{{Short description|School that is not dependent upon the state}} {{about|primary and secondary education|tertiary education|Private university|the film|Private School (film){{!}}''Private School'' (film)|the TV episode|Private School (What We Do in the Shadows)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} [[File:Phillips Exeter Academy building1.jpg|thumb|[[Phillips Exeter Academy]] in [[Exeter, New Hampshire]], founded in 1781, one of the oldest private boarding schools in the United States]] [[File:Share enrolled in private institutions at the pre-primary education level, OWID.svg|thumb|Share enrolled in private institutions at the pre-primary education level (2015)]] [[File:Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level, OWID.svg|thumb|Share enrolled in private institutions at the primary education level (2015)]] [[File:Share enrolled in private institutions at the tertiary education level, OWID.svg|thumb|Share enrolled in private institutions at the tertiary education level (2015)]]
A '''private school''' or '''independent school''' is a [[school]] not administered or funded by the [[government]], unlike a [[State school|public school]].{{NoteTag|For historical reasons, in [[England]] and [[Wales]], some elite, fee-charging private schools for 13- to 18-year-olds are described as '[[Public school (United Kingdom)|public schools]]'.}} Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or [[local government]] to finance their [[financial endowment]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Types of school |url=https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/private-schools |website=GOV.UK |publisher=United Kingdom Government |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref> Unless privately owned they typically have a board of governors and have a system of governance that ensures their independent operation.
Private schools retain the right to select their [[student]]s and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students for [[Tuition payments|tuition]], rather than relying on [[taxation]] through public (government) funding; at some private schools students may be eligible for a scholarship, lowering this tuition fee, dependent on a student's talents or abilities (e.g., sports scholarship, art scholarship, academic scholarship), need for financial aid, or [[Scholarship Tax Credit|tax credit scholarships]] that might be available.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/types-of-school-choice/tax-credit-scholarship/|title=What is a Tax-Credit Scholarship? – EdChoice|work=EdChoice|access-date=31 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618203932/https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/types-of-school-choice/tax-credit-scholarship/|archive-date=18 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Roughly one in 10 U.S. families have chosen to enroll their children in private school for the past century.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.educationnext.org/who-goes-private-school-long-term-enrollment-trends-family-income/|title=Who Goes to Private School? Long-term enrollment trends by family income – Education Next|date=17 July 2018|work=Education Next|access-date=2 October 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002215102/https://www.educationnext.org/who-goes-private-school-long-term-enrollment-trends-family-income/|archive-date=2 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Some private schools are associated with a particular [[religious denomination]] or [[religion]], such as [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]], various branches of [[Protestantism]] or [[Judaism]]. Although private schools may have a religious affiliation, the precise use of the term excludes [[Parochial school|parochial]] (and other) schools if there is a financial dependence upon, or governance subordinate to, outside (religious) organizations. These definitions generally apply equally to both [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education]].
==Types== In the United Kingdom and several other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries including Australia, Canada and New Zealand the use of the term is generally restricted to [[primary education|primary]] and [[secondary education|secondary]] educational levels, and it is almost never used of [[university|universities]] or other [[tertiary education|tertiary]] institutions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/02/22/commonwealth-countries-must-ensure-child-has-12-years-quality/|title=Commonwealth countries must ensure that each child has 12 years of quality education|last=Gibb|first=Nick|date=22 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|access-date=30 June 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703005529/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2018/02/22/commonwealth-countries-must-ensure-child-has-12-years-quality/|archive-date=3 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Private education in North America covers the whole gamut of educational activity, ranging from pre-school to tertiary level institutions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourkids.net/private-schools-versus-public-schools.php|title=Private Schools Versus Public Schools {{!}} Private Vs Public|last=ourkids.net|website=www.ourkids.net|language=en|access-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630052906/http://www.ourkids.net/private-schools-versus-public-schools.php|archive-date=30 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Annual tuition fees at [[K–12]] schools range from nothing at so called 'tuition-free' schools to more than $45,000 at several [[New England]] [[University-preparatory school]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-boarding-schools-2014-8#50-cushing-academy-1|title=The 50 Most Expensive Boarding Schools In America|work=BusinessInsider.com|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404042949/http://www.businessinsider.com/most-expensive-boarding-schools-2014-8#50-cushing-academy-1|archive-date=4 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
The secondary level includes university-preparatory schools, [[boarding school]]s, and [[day school]]s. Tuition at private secondary schools varies from school to school and depends on many factors, including the school's location, the willingness of parents to pay, peer tuitions, and the school's [[financial endowment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.houstonschoolsurvey.com/endowments-of-private-schools.html#.WxB6skiFPIU|title=Private School Endowments|website=The Houston School Survey – School Research, Reviews, & Forum|language=en|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629180406/http://www.houstonschoolsurvey.com/endowments-of-private-schools.html#.WxB6skiFPIU|archive-date=29 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Some private schools are boarding schools, and many [[military academy|military academies]] are privately owned or operated as well.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Religiously affiliated and denominational schools form a subcategory of private schools. Some such schools teach [[religious education]], together with the usual academic subjects, to impress their particular faith's beliefs and traditions in the students who attend. Others use the denomination as a general label to describe what the founders based their belief, while still maintaining a fine distinction between academics and religion. They include [[parochial school]]s,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2017/08/25/americans-parochial-school-education-outshines-public-schools/|title=For most Americans, parochial school education outshines public schools|date=25 August 2017|work=Crux|access-date=31 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033719/https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2017/08/25/americans-parochial-school-education-outshines-public-schools/|archive-date=28 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> a term which is often used to denote Roman Catholic schools. Other religious groups represented in the K–12 private education sector include Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and Orthodox Christians.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Many [[alternative education|educational alternatives]], such as private schools or [[Online school|online schools]], are privately financed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://learninglab.legacy.wbur.org/topics/alternative-schools-education-outside-the-traditional-system/|title=Alternative Schools: Education Outside The Traditional System|work=learninglab|access-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630080905/http://learninglab.legacy.wbur.org/topics/alternative-schools-education-outside-the-traditional-system/|archive-date=30 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Private schools often avoid some state regulations, although in the name of educational quality, most comply with regulations relating to the educational content of classes. Religious private schools often add religious instruction to the courses provided by local public schools.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Special assistance schools aim to improve the lives of their students by providing services tailored to the particular needs of individual students. Such schools include [[tutor]]ing schools and schools to assist the learning of disabled children.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
