Canadian private schools
Before the late 1800s, most schools in Canada were private institutions that were administered by religious factions. As a matter of fact, it was only in the last part of the 1800s that public schools were formed, now having reached numbers that far exceed Canadian private schools.
Since the Constitution Act of Canada in 1867, Canadian private and independent schools have been regulated and respected by the educational authority of their province or territory, the Ministry of Education, and must meet those regulations in order to operate. Therefore, standards of private educational institutions share more similarities than differences. At the federal level, the interests of Canadian private schools are represented by the Council of Ministers of Education Canada (CMEC), formed in 1967. The CMEC provides all educational ministers a progressive platform to discuss and cooperate on matters of mutual concern with each other and with departments within the federal government, but does not hold any constitutional power.
Admissions into Canadian private schools rely on a number of factors. Often, a parent's ability to pay tuition is not the only determinant; acceptance also relies on the successful completion of an admissions test as academic, athletic, or creative expectations tend to be higher than those of public schools. This is particularly true for specialty schools, which demand higher academic and non-academic standards from their students, with the majority of their graduates continuing on to university or college.
When considering an educational institution for your child, explore the many advantages that Canadian private schools have to offer. From the rugged surroundings of the natural wilderness in the Western provinces to the bustling streets of Ontario's culturally stimulating metropolises, Canada furnishes the perfect backdrop for any of its many elementary and secondary private schools.
You can find out more at our website Canadian Private Schools.
Disadvantages / Advantages of Private School
What are the disadvantages and advantages of private school?
As you’re deciding where to send your child to school, you have probably considered private school as an option. Private schools offer many benefits that public schools do not. Below are some disadvantages and advantages of private school that you should consider before enrolling your child in a private school.
One of the advantages of private school is that most private schools feature smaller classroom sizes that allow your child to receive a lot more individual attention from teachers. Because you pay tuition for your child to attend private school, this funding often goes toward better academic and extracurricular programs. Additionally, private high schools generally have low dropout rates and less on-campus violence.
The diversity landscape in a private school environment can be flat compared to that of public schools, because of the tuition. Children will meet fewer peers of diverse backgrounds and this can create a very insular atmosphere. But because public schools have more children per classroom, your child will likely be exposed to people from different socio-economic classes, which can broaden the educational experience.
Private schools don’t conform strictly to educational regulations. This may translate into a program that is good for your child, but you have to choose your child’s private school carefully, as most vary widely on a number of levels.
Private schools can be expensive and also very competitive. So before committing to a private school, first discuss and determine what kind of experience your child wants to have in school. If he wants a private school education, gather all the literature you can on the schools that your child is interested in and talk to other children and parents who are involved with those schools.
Private School Enrollment Continues to Climb
November 2003 -- More than six million students--11.5 percent of the nation's elementary and secondary school population--are attending private schools in 2003-04, according to a report released this month by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (Projections of Education Statistics to 2013, table 1).
According to the report, "Enrollment in private elementary and secondary schools increased 18 percent between 1988 and 2001, and is projected to increase 7 percent between 2001 and 2013." By way of comparison, enrollment in public schools "increased 19 percent between 1988 and 2001, and is projected to increase 4 percent between 2001 and 2013" (p. 6).
NCES also reported on trends in high school graduation: "The number of public high school graduates increased 3 percent between 1987-88 and 2000-01, and is projected to increase 11 percent between 2000-01 and 2012-13....The number of private high school graduates increased 4 percent between 1987-88 and 2000ñ01; and is projected to increase 18 percent between 2000-01 and 2012-13" (p. 11).
In 2001, NCES published the results of the biennial private school survey (PSS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 1999-00 school year. The survey identified 27,223 private elementary and secondary schools, about 23 percent of all schools in the country, and nearly 5.2 million students (Private School Universe Survey, 1999-2000).
Where do private school students go to school?
