Private Schools K-12 Industry Profile

Institutions in this industry provide primary and secondary classroom education not associated with public school systems. No major companies dominate the industry.

Globally, the number of private schools in each country varies widely. About 15 million students attended grades 9 to 12, with about 5 million students attending private schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). As of 2021, there are more than 350 million private primary and secondary school students, concentrated in urban areas, according to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The US has about 30,500 private schools with a total enrollment of about 5 million students. About 40% of US private schools are affiliated with religious organizations. While most private schools are tax-exempt, nonprofit entities, some operate on a for-profit basis.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by perceived inadequacies in the public school system as well as the desire for a specific curriculum or school culture. The success of an individual school depends largely on its reputation for quality. Large schools can offer a wider range of instruction and have some economies of scale. Small schools can be successful by providing instruction in a special field.

Private schools compete for students with public school systems and with homeschooling.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

In the US, there were over 50 million students that attended elementary and secondary schools in fall 2021, with over 5 million students enrolled in private schools, ...