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Number of private schools charging tuition and the median highest annual private school tuition, by community type and religious orientation: 2003–04

Grade level and religious orientation Total number of private schools that charge tuition   Median highest annual tuition
All community types Community type
Central city Urban fringe/ large town/ rural/small town
Total  26,600 1  $3,500 $4,000 $3,200
Catholic  7,800   3,000 3,300 2,900
Other religious  12,700   3,000 3,500 2,800
Nonsectarian  6,100   8,200 7,900 8,300
           
Elementary  16,300 2  3,300 3,600 3,000
Catholic  6,400   2,900 3,000 2,800
Other religious  6,500   3,000 3,500 2,900
Nonsectarian  3,400   6,400 6,200 6,700
           
Non-elementary  10,300 3  4,100 5,700 3,600
Catholic  1,400   5,200 5,400 5,100
Other religious  6,200   2,800 3,700 2,600
Nonsectarian  2,700   13,300 14,400 12,000
1 Excludes 1,800 private schools that do not charge tuition.
2 Excludes 1,000 private elementary schools that do not charge tuition.
3 Excludes 800 private non-elementary schools that do not charge tuition.
NOTE: A school is classified as elementary if it has one or more of grades K–6 and none of grades 9–12. Some non-elementary schools include both elementary and secondary grade levels, such as a K–12 school. Tuition excludes boarding fees.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Private School Data File," 2003–04.