Selected Findings

• In the fall of 2005, there were 28,996 private elementary and secondary schools with 5,057,520 students and 435,485 full-time-equivalent (FTE) teachers in the United States (table 1).
• The largest number of private schools in 2005–06 were in cities (9,744) or suburban locations (9,719) followed by those in rural areas (6,315), and then by those in towns (3,188) (table 1).
• The average school size in 2005–06 was 174.4 students across all private schools. Private school size differed by instructional level. On average, elementary schools had 151.8 students, secondary schools had 293.6 students, and combined schools had 177.9 students (table 7).
• Three-quarters (75.4 percent) of private school students in 2005–06 were White, non-Hispanic; 9.5 percent were Black, non-Hispanic; 9.2 percent were Hispanic, regardless of race; 5.1 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander; and .7 percent were American Indian/Alaska Native (table 9).
• Eighty percent (79.6) of private school teachers in 2005–06 were full-time teachers; 4.4 percent taught less than full time, but at least 3/4 time; 8.4 percent taught less than 3/4 time, but at least 1/2 time; 3.3 percent taught less than 1/2 time, but at least 1/4 time; and 3 percent taught less than 1/4 time (table 11).
• The average pupil/teacher ratio in 2005–06 was 11.6 across all private schools. The average pupil/teacher ratio differed by instructional level; it was 13.1 in elementary schools, 12.2 in secondary schools, and 9.7 in combined schools (table 12).
• There were 307,249 high school graduates from private schools in school year 2004–05 (table 13).
• Ninety-eight percent (98.3) of 12th graders enrolled in private schools around October 1, 2004 graduated in 2004–05 (table 13).
• Of the 307,249 2004–05 private high school graduates, 57.6 percent attended 4-year colleges by the fall of 2005 (table 13).