==By country== ===Australia=== {{main|Education in Australia#Independent schools}} [[File:Scotch from chapel.JPG|thumb|[[Scotch College, Melbourne|Scotch College]] in [[Melbourne]]]] In Australia, private schools are mostly operated by an independently elected school council or board of governors and range broadly in the type of school-education provided and the [[socioeconomics|socio-economics]] of the school community served. Most private schools are run by [[religious institute]]s while others have no religious affiliation and are driven by a national philosophy (such as [[international school]]s), [[pedagogy|pedogogical]] philosophy (such as [[Waldorf education|Waldorf-Steiner schools]]), or specific needs (such as [[special school]]s).<ref name="isca-about">{{citation |url=https://isca.edu.au/about-independent-schools/about-independent-schools/independent-schools-overview/ |title=Independent Schools Overview |publisher=Independent Schools Council of Australia |date=2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811141752/https://isca.edu.au/about-independent-schools/about-independent-schools/independent-schools-overview/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Australia has one of the most privatised education systems in the world with 30 per cent of primary students and more than 40 per cent of secondary students attending private schools. In contrast the OECD average is 18 per cent.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hare |first1=Julie |title=Inequalities baked into Australia's education system |url=https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/inequalities-baked-into-australia-s-education-system-20221118-p5bzj8 |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=Australian Financial Review |publisher=Nine Entertainment |date=29 November 2022}}</ref> [[Catholic]] schools make up a sizeable proportion of total enrolment (nearly 15%) and are usually regarded as a school sector of their own within the broad category of private schools, often charging lower fees than [[Protestant]] private schools. Enrolment in non-government schools have been growing steadily at the expense of enrolments in government schools, which have seen their enrolment share reduce from 78.1 percent to 65 percent since 1970, although the rate of growth of private schools has slowed in the later years.<ref name="isca-about" />
Australian private schools differ from those in other OECD nations as the [[Australian Government]] provides funding ("[[State aid (Australia)|State aid]]") to all schools including private schools. In 2013, after release of the (first) [[Gillard government#Gonski Report|Gonski Report]], the funding formula was changed to compute individual school funding compared to a School Resourcing Standard (SRS). The SRS uses exam results from the [[National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy]] tests, calculates the SRS from a cohort of well-performing schools, and applies this formula to other schools on the assumption that they should be able to achieve similar results from similar funding. The funding provided to private schools is on a sliding scale and still has a "capacity to pay" element; however, on average, funding granted to the private school sector is 40 percent of that required to operate government schools, the remainder being made up by tuition fees and donations from parents. The majority of the funding comes from the Commonwealth Government, while the [[States and territories of Australia|state and territory]] governments provide about one-third of the Commonwealth amount. The [[Turnbull government]] commissioned Gonski in 2017 to chair the independent Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools, commonly called Gonski 2.0.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isca.edu.au/blog/gonski-2-0/|title=What is Gonski 2.0?|website=isca.edu.au|publisher=Independent Schools Council of Australia|access-date=2018-04-30|language=en|df=dmy-all|archive-date=24 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824220721/http://isca.edu.au/blog/gonski-2-0/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The government published the report on 30 April 2018.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/662684_tgta_accessible_final.pdf |title=Through Growth to Achievement: Report of the Review to Achieve Education Excellence in Australian Schools |date=2018-04-30 |publisher=Australian Government |work=Department of Education and Training |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430004956/https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/662684_tgta_accessible_final.pdf |archive-date=2018-04-30 |access-date=2018-04-30|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Following negotiation, [[bilateral agreement]]s between the Commonwealth of Australia with each state and territory commenced on 1 January 2019, with the exception of Victoria, whose bilateral agreement commenced on 1 February 2019. The funding agreements provide states with funding for government schools (20 percent) and non-government schools (80 percent) taking into consideration annual changes in enrolment numbers, indexation and student or school characteristics. A National School Resourcing Board was charged with the responsibility of independently reviewing each state's compliance with the funding agreement(s).<ref name="DoE funding 2019">{{cite web |title=How Are Schools Funded in Australia? |url=https://www.education.gov.au/how-are-schools-funded-australia |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |work=[[Department of Education (Australia, 2019–2020)|Department of Education]] |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref>
Private school fees can vary from under $100 per month<ref>{{citation|title=School Fees |url=https://www.goodschools.com.au/start-here/financing-your-childs-education/school-fees |website=Good Schools Guide |publisher=Good Education Group |access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref> to $2,000 and upwards,<ref>{{cite news |author=Speranza, Laura |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/revealed-500000-to-educate-your-child-figures-from-australian-scholarships-group-say/news-story/70899e765a169cce6210fa5ad447d276#ixzz1qAx7iMoz |title=$500,000 a child: How much private schooling costs parents |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|The Sunday Telegraph]] |location=Australia |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=3 September 2019 }}</ref><ref name="exfin">{{citation |url=http://www.exfin.com/private-school-costs |title=Private School Fees and Costs |publisher=Exfin International Pty LTD. |access-date=2016-06-07 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> depending on the student's year level, the school's size, and the socio-economics of the school community. In late 2018 it was reported the most expensive private schools (such as [[Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales|AAGPS]] and [[Combined Associated Schools|CAS]] schools in [[New South Wales]], [[Great Public Schools Association of Queensland|GPS]] and [[Queensland Girls' Secondary Schools Sports Association|QGSSSA]] schools in [[Queensland]], [[Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria|AGSV]] and [[Associated Public Schools of Victoria|APS]] schools in [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]]) charge fees of up to $500,000 for thirteen years of education.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Singhal, Pallavi |author2=Keoghan, Sarah |url=https://www.smh.com.au/education/sydney-private-school-fees-hit-38-000-for-the-first-time-20181221-p50nqw.html |title=Sydney private school fees hit $38,000 for the first time |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=26 December 2018 |access-date=3 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Kinniburgh, Chanel |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/school-life/estimated-total-cost-of-a-government-catholic-and-independent-education-revealed/news-story/d6b75abed1328a206deaddaf70f07a9a |title=Estimated total cost of a government, Catholic and independent education revealed |work=news.com.au |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=3 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Bolton, Robert |url=https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/mind-blowing-top-private-school-education-nears-500000-20190129-h1alsk |title='Mind blowing': Top private school education nears $500,000 |work=[[Financial Review]] |location=Australia |date=29 January 2019 |access-date=3 September 2019 }}</ref> The oldest private school in Australia is [[The King's School, Parramatta|The King’s School]], founded in 1831.