89-90 99-00
Catholic 54.5% 48.6%
Nonsectarian 13.2% 15.7%
Conservative Christian 10.9% 15.0%
Baptist 5.8% 6.1%
Lutheran 4.4% 4.3%
Jewish 3.2% 3.3%
Episcopal 1.7% 2.2%
Seventh-day Adventist 1.6% 1.2%
Calvinist 0.9% 0.8%
Friends 0.3% 0.3%
The PSS reports have shown some significant demographic shifts within the world of private education. Since 1989, conservative Christian schools have seen an astounding increase of 46 percent in enrollment. The 245,000 additional students in those schools accounted for 75 percent of the total rise in private school enrollment during the past decade. Other types of private schools that posted noteworthy percentage increases in enrollment during the same timeframe included Episcopal schools (37 percent) and nonsectarian schools (26 percent).
CAPE Members' Numbers
CAPE member organizations, which collectively represent 80 percent of the nation's private school enrollment, have also seen some sharp increases in student counts. The Association of Christian Schools International, which serves evangelical Christian schools, had a K-12 enrollment gain of 70 percent between 1989 and 1999. During that period, ACSI moved from the third largest to the second largest association of private schools in the country. Other CAPE organizations with substantial 10-year enrollment hikes were the Oral Roberts Educational Fellowship (53.4 percent), the American Montessori Society (53.2 percent), the National Association of Episcopal Schools (20.7 percent), the Solomon Schechter Day School Association (also 20.7 percent), the Friends Council on Education (18.1 percent), and the Lutheran Church  Missouri Synod (15.6 percent).
Two of CAPE's newest members, the National Christian School Association and the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools, while not on the NCES list of private school associations in 1989, had enrollment counts in 1999 of 34,122 (NCSA) and 27,468 (SBACS).
The 1999 enrollment figures for states showed California to have the highest private school enrollment (619,067) and Wyoming to have the lowest (2,221). Other states with large concentrations of private school students included New York (475,942), Pennsylvania (339,484), Illinois (299,871), Florida (290,872), Ohio (254,494), Texas (227,645), New Jersey (198,631), Michigan (179,579), and Maryland (144,131).
Small and Urban
According to the survey, most private schools are small, with 80 percent having enrollments under 300. Nearly half of all students in private schools (49.2 percent) attend schools located in central cities; another 40 percent attend schools in an urban fringe or large town. Only 11 percent of private school students are in rural or small-town schools.
FAQs About Private Schools
How many private schools are there in the United States? How many students attend them? What's the average tuition? These are just a few of the frequently asked questions we get at CAPE. Here are some answers. (Unless otherwise noted, all data are from the National Center for Education Statistics.)
Schools and Students
There are 27,000 private schools in the United States, serving 6 million students. Just about one in four of the nation's schools is a private school; eleven percent of all students attend them.
Most private school students (84 percent) attend religiously-affiliated schools, and most of those schools are small (80 percent have fewer than 300 students).
Tuition:
Average Private School Tuition: 1999-00
All Levels Elementary Secondary K-12 Schools
All Schools $4,689 $3,267 $6,053 $6,779
Catholic $3,236 $2,451 $4,845 $6,780
Other Religious $4,063 $3,503 $6,536 $4,260
Non-Sectarian $10,992 $7,884 $14,638 $12,363
Source: Table 61, Digest of Education Statistics 2002, National Center for Education Statistics.
Family Income:
In August 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report on the social and economic characteristics of students enrolled in the nation's schools in 2001. It turns out that of the 49.6 million youngsters in grades K-12, 11.3 million (23 percent) came from families with annual incomes of $75,000 or more. Of the 11.3 million, 9.3 million children, or 82 percent, attended public schools, and 2.0 million, or 18 percent, attended private schools.
Click here to visit the page on the U.S. Census Bureau Web site from which you can download various school enrollment tables for 2001. Table 6 provides enrollment by family income.
Community Service:
In March 2000, the National Center for Education Statistics issued a report entitled Service-Learning and Community Service Among 6th- Through 12th-Grade Students in the United States. According to the report, "Involving America's students in community service activities is one of the objectives established under the third National Education Goal for the year 2000, which seeks to prepare students for responsible citizenship."
