Independent Schools Fequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between independent schools and other private schools?

Private or non-public are two umbrella terms that generally apply to the whole universe of non-public schools, including independent, parochial or religious, Montessori, and even for-profit schools. Independent schools are distinct from other private schools in that they are independently governed by a board of trustees and they do not depend on church funds as parochial schools do, or on tax dollars as public schools do.

How many children in the U.S. attend independent schools?

There are over 485,000 students in NAIS member schools; NAIS estimates that over 300,000 additional students attend non-member independent schools nationwide, for a grand total of nearly 800,000 independent school students in the United States.

For more information, please contact the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education, at (202) 219-1744, or www.nces.ed.gov.

How many independent schools are there in the United States?

There are approximately 2,000 independent schools in the United States, of which 1,330 are members of NAIS.

For more information, please contact the National Center for Education Statistics, part of the U.S. Department of Education, at (202) 219-1744, or www.nces.gov.

How can I obtain additional information on independent schools in my area?

For more information on independent schools in your area, please contact your state or regional independent school association. To conduct a search for schools and local associations, please use the School Search function located on our website.

How competitive is admission at NAIS member schools?

On average, NAIS member schools in the U.S. receive over 1,000 inquiries each about admission each year and 30 percent of those who inquire actually file an application. Of those who apply, half are accepted. Seventy percent of those accepted choose to enroll.