Catholic schools form the second-largest sector after government schools, with around 21% of secondary enrolments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australian-children.com/private_schools.html|website=australian-children|title=Private Schools|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321231842/http://www.australian-children.com/private_schools.html|archive-date=21 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Catholic schools, typically have a strong religious focus and usually most of the staff and students are Catholic.<ref name="NEDA">[http://www.education.net.au/about/private_schools.php The National Education Directory Australia: Private Schools in Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821030325/http://www.education.net.au/about/private_schools.php |date=21 August 2007 }} (accessed:07-08-2007)</ref>
===Canada=== {{See also|Education in Canada}} In 1999, 5.6% of Canadian students were enrolled in private schools,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/010704/dq010704b-eng.htm|title=Trends in the use of private education|publisher=Statistics Canada|access-date=1 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722145138/http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/010704/dq010704b-eng.htm|archive-date=22 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> some of which are religious or faith-based schools, including Christian, Jewish, and Islamic schools. Some private schools in Canada are considered world-class, especially some boarding schools. Private schools have sometimes been controversial, with some<ref>Chubb, J. (2015). "The Private School Stigma." ''The Atlantic''.</ref> in the media and in Ontario's [[Ministry of Education (Ontario)|Provincial Ministry of Education]] asserting that students may buy inflated grades from private schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2009/08/10/buying_a_credit_trend_worrying_for_educators.html|title='Buying a credit' trend worrying for educators|last=Burgmann|first=Tamsyn|date=10 August 2009|publisher=Toronto Star|access-date=10 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811091254/http://www.thestar.com/life/parent/2009/08/10/buying_a_credit_trend_worrying_for_educators.html|archive-date=11 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Finland === {{See also|Education in Finland}} In Finland, education takes place in state-run, municipality-run, and private schools. To qualify for public funding, all schools must receive a license from the [[Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)|Ministry of Education and Culture]] and align with the national curriculum and educational standards. While education is generally free, schools that offer instruction in languages other than the [[official languages of Finland]] (for example in English) may charge modest fees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions - OKM - Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland |url=https://okm.fi/en/frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FINLEX ® - Translations of Finnish acts and decrees: 628/1998 English |url=https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1998/en19980628?search%5Btype%5D=pika&search%5Bkieli%5D%5B0%5D=en&search%5Bpika%5D=628 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809040150/https://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1998/en19980628?search%5Btype%5D=pika&search%5Bkieli%5D%5B0%5D=en&search%5Bpika%5D=628 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2024 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=www.finlex.fi |language=en}}</ref> There are also unlicensed private schools that do not follow any national curriculum and do not receive public funding. Certificates obtained from such institutions are not recognized as valid proof of education.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Organisation of private education |url=https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-education-systems/finland/organisation-private-education |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
In 2018, private schools accounted for 3% of basic education institutions and 9% of upper secondary education institutions. All [[University of applied sciences (Finland)|Universities of Applied Sciences]] are either privately owned or municipality-owned companies or foundations. Some private [[Universities in Finland|Universities]] in Finland operate without legal mandate and are not overseen by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Graduates from these universities must undergo the same verification process as those holding foreign degrees.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-18 |title=Korkeakoulun voi perustaa kuka tahansa – maksullisten tutkintojen laatua ei valvo välttämättä kukaan |url=https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/korkeakoulun-voi-perustaa-kuka-tahansa-maksullisten-tutkintojen-laatua-ei-valttamatta-valvo-kukaan/6579228 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=mtvuutiset.fi |language=fi}}</ref>
===Germany=== {{See also|Education in Germany}} The right to create private schools in Germany is in Article 7, Paragraph 4 of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Grundgesetz]] and cannot be suspended even in a [[state of emergency]]. It is also not possible to abolish these rights. This unusual protection of private schools was implemented to protect these schools from a second [[Gleichschaltung]] or similar event in the future.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2011/07/priv-j05.html |title=Private schools boom in Germany |author=Clara Weiss. |publisher=[[World Socialist Web Site]] |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=13 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325015911/http://wsws.org/en/articles/2011/07/priv-j05.html |archive-date=25 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Italy=== {{See also|Education in Italy}} In Italy education is predominantly public; about one-fifth of schools are private, attended by about one out of 10 Italian schoolchildren. The Italian constitution states that education is to be public, free, and compulsory for at least eight years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/it00000_.html|title=ICL – Italy – Constitution|last=LL.M.|first=Axel Tschentscher|website=www.servat.unibe.ch|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520165425/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/it00000_.html|archive-date=20 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
===India=== {{See also|Education in India}} [[File:Nuchhungi English Medium School Hnahthial Lunglei Mizoram appreciation.jpg|thumb|Students at a private school in [[Hnahthial]]]] [[File:Nuchhungi English Medium School Hnahthial Lunglei Mizoram.jpg|thumb|An independent school in [[Hnahthial]]]] In [[India]], private schools are called independent schools, but since some private schools receive financial aid from the government, it can be an aided or an unaided school. Demand for private schools has been growing over the years.<ref name=":14">{{Cite journal |last=Kingdon |first=Geeta Gandhi |date=2020-10-02 |title=The Private Schooling Phenomenon in India: A Review |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2020.1715943 |journal=The Journal of Development Studies |volume=56 |issue=10 |pages=1795–1817 |doi=10.1080/00220388.2020.1715943 |s2cid=158006322 |issn=0022-0388|hdl=10419/161235 |hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription }}</ref> While a consensus over what is the most significant driver of this growth in private schooling has not yet emerged, some authors have attributed this to a higher demand for English-medium education,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Azam |first1=Mehtabul |last2=Chin |first2=Aimee |last3=Prakash |first3=Nishith |date=January 2013 |title=The Returns to English-Language Skills in India |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/668277 |journal=Economic Development and Cultural Change |language=en |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=335–367 |doi=10.1086/668277 |hdl=11244/321264 |s2cid=8499836 |issn=0013-0079 |access-date=13 May 2023 |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512231707/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/668277 |url-status=live |hdl-access=free }}</ref> a dissatisfaction with the quality of public schools,<ref>Desai, Sonalde; Dubey, Amaresh; Vanneman, Reeve; Banerji, Rukmini, "Private Schooling in India: An Educational Landscape" in ''India Policy Forum'' 5, ed. Suman Bery, Barry Bosworth, Arvind Panagariya (New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2008).</ref><ref>Muralidharan, K., & Kremer, M. (2008). Public and private schools in rural India. In R. Chakrabarti & P. Petersen (Eds.), School choice international: Exploring public-private partnerships (pp. 91–110). Boston, MA: MIT Press.</ref> greater affordability of private schools,<ref name=":14"/> and non-availability of preferred field of study in government schools.<ref name=":07">{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-10-4929-3 |title=Quality of Secondary Education in India |year=2018 |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-10-4929-3 |access-date=13 May 2023 |archive-date=12 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512162541/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-10-4929-3 |url-status=live |last1=Jain |first1=Charu |last2=Prasad |first2=Narayan |isbn=978-981-10-4928-6 }}</ref> After the adoption of the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, private schools were required to be 'government-recognised'. A private school would be eligible for government recognition when it met certain conditions.<ref name=":14" />