The report notes a significant difference in levels of community service between public school students and private school students. "For both 1996 and 1999, students attending church-related private schools (42 percent for both years) and nonchurch-related private schools (31 percent in 1996 and 41 percent in 1999) were more likely to say their schools required and arranged community service than students attending public schools...(14 percent in 1996 and 17 percent in 1999)."
Survey Finds Public Likes Private Schools
December 1999 - By a margin of nine to one, Americans believe parents should have the right to choose their child's school, according to a report released last month by Public Agenda, a research organization based in New York City. Moreover, if they were given a choice of schools-- along with the financial wherewithal to exercise it-- a full 55 percent of parents who currently send their children to public schools would want to send them to private schools.
The report, titled On Thin Ice, presents findings from a poll taken to assess the public's attitudes on vouchers, charter schools, and related issues. The survey of 1,200 citizens, about one-third of whom were parents of school-age children, was bolstered by insights from five focus groups.
One of the poll's findings is that people who have private schools in their communities believe by wide margins that such schools "generally provide a better education" than public schools and do a better job "teaching academic skills" and "maintaining discipline and order." (For 67 percent of respondents, the term "private schools" refers to "parochial schools or Christian academies," while for 16 percent it refers to "nonreligious private schools.")
Outlook Articles on the Public's Opinion of Private Schools
•June 2003: Private School Parents Pleased with Schools
•January 2000: Public Knows Features That Make a Quality School
Academic Performance
Outlook Articles on
Academic Performance
•September 2003: SAT Scores for Class of 2003
•September 2002: SAT Scores for Class of 2002
•June 2002: Government Report on Private Schools
•December 2001: Private Schools Outpace National Average on AP Exams
•December 2001: Private School Students Above Average on Science Tests
•September 2001: High College-Going Rates for Minorities in Private Schools
•September 2001: SAT Scores for Class of 2001
•May 2001: Achievement Gap Narrower in Private Schools
•December 2000: Private Schools Above Average on International Tests
•September 2000: Private School Students Bolster National Exam Scores
•December 1999: Private School Students Score Above Average in Civics
•October 1999: The Private High School: Caring Community, Tough Curriculum
•October 1999: National Report Card on Writing: Needs Improvement
NAEP Report Cards
The National Center for Education Statistics periodically administers the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to test the knowledge and skills of the nation's students in grades 4, 8, and 12. Students in private schools consistently score well above the national average. At all three grades a significantly higher percentage of private school students score at or above the Basic, Proficient, and Advanced levels than public school students. Below are the results from the most recent NAEP report cards.
NAEP 2003 Math Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 88 76
Proficient 44 31
Advanced 6 4
Grade 8
Basic 82 67
Proficient 43 27
Advanced 10 5
Related Links:
•CAPE article
•Visit the NCES NAEP 2003 math Web site.
•Download the NAEP 2003 math highlights report.
•Use the NAEP Data Tool to develop customized reports.
NAEP 2003 Reading Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 80 62
Proficient 48 30
Advanced 14 7
Grade 8
Basic 90 72
Proficient 53 30
Advanced 8 3
Related Links:
•CAPE article
•Visit the NCES NAEP 2003 reading Web site.
•Download the NAEP 2003 reading highlights report.
•Use the NAEP Data Tool to develop customized reports.
NAEP 2002 Writing Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 94 85
Proficient 39 27
Advanced 3 2
Grade 8
Basic 95 84
Proficient 47 30
Advanced 4 2
Grade 12
Basic 89 73
Proficient 40 22
Advanced 4 2
Related Links:
•CAPE article
•Use the NAEP Data Tool to develop customized reports.
