Private schools, also known as independent schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students tuition, rather than relying on public (state) funds. In the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries, the use of the term is generally restricted to primary and secondary educational levels; it is almost never used of universities and other tertiary institutions. Private education in North America covers the whole gamut of educational activity, ranging from pre-school to tertiary level institutions. Annual tuitions at K-12 schools range from nothing at tuition-free schools to more than $45,000 at several New England prep schools.

The secondary level includes schools offering grades 7 through 12 and grade 13. This category includes university-preparatory schools or "prep schools", boarding schools and day schools. Tuition at private secondary schools varies from school to school and depends on many factors, including the location of the school, the willingness of parents to pay, peer tuitions and the school's financial endowment. High tuition, schools claim, is used to pay higher salaries for the best teachers and also used to provide enriched learning environments, including a low student to teacher ratio, small class sizes and services, such as libraries, science laboratories and computers. Some private schools are boarding schools and many military academies are privately owned or operated as well.

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 more of a general label to describe on what the founders based their belief, while still maintaining a fine distinction between academics and religion. They include parochial schools, 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 the Orthodox Christians.

Many educational alternatives, such as independent schools, are also privately financed. 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 simply add religious instruction to the courses provided by local public schools.

Special assistance schools aim to improve the lives of their students by providing services tailored to very specific needs of individual students. Such schools include tutoring schools and schools to assist the learning of handicapped children.

• International Schools@ (395)
• Religious (0)
• Residential (123)

• Sudbury Valley Model (18)
• Therapeutic Schools@ (70)
• Waldorf Schools (116)

See also:

• Reference: Education: K through 12: Home Schooling (1,625)
• Reference: Education: Special Education: Schools (186)

• The Vincent/Curtis Educational Register
  vincentcurtis.com
  Search database or request a free directory of private independent boarding schools, summer study programs and camps. Site has articles about related topics.
• American Montessori Society
  amshq.org
  Directory of US schools that follow the Montessori philosophy of education.
• The National Coalition of Girls' Schools
  ncgs.org
  Site offers a number of valuable resources for girls, their parents and educators including recommended readings and a list of publications about what works for girls, including a free directory of girls' schools nationwide.