At the primary and [[#Secondary education|secondary]] level, India has a large [[Public school (India)|private school system]] complementing the government run schools, with 29% of students receiving private education in the 6 to 14 age group.<ref name="pvt_enroll">{{cite news |last=Joshua |first=Anita |date=16 January 2014 |title=Over a quarter of enrollments in rural India are in private schools |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/school/over-a-quarter-of-enrolments-in-rural-india-are-in-private-schools/article5580441.ece |access-date=21 August 2014 |archive-date=5 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705190121/http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/school/over-a-quarter-of-enrolments-in-rural-india-are-in-private-schools/article5580441.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Certain post-secondary [[#Technical education|technical schools]] are also private. The private education market in India had a revenue of US$450 million in 2008, but is projected to be a US$40 billion market.<ref name="educationmarket">{{cite web |title=Indian education: Sector outlook |url=http://www.everonn.com/images/CLSA140308.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924004312/http://www.everonn.com/images/CLSA140308.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=23 January 2014 |website=Everonn |publisher=CLSA Research}}</ref> Although there are private schools in India, they are highly regulated in terms of what they can teach, in what form they can operate (must be a non-profit to run any accredited educational institution) and all the other aspects of the operation. Hence, the differentiation between government schools and private schools can be misleading.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laxmi.edu.in/|title=Indian Education System: What needs to change?|author=Ramanuj Mukherjee|work=Unlawyered|access-date=10 September 2018|archive-date=29 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072145/http://laxmi.edu.in/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Iran=== A lot of criticism towards Iranian government is because of large gap of University entrance Exam success between public and private school students, number private school growth has seen a 15% growth dominating Iranian education sector.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://donya-e-eqtesad.com/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-63/3985601-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B5%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C|title=خطر تحصیل طبقاتی|date=13 January 2024|website=Donya e Eqtesad}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/selection-teachers-iran/32465499.html | title=در پی تأکید علی خامنهای، سختگیری برای گزینش معلمان در مدارس غیر دولتی بیشتر شد | work=Radio Farda | last1=n.a. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://kayhan.ir/fa/news/77445/%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3-%D8%BA%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B5%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%D9%90-%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B3 | title=از «مدارس غیرانتفاعی» تا «خصوصیسازیِ مدارس» }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ir.voanews.com/a/6919115.html | title=رئیس سازمان مدارس و مراکز غیردولتی ایران: خامنهای ناراضی است؛ کتابهای زبان تغییر میکند | date=15 January 2023 }}</ref> there is a rise of "luxury" schools.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kayhan.london/1398/03/04/157416/ | title=مدرسه «لاکچری» نورچشمیهای نظام: سفرهای ۸۰ میلیون تومانی به فرانسه و سوئیس! }}</ref> Studying for one year term in private schools may cost 50 million as of July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-09 |title=ببینید {{!}} ۴۰۰ مدرسه غیردولتی بالای ۴۸ میلیون تومان شهریه میگیرند! |url=https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/772490/ببینید-۴۰۰-مدرسه-غیردولتی-بالای-۴۸-میلیون-تومان-شهریه-می-گیرند |access-date=2023-07-22 |website=Hamshahri Online |language=fa}}</ref>
===Ireland=== {{See also|Education in the Republic of Ireland}} In Ireland, the internationally recognised definition of "private school" is misleading and a more accurate distinction is between fee-charging schools and non-fee-charging schools. This is because approximately 85% of all schools are private schools ({{langx|ga|scoil phríobháideach}}) by virtue of not being owned by the state. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] is the largest owner of schools in Ireland, with other religious institutions owning the remaining private schools. Nevertheless, despite the vast majority of schools being under the ownership of private institutions, a large majority of all their costs, including teachers' salaries, are paid for by the Irish state. Of these private schools, only a very small minority actually charge fees. In 2007, 'The number of schools permitted to charge fees represents 7.6% of the 723 post primary level schools and they cater for 7.1% of the total enrolment.'<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/policy-and-education-reports/?referrer=http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/Fee-Paying-Schools-Analysis-of-Fee-Income.pdf|title=Policy and Education Reports|website=www.gov.ie|date=14 August 2019 }}</ref> If a fee-charging school wishes to employ extra teachers they are paid for with school fees, which tend to be relatively low in Ireland compared to the rest of the world. Because state funding plays a fundamental role in the finances of all but one fee-charging school, they must undergo similar state inspection to non-fee-charging schools. This is due to the requirement that the state ensure that children receive a certain minimum education; Irish state subsidised fee-charging schools must still work towards the [[Junior Certificate]] and the [[Irish Leaving Certificate|Leaving Certificate]], for example.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
The single fee-charging secondary school in Ireland which receives no state funding, the [[Nord Anglia International School Dublin]], does not have to undergo the state supervision which all the other fee-charging schools undergo. Students there also sit the [[International Baccalaureate]] rather than the Irish [[Leaving Certificate]] which every other Irish secondary school student sits. In exchange, however, Nord Anglia students pay some €25,000 per annum in fees, compared to c. €4,000 – €8,000 per annum fees by students in all other fee-charging Irish schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/schools/dublin/international/admissions/our-fees-2019-20 |title=Our Fees - 2019/20 {{!}} Nord Anglia International School Dublin |website=www.nordangliaeducation.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702174921/https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/schools/dublin/international/admissions/our-fees-2019-20 |archive-date=2019-07-02}}</ref> Many fee-charging schools in Ireland also double as boarding schools. The fees for these may then rise up to €25,000 per year. All the state-subsidised fee-charging schools are run by a religious order, e.g., the [[Society of Jesus]] or [[Congregation of Christian Brothers]], etc. The major private schools being [[Blackrock College]], [[Clongowes Wood College]], [[Castleknock College]], [[Belvedere College]], [[Gonzaga College]] and [[Terenure College]]. There are also a few fee-charging international schools in Ireland, including a French school, a Japanese school and a German school.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
=== Japan === {{Main articles|List of international schools in Japan}}