NAEP 2001 History Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 85 65
Proficient 30 17
Advanced 4 2
Grade 8
Basic 84 62
Proficient 31 15
Advanced 3 1
Grade 12
Basic 59 42
Proficient 17 11
Advanced 2 1
NAEP 2001 Geography Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 91 72
Proficient 31 20
Advanced 3 2
Grade 8
Basic 87 72
Proficient 41 28
Advanced 5 3
Grade 12
Basic 80 71
Proficient 32 24
Advanced 2 1
NAEP 1998 Civics Report Card
Percentage of Students in Public and Private Schools
At or Above Various Achievement Levels
Grade 4
Private Public
Basic 84 67
Proficient 35 21
Advanced 3 2
Grade 8
Basic 89 68
Proficient 40 20
Advanced 4 1
Grade 12
Basic 80 63
Proficient 38 25
Advanced 7 4
Related Links:
•Outlook, December 1999: Private School Students Score Above Average in Civics
•Use the NAEP Data Tool to develop customized reports.
What do the achievement levels mean?
Basic Level...
denotes partial mastery of the knowledge and skills fundamental for proficient work at a given grade.
Proficient Level...
represents solid academic performance, and competency over challenging subject matter. The proficient level is identified as the standard that all students should reach.
Advanced Level...
signifies superior performance at a given grade.
School Safety and Security
Outlook Articles on School Safety
•November 2003: Government Issues School Crime and Safety Report
•June 2002: New Government Report on Private Schools
The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), published by the National Center for Education Statistics, provides data on public and private schools. The following table, based on 1999-2000 SASS data (the most recent), indicates the extent to which teachers think various behaviors are serious problems in their schools. (Source: Table 73, Digest of Education Statistics: 2002)
Percentage of teachers who perceive certain issues as serious problems in their schools
Public Private
student disrespect for teachers 17 4
use of alcohol 7 3
drug abuse 6 2
student tardiness 10 3
student absenteeism 14 3
students unprepared to learn 30 5
lack of parent involvement 24 3
student apathy 21 4
In October 2003, the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics released Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2003, which provides a comprehensive picture of the exposure of students and teachers to crime in schools. While the report's main focus is public schools, a few of its many charts and tables also extend to private schools. The charts below capture the major findings of the report that involve private schools.
Percentage of teachers in 1999-00 who reported that a student...
Public Private
threatened them with injury 10 4
physically attacked them 4 2
Percentage of students, age 12-18, who in 2001 reported...
having experienced violent victimization at school 1.9 1.0
being bullied at school 8.0 7.3
fearing being attacked or harmed at school 6.6 4.6
being targets of hate-related words at school 12.7 8.2
that they avoided certain places in school for fear of their own safety 4.9 2.0
that street gangs were present in school 21.6 4.9
Each year the Horatio Alger Association issues a back-to-school report on the opinions and attitudes of American teenagers. The 2000 State of Our Nation's Youth report covered how teens feel about a host of issues, including safety and security in school. The following table summarizes what students in public and private schools think about safety.
Safety and Security in School
Public Private
Always feel safe in my school 36% 64%
Teachers and administrators have taken all necessary steps for my safety and security 41% 57%
USDE Report on Private Schools
In May 2002, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released its annual report to Congress on the condition of education. The report included a special analysis on private schools titled Private Schools: A Brief Portrait.
Herewith some highlights quoted directly from the private school piece:
Private school teachers are more likely than public school teachers to report being satisfied with teaching at their school.
Private school students are more likely than public school students to complete a bachelor's or advanced degree by their mid-20s.
Private school students generally perform higher than their public school counterparts on standardized achievement tests.
Private high schools typically have more demanding graduation requirements than do public high schools.
Private school graduates are more likely than their peers from public schools to have completed advanced level courses in three academic subject areas.
Private school teachers are more likely than public school teachers to report having a lot of influence on several teaching practices and school policies.
A majority of private school teachers express positive opinions about their principal and their school's management.
On average, private schools have smaller enrollments, smaller average class sizes, and lower student/teacher ratios than public schools.
The private school analysis also shows:
Private high schools are four times more likely than public high schools to have a community service requirement for graduation.
Students in the lowest SES quartile who attended a private school in 8th grade were nearly four times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree than students from the same quartile who attended a public school.