What Does "Private School" Mean in the US? How is it different than Public Sch?

What is a "Private School"?

originally published here, and republished with the permission  of the author

What is a "Private School"?  Is an Independent School a Private School?  What is the difference?

The similarities and differences between “private schools” “independent schools” and the public school system can  highly confusing to people  who may be new to the idea of schools other than public schools.

Let us see if we can sort it out.  As you read this, there are three things to keep in mind:

1. All independent schools are private schools, but not all private schools are independent schools
2. Almost all private schools are unregulated, in the sense that they do not have to follow the state’s Education Code, nor are they subject to federal legislation such as IDEA and NCLB.
3. In the public school setting, membership in a school board is (typically) a political office.  Board members are elected.  Public school board members make curricular decisions and participate in student discipline (such as suspension and expulsion hearings).  By contrast, boards of trustees of independent schools do not make curricular decisions, nor do they have direct involvement with discipline matters.  See more in lens #5, Governance.

Five ways of looking at the universe of private schools:

Lens #1: Relligious Underpinnings vs. Purely Secular
Some private schools have a religious base, while others are purely secular.  Within the realm of religious schools there are again a wide range, which affects enrollment, curriculum, and accreditation.

Schools having a religious base (a non-exhaustive listing)

• What NCES calls "religious conservative schools" -- typically Christian, teaching "back to basics" and a biblically-based science curriculum (i.e., creationism rather than evolution), but not necessarily connected to a given church or denomination.  The attending families may be asked to sign a statement of faith, or have a recommendation from a pastor.
• Religious-affiliation schools requiring (or putting a strong emphasis on) attendance at a given church or membership in a given denomination  (think of the academies of the Seventh Day Adventists).  These schools may also require a signed statement of faith, or have a recommendation from a pastor.
• Parochial schools of the Roman Catholic Church --typically under the authority of the local diocese, typically k-8.  Preferential admission is given to members of the parish, but admission is often  offered to non-Catholics.  I believe that instruction in Roman Catholic theology is part of the curriculum from the earliest grades.  Typically, in my area (Northern California) a signed statement of faith is not required.
• Catholic schools run by independent  religious orders (examples: Sacred Hearts, the Notre Dames ) Typically the required curriculum includes theology, but accept students of all (or no) religion, and do not require a profession of faith.
• Schools run by  the Society of Friends (Quakers).  More common east of the Mississippi, many Quaker schools have a long tradition of education.
• Jewish day schools.  In the past decade, there has been a signficant  growth in Jewish day schools, with support from the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE). I believe that most Jewish day schools include instruction in Hebrew as a second language, and Jewish theology, but I am not an expert here.
• Schools sponsored by other denominations and religions (Christian: Lutheran, Episcopal; Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and religions and denominations with fewer adherents).

Purely secular schools

• What these schools have in common is their secular nature.

Lens #2: Adherence to a particular educational philosophy, pedagogy, or "branding"

Here's where it starts to get a bit complicated.  A particular school may be, for example, a Montessori school and in a particular religious denomination. Or, a school may follow a particular educational philosophy and be entirely secular.  To make it even more confusing, there are some public schools (especially charter schools)  that also follow a particular philosophy.   What follows is a non-exhaustive list.

Examples of educational philosophies:

• Montessori schools (pre K through aged ? 12)
• Reggio Emilia (pre K - through age ?)
• Waldorf Schools (pre K - 12)
• Carden Method Schools (pre K - ?)
• Sudbury Schools (ungraded, "unschooling")

Lens #3 -- Financial organization (for-profit, with owner/managers vs. not-for-profit, governed by board of trustees)

This can also be confusing, as there are some schools associated with churchs that have a for-profit structure. Other schools, both church-related and secular, have an IRS 501 (c) 3 designation, meaning that the organization's purpose is for the public good, and that donations  are tax-deductible.  Tuition is not tax-deductible, because a service is recieved for the tuition fees. Most private schools in California have a 501 (c) 3 designation.  Schools having a 501 (c) 3 designation must publish an annual report that shows income (from tuition, donations, and other sources surch as rental income) and expenses.  Those that are for-profit (called "proprietary schools") may have an associated foundation to recieve donations.  The tuition, however, includes a profit for the owners.

Lens #4 --Stand-alone vs. part of a chain of schools

Most private schools are "stand-alone" -- the curriculum and school mission are unique to that school.  Other private schools are part of a chain of schools. 

Examples of private-school chains:

• Challenger Schools (a chain based in Utah)
• Stratford Schools (a chain based in Danville, California)
• Pinecrest Schools (a chain in Southern California)

Lens #5 -- Governance (the adminstration and the board of directors)
Independent schools are non-public, not-for-profit, pre-collegiate institutions governed by boards of trustees.

What makes an independent school different from a private school? All independent schools, to deserve the name, must be not-for-profit. All independent schools are governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees. The role of the board is to:

• Establish the school's mission
• Safeguard the mission
• Manage the school and its assets for future generations.

The form of governance may be dictated by the school’s  financial organization.  The IRS requires 501 c 3 organizations to have a board of directors or trustees that is self-perpetuaing.  However, some schools that are not 501 c 3 organizations also have boards of trustees.  Some schools have other sorts of governance, such as a collective of parents and teachers, or a headmaster or principal who essentially answers to no one.

More Information

The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) is an association of associations. It has a page outlining all the different types of schools that make up the CAPE landscape.

www.capenet.org/

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is an association of independent schools, with relatively strict requirements for membership.  The website has good resources for parents looking for independent schools.

www.nais.org/

National Independent Private Schools Association is the association for schools that are for-profit.  It publishes a code of ethics and a list of member schools.

www.nipsa.org/