===Malaysia=== {{See also|Chinese independent high school}} [[File:ChineseIndependentHighSchool004.jpg|thumb|[[Tsun Jin High School]] ({{zh|s=循人中学 |p=Xún Rén Zhōngxué |bpmf=ㄒㄩㄣˊㄖㄣˊㄓㄨㄥ ㄒㄩㄝˊ}}), a Chinese independent high school in [[Kuala Lumpur]]]]
Chinese schools were being founded by the [[Malaysian Chinese|ethnic Chinese in Malaysia]] as early as the 19th century.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Nan Xia |author2=Yanan Yang |author3=Yok Fee Lee |title=Chinese Education in Malaysia under Malaysian Ethnic Politics |journal=Journal of Politics and Law |date=May 2018 |volume=11 |number=2 |pages=23–36 |doi=10.5539/jpl.v11n2p23 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325211378 |access-date=10 June 2024 |doi-access=free }}</ref> They provide [[secondary education]] in the [[Chinese language]] as the continuation of the [[primary education]] in Chinese national-type primary schools. The main medium of instruction in these schools is [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin Chinese]] using [[simplified Chinese characters]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Being private schools, Chinese independent high schools do not receive consistent funding from the Malaysian government, although they did receive some funding from some state governments as well as in the 2019 and 2020 budgets under the [[Pakatan Harapan]] government. However, in accordance with their aim of providing affordable education to all in the Chinese language, their school fees are substantially lower than those of most other private schools. The schools are kept alive almost exclusively by donations from the public.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
===Netherlands=== {{See also|Education in the Netherlands}} In the Netherlands over two-thirds of state-funded schools operate autonomously, with many of these schools being linked to faith groups.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2749035.stm | work=BBC News | title=State-funded self-rule in Dutch schools | date=11 February 2003 | access-date=22 May 2010 | first=Sean | last=Coughlan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521132521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2749035.stm | archive-date=21 May 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]], coordinated by the [[OECD]], ranks the education in the Netherlands as the 9th best in the world as of 2008, being significantly higher than the [[OECD]] average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |title=Range of rank on the PISA 2006 science scale |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 }}</ref>
===New Zealand=== {{See also|Education in New Zealand}} [[File:Strowan House and Field.jpg|thumb|St Andrew's College, an independent primary and secondary school in [[Christchurch]]]]
As of April 2014, there were 88 private schools in New Zealand, catering for around 28,000 students or 3.7% of the entire student population.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/directories/list-of-nz-schools |title= Directory of Schools – as of 1 April 2014 |publisher= New Zealand Ministry of Education |access-date= 27 April 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140413081145/http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/directories/list-of-nz-schools |archive-date= 13 April 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Private school numbers have been in decline since the mid-1970s as a result of many private schools opting to become [[state-integrated school]]s, mostly due to financial difficulties stemming from changes in student numbers or the economy. State-integrated schools keep their private school special character and receives state funds in return for having to operate like a state school, e.g. they must teach the state curriculum, they must employ registered teachers, and they can not charge tuition fees (they can charge "attendance dues" for the upkeep on the still-private school land and buildings). The largest decline in private school numbers occurred between 1979 and 1984, when the nation's then-private [[Catholic school]] system integrated. As a result, private schools in New Zealand are now largely restricted to the largest cities (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch) and niche markets.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Private schools are almost fully funded by tuition fees paid by students' parents, but they do receive some government subsidies. Private schools are popular for academic and sporting performance, prestige, exclusivity and old boys/girls networks; however, many state-integrated schools and some prestigious single-sex state schools, such as [[Auckland Grammar School]] and [[Wellington College (New Zealand)|Wellington College]], are actively competitive with private schools in academic and sporting achievement, history and character.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Private schools are often Anglican, such as [[King's College, Auckland|King's College]] and [[Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland|Diocesan School for Girls]] in Auckland, [[St Paul's Collegiate School]] in Hamilton, [[St Peter's School, Cambridge|St Peter's School]] in [[Cambridge, New Zealand|Cambridge]], [[Samuel Marsden Collegiate School]] in Wellington, and [[Christ's College, Christchurch|Christ's College]] and [[St Margaret's College, Christchurch|St Margaret's College]] in Christchurch; or Presbyterian, such as [[Saint Kentigern College]] and [[St Cuthbert's College, Auckland|St Cuthbert's College]] in Auckland, [[Scots College, Wellington|Scots College]] and [[Queen Margaret College, Wellington|Queen Margaret College]] in Wellington, and [[St Andrew's College, Christchurch|St Andrew's College]] and [[Rangi Ruru Girls' School]] in Christchurch. However, the Catholic [[schism|schismatic group]], the [[Society of St Pius X in New Zealand|Society of St Pius X]] in [[Wanganui]] operates three private schools (including the secondary school, [[St Dominic's College, Wanganui|St Dominic's College]]). A recent group of private schools run as a business has been formed by [[Academic Colleges Group]]; with schools throughout Auckland, including [[ACG Senior College]] in Auckland's CBD, [[ACG Parnell College]] in [[Parnell, New Zealand|Parnell]], and international school [[ACG New Zealand International College]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
===Philippines=== {{See also|Education in the Philippines|Fund for Assistance to Private Education}} In the Philippines, the [[private sector]] has been a major provider of educational services. Private schools are generally free to determine their curriculum in accordance with existing laws and regulations. Science high schools are special schools for the more intellectually promising students to foster the problem-solving approach of critical thinking. As separate high schools, they have specific characteristics not found in regular high schools. However, any private or public high school can aspire to meet these minimum standards and be considered a science high school.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DO 69, s. 1993 – Science High Schools |url=http://www.deped.gov.ph/orders/do-69-s-1993 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029095236/https://www.deped.gov.ph/orders/do-69-s-1993 |archive-date=October 29, 2016 |website=Department of Education}}</ref>
The [[Fund for Assistance to Private Education]] (FAPE) is a perpetual trust fund for private education created by Executive Order № 156 {{abbr|s.|series}} 1968<ref name=eo156>{{cite PH act|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1968/11nov/19681105-EO-0156-FM.pdf|title=Constituting the "Fund for Assistance to Private Education" as an Irrevocable Trust Fund, Creating a "Private Education Assistance Committee" as Trustee, and Providing for the Management thereof|chamber=EO|number=156|series=1968|date=1968-11-05|display-authors=etal|publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|The Official Gazette]]|access-date=2023-11-09}}</ref> and amended by Executive Order № 150 {{abbr|s.|series}} 1994.<ref name=eo150>{{cite PH act|url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/downloads/1994/01jan/19940110-EO-0150-FVR.pdf|title=Amending Executive Order No. 156, series of 1968, as Amended by Executive Order No. 163, series of 1968, Constituting the "Fund for Assistance to Private Education" as An Irrevocable Trust, Creating a "Private Education Assistance Committee" as Trustee, and Providing for the Management thereof|chamber=EO|number=150|series=1994|date=1994-01-12|display-authors=etal|publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)|The Official Gazette]]|access-date=2023-11-09}}</ref> FAPE was created on November 5, 1968 by Executive Order No. 156, in implementation of the project agreement between the [[Philippine government|Philippine]] and [[United States government]]s to establish a permanent trust fund that would address the needs of the private education sector in the country.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
