Although college enrollment directly after high school graduation may not be the best choice for every student, the decision can help them get to the career of their choice faster. In contrast, public schools saw a 44% immediate college enrollment rate for the same period. For the 2018-2019 school year, 64.5% of private school graduates enrolled in a four-year college by the fall of that year. Looking past graduation, many families are also interested in the difference in college enrollment between students educated at public and private schools. In contrast, the public school graduation rate was 86%. Private schools also excel in graduation rates, with a 96.4% graduation rate for the 2018-2019 school year.

Graduating from high school provides students with the skills to continue their education and a diploma that many jobs require. When it comes to preparing students to enter college, private schools are the most successful.Īnother student success metric is graduation. For example, a recent survey of mean ACT composite scores among high school students found that those educated in private schools scored an average of 24.2 out of 36, up from 20.3 for public schooled students and 22.9 for homeschooled students. public school statistics aren’t yet available for 2023, past studies indicate that private schools are generally better able to prepare their students for standardized tests.

The educational outcomes of enrollment in a particular school are often of top concern for families.Īlthough private vs. Families want their students to be prepared for further education, the workforce, and life in general beyond the walls of primary and secondary school. When determining whether private schools are ahead of public schools, student success indicators like test scores and college readiness are essential considerations. Whenever private schools can make tuition more affordable for families, they may see continued growth.Ĭomparing Student Success in Public and Private Schools in 2023 For example, awarding financial aid early offers benefits like helping families feel confident in their decision and maximizing the financial aid budget. Changes to private schools’ financial aid programs may contribute to the rise in admissions. Researchers are still determining what caused these enrollment increases, but they may result from families’ desire for their children to be in smaller, in-person classes with more individualized attention.Ĭost is one of the most significant considerations when families compare public school vs.

Kindergarten and second-grade enrollment in private schools increased by about 4.5% each, while first-grade rose by 6.2%. The 2021-2022 school year saw a 21.3% rise in enrollment in prekindergarten, compared with a 12.1% decline in the previous year. Enrollment declines in 2020 were temporary, as private schools rebounded to report higher enrollment in 2021-2022 than in 2017-2018.Īccording to the NAIS, leading the growth in enrollment was an increase in admissions in the lower grades. The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) notes that median enrollment at independent schools reached 396 students in the 2021-2022 school year, the highest admissions level in the past five years. During the 2019-2020 school year, total public school enrollment was 49.4 million students, while private school enrollment totaled 4.7 million.ĭespite this disparity in enrollment, private school admissions have been on the rise. in the 2020-2021 school year and just over 30,000 private schools between 20. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), there were over 98,000 public schools in the U.S. Admissions for public schools are substantially higher than private schools, primarily due to the higher number of individual schools. Increase in Private School AdmissionsĮnrollment is a significant factor in determining whether private school is better than public. Comparing public and private schools and their admission, performance, and offerings provide insight into how you can attract families to your school.

public school statistics and what sets private schools apart can help you find the best ways to meet the needs of the families your private school serves. For example, data from the ACT college readiness exam indicates that students educated in private schools have an average composite score nearly four points higher than those educated in public schools.Ĭonsidering emerging trends in private vs. Studies have consistently shown that students in private schools tend to perform better on tests than public school students. One important measure is academic performance. Families have much to consider when deciding where to send their children to school, including class size, availability of programs, and graduation rate.

Public schools are so random