Fast Facts about Private Schools

Did you know that in America:

• One in four schools is a private school

• One child in nine attends a private school

• Private schools produce an annual savings to taxpayers estimated at more than $48,000,000,000

• Private school students perform better than their public school counterparts on standardized achievement tests

• Ninety percent of private high school graduates attend college, compared to 66 percent of public high school graduates

• Private school students from low socio-economic backgrounds are more than three times more likely than comparable public school students to attain a bachelor’s degree by their mid-20s, meaning that private schools contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty for their students

• Private schools are racially, ethnically, and economically diverse. Twenty-three percent of private school students are students of color 

• 28 percent are from families with annual incomes under $50,000

• Private secondary school students are nearly 50 percent more likely to take A P or I B courses in science and math than public school students

• The participation of private school students in community service projects is significantly higher than their public school counterparts