===Portugal=== {{See also|Education in Portugal}} In Portugal, private schools were traditionally set up by foreign expatriates and diplomats in order to cater for their educational needs. Portuguese-speaking private schools are widespread across Portugal's main cities. International private schools are mainly concentrated in and around [[Lisbon]], [[Porto]], [[Braga]], [[Coimbra]] and [[Covilhã]], across the Portuguese region of [[Algarve]], and in the autonomous region of [[Madeira]]. The Ministério da Educação acts as the supervisory and regulatory body for all schools, including international schools.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
=== Singapore === {{See also|Education in Singapore}} In Singapore, after [[Primary School Leaving Examination]] (PSLE), students can choose to enter a private high school. Private tuition is a lucrative industry in Singapore, since many parents send their children for private tuition after school.<ref name="mypaper20080616">{{cite web|title= Tuition Nation |access-date=29 November 2012 |date=16 June 2008 |work= [[The Straits Times]] |publisher= AsiaOne |url=http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20080616-71121.html}}</ref> A straw poll by ''[[The Straits Times]]'' newspaper in 2008 found that out of 100 students interviewed, only 3 students did not have any form of tuition.<ref name="mypaper20080616" /> In 2010, the ''[[Shin Min Daily News]]'' estimated that there were around 540 tuition centres offering private tuition in Singapore. Due to their high demand, tuition centres are able to charge high fees for their services; they have an annual turnover of [[Singapore dollar|SGD$]]110.6 million in 2005.<ref name="mypaper20080616" /> The official government stance on private tuition is that "it understands parents want the best for their children and that it is their decision whether to engage tutors".<ref name="mypaper20080616" />
=== South Africa === {{See also|Education in South Africa}} Some of the oldest schools in South Africa are private church schools that were established by [[missionary|missionaries]] in the early nineteenth century. The private sector has grown ever since. After the abolition of apartheid, the laws governing private education in South Africa changed significantly. The South African Schools Act of 1996<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.polity.org.za/article/south-african-schools-act-no-84-of-1996-1996-01-01|title=South African Schools Act (No. 84 of 1996)|work=Polity.org.za|access-date=31 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609141511/http://www.polity.org.za/article/south-african-schools-act-no-84-of-1996-1996-01-01|archive-date=9 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> recognizes two categories of schools: "public" (state-controlled) and "independent" (which includes traditional private schools and schools which are privately governed).{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
In the final years of the [[apartheid]] era, parents at white government schools were given the option to convert to a "semi-private" form called ''Model C'', and many of these schools changed their admissions policies to accept children classified to be of other races. These schools tend to produce better academic results than government schools formerly reserved for other "race groups".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sairr.org.za/sairr-today-1/research-and-policy-brief-model-c-is-the-model-to-emulate-1-february-2011 |title=Institute of Race Relations (IRR) — Institute of Race Relations |website=Sairr.org.za |access-date=24 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221235521/http://www.sairr.org.za/sairr-today-1/research-and-policy-brief-model-c-is-the-model-to-emulate-1-february-2011 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Former "Model C" schools are state-controlled, not private. All schools in South Africa (including both independent and public schools) have the right to set compulsory school fees, and formerly model C schools tend to set much higher school fees than other public schools.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
===Sweden=== {{See also|Education in Sweden}} In Sweden, pupils are free to choose a private school and the private school gets paid the same amount as municipal schools. Over 10% of Swedish pupils were enrolled in private schools in 2008. Sweden is internationally known for this innovative [[school voucher]] model that provides Swedish pupils with the opportunity to choose the school they prefer.<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645|title=Making money from schools: The Swedish model|publisher=The Economist|date=12 June 2008|access-date=28 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226014533/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Spectator|year=2008|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/features/526631/made-in-sweden-the-new-tory-education-revolution.thtml|title=Made in Sweden: the new Tory education revolution|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627082940/http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/features/526631/made-in-sweden-the-new-tory-education-revolution.thtml|archive-date=27 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3717744.stm|title=Swedish parents enjoy school choice|first=Mike|last=Baker|date=5 October 2004|access-date=28 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504022545/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3717744.stm|archive-date=4 May 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Washington Times|year=2008|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/11/embracing-private-schools/|title=Embracing private schools: Sweden lets companies use taxes for cost-efficient alternatives|access-date=28 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503073430/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/11/embracing-private-schools/|archive-date=May 3, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | publisher=The Telegraph | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435386/How-choice-has-transformed-education-in-Sweden.html | title=How choice has transformed education in Sweden | location=London | first=Johnny | last=Munkhammar | access-date=22 May 2010 | date=25 May 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530201829/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435386/How-choice-has-transformed-education-in-Sweden.html | archive-date=30 May 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref> For instance, the biggest school chain, [[Kunskapsskolan]] ("The Knowledge School"), offers 30 schools and a web-based environment, has 700 employees and teaches nearly 10,000 pupils.<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist"/>
===United Kingdom=== {{Main|Private schools in the United Kingdom}} In the UK, the term "private schools" encompasses schools that are independently funded and not part of the [[State school|state system]]. These schools are known as independent schools. Within this category, "[[Public school (United Kingdom)|public schools]]" refer to a specific group of prestigious, often older, independent schools.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-31 |title=The UK Private Education System: a Guide - Lumos Education |url=https://lumoseducation.com/uk-private-school-system-a-guide/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-09 |title=Private schools in the UK |url=https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/choosing-a-school/independent-schools/uk-independent-schools-explained |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=The Good Schools Guide |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=[[Engines of privilege : Britain's private school problem]]|last1=Green|first1= Francis|last2=Kynaston|first2= David|isbn=978-1-5266-0127-8|year=2019|location=London|publisher=Bloomsbury|oclc=1108696740}}</ref> Private schools also encompass faith based schools. [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|Preparatory schools]] in England and Wales prepare pupils up to 13 years old to enter public schools. In Scotland, where the education system has always been separate from the rest of [[Great Britain]], the term 'public school' was used historically to refer to state schools for the general public.
