lower fees than other private schools.
The Australian Government helps fund all schools, including private ones. This funding is based on how much the school needs. Private schools get about 40% of the money needed to run public schools. The rest comes from tuition fees and donations from parents.
Canada
In 1999, about 5.6% of Canadian students were in private schools. Many of these are religious schools, including Christian, Jewish, and Islamic schools. Some Canadian private schools, especially boarding schools, are known worldwide for their quality.
Finland
In Finland, schools can be run by the state, by local areas, or by private groups. To get public money, all schools must follow the national curriculum. Most education in Finland is free. However, private schools that teach in languages other than Finnish might charge small fees. There are also private schools that do not follow the national curriculum and do not get public money. Certificates from these schools are not officially recognized.
Germany
Germany has a special law that protects the right to create private schools. This law makes sure private schools can always exist. Between 1992 and 2008, the number of students in private schools in Germany grew from 6.1% to 7.8%.
There are two main types of private schools in Germany:
- Ersatzschulen: These are regular elementary or high schools run by private groups or religious organizations. They offer the same diplomas as public schools. Teachers must have the same training and pay as public school teachers. These schools also cannot separate students based on their parents' income. Because of this, most Ersatzschulen have very low tuition fees or offer scholarships.
- Ergänzungsschulen: These are secondary or post-secondary schools that offer special types of education not found in public schools. Many are vocational schools that teach job skills. These schools are fully funded by student tuition fees.
India
In India, private schools are called independent schools. Some get financial help from the government, while others do not. Only non-profit groups can run schools in India. They need a special license from the government.
Many studies show that government schools are not as popular as private schools in India. More and more students are going to private schools. A big difference is that private schools often teach in English, while government schools use local languages.
Ireland
In Ireland, about 85% of all schools are technically private. This is because they are not owned by the state. The Roman Catholic Church owns most of these schools. Even though they are privately owned, the Irish state pays for most of their costs, including teachers' salaries. Only a small number of these private schools actually charge fees.
Most fee-charging schools in Ireland also offer boarding. The fees for these can be higher. Almost all state-supported fee-charging schools are run by religious groups.
Lebanon
In Lebanon, most students go to private schools. Many of these are owned and run by the Maronite Church. Government schools exist, but fewer students attend them. Education standards are very high in Lebanon. However, only families who can afford the fees can send their children to these schools. This can make it hard for some students to reach their full potential.
Malaysia
Chinese schools in Malaysia were started in the 19th century to teach in the Chinese language. After Malaysia became independent in 1957, the government wanted all schools to join the National School system. A compromise was reached: Chinese schools became "National Type" schools. This meant the government controlled the curriculum and teachers, but the schools still owned their land. Chinese elementary schools could keep Chinese as their main language. However, Chinese high schools had to change to English.
New Zealand
As of 2014, there were 88 private schools in New Zealand. They taught about 3.7% of all students. The number of private schools has gone down since the 1970s. Many private schools chose to become "state-integrated schools." This means they keep their special character but get state money. In return, they must act like a state school. For example, they must teach the state curriculum and cannot charge tuition fees.
Private schools get most of their money from tuition fees paid by parents. They also get some government help. People choose private schools for their strong academics, sports, and reputation. Many private schools in New Zealand are linked to the Anglican or Presbyterian churches.
Philippines
In the Philippines, private schools play a big role in education. They teach about 7.5% of elementary students, 32% of high school students, and 80% of university students. The government has made it easier for private schools to operate. They have given them more freedom in recent years.
The government also helps students go to private schools. They offer financial aid for tuition and other fees. This helps students who cannot get into public high schools because they are too full. There is also help for students who want to study certain subjects in private colleges.
South Africa
Some of the oldest schools in South Africa are private church schools. They were started by missionaries in the early 1800s. After the end of apartheid, the laws for private education changed. Now, South Africa has "public" (state-controlled) and "independent" schools. Independent schools include traditional private schools.
All schools in South Africa, both independent and public, can charge fees. Some public schools that used to be for white children now charge much higher fees than other public schools.
Sweden
In Sweden, students can choose to go to a private school. The private school gets the same amount of money as public schools. In 2008, over 10% of Swedish students were in private schools. Sweden is known for this system, which lets students pick the school they like best.
United Kingdom
Private schools in the UK are also called independent schools. This is because they can operate freely without government control. Very old and famous private schools for older students are often called "public schools." These schools charge high fees. "Preparatory schools" in England and Wales get students ready to enter public schools.
About 7% of children in the UK attend fee-charging schools at the GCSE level (around age 16). Fees can range from under £3,000 to over £27,000 per year, depending on whether students are day pupils or boarders. Many independent schools are for one gender, but this is becoming less common.
England and Wales
In England and Wales, the most famous independent schools are known as 'public schools'. These include very old and well-known places like Winchester College, Eton College, and Harrow School. These schools have inspired many similar schools around the world.
Scotland
In Scotland, schools not funded by the state are called independent or private schools. These schools might also be special schools, like music schools or schools for students with special needs. Scottish independent schools teach over 31,000 students. They are inspected by the state to make sure they provide good education.
United States
In the United States, a private school is any school not funded by the government. This is different from a public school, which the government runs. Most private schools in the U.S. are run by religious groups.
Independent schools in the U.S. are a small part of the school population. They are special because they run and pay for themselves. Unlike public schools, which are run by local governments, or religious schools, which are often supported by a church, independent schools have their own governing boards. These boards make decisions and raise money.
Independent schools can be linked to a religion. However, they are still independent because they are self-governed. They are also checked by the same groups that check public schools to make sure they offer good education. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) describes independent schools as:
- They "own themselves" and are run by a board of trustees. This board sets the school's direction.
- They pay for themselves mostly through tuition fees, fundraising, and money from their savings.
This independence gives schools four important freedoms:
- They can create their own unique goals.
- They can choose students who fit well with their goals.
- They can decide what makes a great teacher.
- They can choose what to teach and how to check student progress.
In the U.S., there are more private colleges and universities than public ones. However, public universities have more students overall.
Historically, many Roman Catholic churches started schools in the 1800s. They did this because they felt public schools were too focused on Protestant ideas. These Catholic schools ran without government money. Later, in the late 1900s, many new private schools were started by Protestants for similar reasons.
After 1954, when a court case called Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka said schools must end separation by race, many white students in the U.S. South moved to private "Christian academies." These schools usually prepared students for college.
Private schools get their money from student tuition, special funds, scholarships, and donations from religious groups or individuals. Some government funding for religious schools can be limited by law. Non-religious private schools could get public funding, but they often prefer to keep their independence.
A newer idea in the public school system is charter schools. These are public schools that run independently, much like non-religious private schools.
The cost of good private schools in the U.S. can be very high. In 2023, some day schools in New York City cost almost $60,000 a year. Boarding schools could cost between $65,000 and $85,000 a year. Even with high tuition, schools often need more money to cover their costs. Leading schools have large savings and also raise money from donations. Top boarding schools in the U.S. attract students from all over the country and even other countries. Many more students apply than they can accept.
See also
- Alternative school
- Freedom of education
- List of Friends schools
- Lutheran school
- Right to education
- State school
- Voucher