According to ''[[The Good Schools Guide]]'' about 7% of children being educated in the United Kingdom are at fee-charging schools at [[GCSE]] level and 13% at A-level. Some independent schools are single-sex, although this is becoming less common.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isc.co.uk/publication_8_0_0_11_258.htm |title=ISC Annual Census 2007 |publisher=Isc.co.uk |date=4 May 2007 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610224306/http://www.isc.co.uk/publication_8_0_0_11_258.htm |archive-date=10 June 2011 }}</ref> In 2011, fees range from under £3,000 to £21,000 and above per year for day pupils, rising to over £27,000 per year for boarders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/education-advice-and-help/scholarships-and-bursaries/money-matters.html?Itemid=52 |title=Help and advice on finding the right school for your child |publisher=The Good Schools Guide |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100109161918/http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/education-advice-and-help/scholarships-and-bursaries/money-matters.html?Itemid=52 |archive-date=9 January 2010 }}</ref> Costs differ in Scotland.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/aug/15/a-level-results-private-schools | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=A-level results: Public schools expected to take lion's share of new A* grades | first=Jeevan | last=Vasagar | date=15 August 2010 | access-date=12 December 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927195640/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2010/aug/15/a-level-results-private-schools | archive-date=27 September 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>
One in four independently educated children come from postcodes with the national average income or below, and one in three receive assistance with school fees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isc.co.uk/Publications_ISCSocialDiversitySurvey.htm |title=ISC Social Diversity Study |publisher=Isc.co.uk |date=1 March 2006 |access-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011164224/http://www.isc.co.uk/Publications_ISCSocialDiversitySurvey.htm |archive-date=11 October 2011 }}</ref> Evidence from a major longitudinal study suggests that British independent schools provide advantages in educational attainment and access to top universities.<ref>Sullivan, A., Parsons, S., Wiggins, R., Heath, A., & Green, F. (2014). Social origins, school type and higher education destinations. Oxford Review of Education, 40(6), 739–763.</ref><ref>Sullivan, A., Parsons, S., Green, F., Wiggins, R. D., & Ploubidis, G. (2017). The path from social origins to top jobs: social reproduction via education. The British journal of sociology.</ref>
====England and Wales==== In England and Wales, the more prestigious independent schools are known as '[[Public school (United Kingdom)|public schools]]', sometimes subdivided into major and minor public schools. A modern definition of a public school refers to membership of the [[Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference]], and this includes many independent [[grammar school]]s. The term 'public school' historically meant that the school was open to the public (as opposed to private tutors or the school being in private ownership). Many private schools actively compete with prestigious state schools (including state [[grammar school]]s and [[Single-sex education|single sex schools]]) in academic achievements.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A comparison of Academic Achievement in Independent and State Schools |url=https://www.isc.co.uk/media/3140/16_02_26-cem-durham-university-academic-value-added-research.pdf |website=Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, Durham University}}</ref>
There are many old, world-renowned institutions in England that served as inspiration for most schools of their type abroad. These schools include [[Winchester College]], [[Eton College]], [[St Paul's School (London)|St Paul's School]], [[Harrow School]], [[Westminster School]], [[Charterhouse School]] and [[Rugby School]]. The [[Independent Schools Inspectorate]] regularly publishes reports on the quality of education in all independent schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home :: Independent Schools Inspectorate |url=https://www.isi.net/ |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=www.isi.net}}</ref>
====Scotland==== {{See also|Education in Scotland|Scottish Council of Independent Schools}}
In Scotland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scis.org.uk|title=Home|publisher=SCIS|access-date=2018-06-23}}</ref> schools not [[state (polity)|state]]-funded are known as independent or private schools. Independent schools may also be specialist or special schools – such as some music schools, Steiner [[Waldorf Education]] schools, or [[special education]] schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scis.org.uk/schools/special-needs-schools|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503063906/http://www.scis.org.uk/schools/special-needs-schools|title=Special needs schools|archive-date=3 May 2009}}</ref>
Scottish independent schools currently educate over 31,000 students and employ approximately 3,500 teachers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scis.org.uk/facts-and-statistics/pupil-numbers/|title=Facts and Statistics: Pupil numbers|publisher=[[Scottish Council of Independent Schools]]|access-date=25 August 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228125913/http://www.scis.org.uk/facts-and-statistics/pupil-numbers|archive-date=28 February 2014}}</ref> Schools are represented by the [[Scottish Council of Independent Schools]] (SCIS). All schools are still inspected by the state inspectorate, [[Education Scotland]], and the [[Care Inspectorate (Scotland)|Care Inspectorate]]. Independent schools in Scotland that are [[charities]] are subject to a specific test from the [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator]], designed to demonstrate the public benefit the schools provide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Benefit » SCIS |url=http://www.scis.org.uk/public-affairs/public-benefit/ |work=scis.org.uk}}</ref>
===United States=== {{See also|Education in the United States|Charter schools in the United States|Homeschooling in the United States}} [[File:Campus view, half mast - Phillips Academy Andover - Andover, Massachusetts - DSC05372.jpg|thumb|[[Phillips Academy]] in [[Andover, Massachusetts]]]] [[File:Education by state and type - private schools.webp|thumb|{{center|'''Percent of students attending a private school'''}} {{legend|#FFD274|Private school|outline=#222222}} {{legend|#43B932|Private [[EdChoice]]|outline=#222222}} {{legend|#949393|[[Homeschooling in the United States|Homeschool]]|outline=#222222}} {{legend|#68C7FE|[[Magnet school]]|outline=#222222}} {{legend|#FF462F|[[Public charter school]]|outline=#222222}} {{legend|#D5D6D5|[[Public schools in the United States|Public school]]|outline=#222222}} ]] In the [[United States]], a private school is any for which the facilities and funding are not provided by the federal, state or local government, or in the case of [[Charter schools in the United States|charter schools]], independently with government funding and regulation (as opposed to a public school, which is operated by the government). A majority of private schools in the United States are operated by religious institutions and organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/table_whs_01.asp|title=Number of private schools, by religious orientation and community type: 1989–90 through 2005–06|website=Nces.ed.gov|access-date=24 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504022721/https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/tables/table_whs_01.asp|archive-date=4 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In practice, the term "private school" is commonly used to denote a non-sectarian school, whereas "church school", "Christian school", and (for Catholic institutions) "parochial school" are used to denote sectarian ones.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Independent schools in the United States educate around 10% of the entire school-age population.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Riser-Kositsky |first=Maya |date=2019-01-03 |title=Education Statistics: Facts About American Schools |url=https://www.edweek.org/leadership/education-statistics-facts-about-american-schools/2019/01 |access-date=2025-01-26 |work=Education Week |language=en |issn=0277-4232}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schaeffer |first=Katherine |date=2024-06-06 |title=U.S. public, private and charter schools in 5 charts |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/06/06/us-public-private-and-charter-schools-in-5-charts/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>
The essential distinction between independent schools and other private schools is self-governance and financial independence. In contrast, public schools are funded and governed by local and state governments, and most parochial schools are owned, governed, and financed by religious institutions such as a diocese or parish. Independent schools may be affiliated with a particular religion or denomination; however, unlike parochial schools, independent schools are self-owned and governed by independent boards of trustees. While independent schools are not subject to significant government oversight or regulation, they are [[Educational accreditation|accredited]] by the same six [[Regional accreditation|regional accreditation agencies]] that accredit [[Public school (government funded)|public schools]]. The [[National Association of Independent Schools]] (NAIS) is a membership organization of American pre-college independent schools.<ref>[http://www.nais.org/about/index.cfm?ItemNumber=145935&sn.ItemNumber=1482&tn.ItemNumber=62506 Membership], NAIS website, accessed October 6, 2010</ref>
The NAIS provides this definition of an independent school:<ref>[https://parents.nais.org/learn/what-are-independent-private-schools/ How do you define independent school? What is the definition of independent school?] Retrieved June 23, 2018.</ref> <blockquote> Independent schools are [[501(c)(3)]] nonprofit corporate entities, independent in governance and finance, meaning: #Independent schools "own themselves" (as opposed to public schools owned by the government or parochial schools owned by the church) and govern themselves, typically with a self-perpetuating [[board of trustees]] that performs fiduciary duties of oversight and strategic duties of funding and setting the direction and vision of the enterprise, and by delegating day to day operations entirely to the head of school.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} #Independent schools finance themselves (as opposed to public schools funded through the government and parochial schools subsidized by the church), largely through charging tuition, fund raising, and income from endowment.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Independence is the unique characteristic of this segment of the education industry, offering schools four freedoms that contribute to their success: the freedom to define their own unique missions; the freedom to admit and keep only those students well-matched to the mission; the freedom to define the qualifications for high quality teachers; and the freedom to determine on their own what to teach and how to assess student achievement and progress.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}} </blockquote>
In the United States, the membership organization for independent tertiary education institutions is the [[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.naicu.edu/about-naicu|title=About NAICU |publisher=Naicu.edu|access-date=June 23, 2018}}</ref> Private schools are generally exempt from most educational regulations at the Federal level but are highly regulated at the state level.<ref>{{cite web|title=State Regulations of Private Schools|url=http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf|website=US Department of Education|access-date=8 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618111629/http://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/regprivschl/regprivschl.pdf|archive-date=18 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> These typically require them to follow the spirit of regulations concerning the content of courses in an attempt to provide a level of education equal to or better than that available in public schools.
In the nineteenth century, as a response to the perceived domination of the public school systems by Protestant political and religious ideas, many [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] parish churches, dioceses and religious orders established schools, which operate entirely without government funding. For many years, the vast majority of private schools in the United States were Catholic schools.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.capenet.org/facts.html|title=CAPE {{!}} Private School Facts|website=www.capenet.org|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913051858/http://capenet.org/facts.html|archive-date=13 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In many parts of the United States, after the 1954 decision in the landmark court case ''[[Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka]]'' that demanded United States schools [[desegregation|desegregate]] "with all deliberate speed", local families organized a wave of private "Christian academies". In much of the U.S. South, many white students migrated to the academies, while public schools became in turn more heavily concentrated with African-American students (see [[List of private schools in Mississippi]]). The academic content of the academies was usually college preparatory.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Funding for private schools is generally provided through student tuition, endowments, [[Scholarship Tax Credit|scholarship]]/school voucher funds, and donations and grants from religious organizations or private individuals. Government funding for religious schools is either subject to restrictions or possibly forbidden, according to the courts' interpretation of the [[Establishment Clause of the First Amendment]] or individual state [[Blaine Amendment]]s. Non-religious private schools theoretically could qualify for such funding without hassle, preferring the advantages of independent control of their student admissions and course content instead of the public funding they could get with charter status. A similar concept, recently emerging from within the public school system, is the concept of [[charter school]]s, which are officially independent public schools, but in many respects operate similarly to nonreligious private schools.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
The nature of private schooling in the United States has been debated by [[Teacher|educator]]s, [[legislator|lawmaker]]s and [[parent]]s, since the beginnings of [[compulsory education]] in [[Massachusetts]] in 1852. One of the most common topics of debate is whether or not the ability to select a private institution takes funding away from public schools. Many states base their funding off of how many students a school has but will also offer [[School voucher|voucher programs]]. These programs and similar incentives exist to incentivize school choice and take stress off of state educational funding. However, it is also believed that taking students and funding out of public schools decreases the quality of these institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vouchers |url=https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/our-issues/vouchers |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=National Education Association |language=en}}</ref> Still even with this, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] precedent appears to favor educational choice, so long as states may set standards for educational accomplishment. Some of the most relevant Supreme Court case law on this is as follows: ''[[Runyon v. McCrary]]'', 427 U.S. 160 (1976); ''[[Wisconsin v. Yoder]]'', 406 U.S. 205 (1972); ''[[Pierce v. Society of Sisters]]'', 268 U.S. 510 (1925); ''[[Meyer v. Nebraska]]'', 262 U.S. 390 (1923). There is a potential conflict between the values espoused in the above cited cases and the limitations set forward in Article 29 of the [[Convention on the Rights of the Child|United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child]], which is below described.<ref>Witham, Joan. (1997). "Public or private schools? A dilemma for gifted students?" ''Roeper Review'', 19, pp. 137–141.</ref>
Quality private schools in the United States charge substantial tuition: in 2023, tuition cost close to $60,000 annually for some day schools in New York City, and between $65,000 and $85,000 for boarding schools. Nevertheless, tuition may not be sufficient to cover operating expenses, particularly at boarding schools. Leading schools such as the [[Groton School]], [[Phillips Academy]], and [[Phillips Exeter Academy]] have substantial endowments - running to over a billion dollars - supplemented by fundraising drives. Boarding schools with a reputation for quality in the United States have a student body drawn from throughout the United States, and in some cases other countries, and a list of applicants which far exceeds their capacity.<ref name=NYT82312>{{cite news|title=Is Private School Not Expensive Enough?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/opinion/is-private-school-not-expensive-enough.html|access-date=25 August 2012|newspaper=New York Times|date=23 August 2012|author=R. Scott Asen|format=Op-ed by informed person|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824231327/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/opinion/is-private-school-not-expensive-enough.html|archive-date=24 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Education}} *[[Alternative school]] *[[Convention Against Discrimination in Education]] *[[Freedom of education]] *[[List of Friends schools]] *[[Lutheran school]] *[[Right to education]] *[[State school]] *[[Voucher]]
== Notes == {{NoteFoot}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * [https://theconversation.com/going-to-private-school-wont-make-a-difference-to-your-kids-academic-scores-175638 Going to private school won’t make a difference to your kid’s academic scores] ''The Conversation'' (2022) {{commons category|Independent schools}}{{Schools}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Independent School}} [[Category:School types]] [[Category:Private schools|*]]