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| 2021 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 205.40. | Number and percentage distribution of private elementary and secondary students, teachers, and schools, by orientation of school and selected characteristics: Fall 2009, fall 2017, and fall 2019 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected characteristic | Fall 2009 | Fall 2017 | Fall 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Total | Total | Catholic | Other religious | Nonsectarian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Students1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 5,488,490 | (35,857) | 100.0 | (†) | 5,719,990 | (74,133) | 100.0 | (†) | 5,485,800 | (37,869) | 100.0 | (†) | 1,913,700 | (17,601) | 100.0 | (†) | 2,163,560 | (30,020) | 100.0 | (†) | 1,408,540 | (12,355) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||||
| School level2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prekindergarten, elementary, and middle |
2,955,540 | (26,766) | 53.8 | (0.24) | 2,857,850 | (56,267) | 50.0 | (0.55) | 2,681,990 | (23,419) | 48.9 | (0.32) | 1,199,390 | (13,520) | 62.7 | (0.69) | 868,410 | (17,084) | 40.1 | (0.49) | 614,190 | (8,241) | 43.6 | (0.41) | ||||||||||||
| Secondary and high | 896,800 | (4,967) | 16.3 | (0.12) | 1,000,070 | (17,844) | 17.5 | (0.35) | 919,300 | (10,678) | 16.8 | (0.17) | 565,500 | (4,415) | 29.6 | (0.27) | 155,050 | (4,067) | 7.2 | (0.16) | 198,750 | (5,037) | 14.1 | (0.32) | ||||||||||||
| Other, ungraded, and not applicable/not reported |
1,636,150 | (15,826) | 29.8 | (0.21) | 1,862,070 | (34,882) | 32.6 | (0.47) | 1,884,520 | (24,793) | 34.4 | (0.34) | 148,810 | (16,214) | 7.8 | (0.81) | 1,140,110 | (17,291) | 52.7 | (0.44) | 595,600 | (7,298) | 42.3 | (0.44) | ||||||||||||
School enrollment |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 50 | 296,000 | (22,889) | 5.4 | (0.39) | 277,530 | (9,120) | 4.9 | (0.15) | 241,320 | (3,669) | 4.4 | (0.08) | 7,180 | (†) | 0.4 | (#) | 130,230 | (1,909) | 6.0 | (0.13) | 103,910 | (2,917) | 7.4 | (0.21) | ||||||||||||
| 50 to 149 | 950,050 | (12,053) | 17.3 | (0.18) | 924,490 | (25,783) | 16.2 | (0.37) | 909,700 | (10,836) | 16.6 | (0.17) | 148,550 | (5,214) | 7.8 | (0.26) | 411,360 | (8,032) | 19.0 | (0.33) | 349,800 | (4,775) | 24.8 | (0.30) | ||||||||||||
| 150 to 299 | 1,423,220 | (9,951) | 25.9 | (0.17) | 1,441,670 | (38,720) | 25.2 | (0.54) | 1,362,600 | (16,020) | 24.8 | (0.27) | 545,030 | (5,962) | 28.5 | (0.49) | 535,520 | (15,982) | 24.8 | (0.62) | 282,050 | (†) | 20.0 | (0.18) | ||||||||||||
| 300 to 499 | 1,154,950 | (10,730) | 21.0 | (0.19) | 1,158,950 | (31,868) | 20.3 | (0.52) | 1,151,230 | (13,785) | 21.0 | (0.23) | 539,310 | (10,173) | 28.2 | (0.43) | 401,660 | (7,047) | 18.6 | (0.31) | 210,250 | (6,798) | 14.9 | (0.42) | ||||||||||||
| 500 to 749 | 768,540 | (†) | 14.0 | (0.09) | 848,140 | (30,584) | 14.8 | (0.49) | 752,130 | (14,598) | 13.7 | (0.24) | 321,900 | (2,812) | 16.8 | (0.16) | 276,410 | (12,721) | 12.8 | (0.51) | 153,820 | (6,585) | 10.9 | (0.43) | ||||||||||||
| 750 or more | 895,720 | (6,538) | 16.3 | (0.12) | 1,069,210 | (19,363) | 18.7 | (0.34) | 1,068,820 | (22,477) | 19.5 | (0.34) | 351,730 | (16,795) | 18.4 | (0.77) | 408,380 | (12,564) | 18.9 | (0.49) | 308,710 | (4,794) | 21.9 | (0.30) | ||||||||||||
Student race/ ethnicity3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| White | 3,410,360 | (31,067) | 72.6 | (0.20) | 3,267,740 | (46,018) | 66.7 | (0.40) | 3,052,640 | (23,580) | 65.6 | (0.13) | 1,098,780 | (12,002) | 63.0 | (0.21) | 1,289,380 | (18,132) | 71.1 | (0.23) | 664,480 | (7,236) | 60.6 | (0.19) | ||||||||||||
| Black | 430,970 | (2,579) | 9.2 | (0.07) | 453,670 | (11,354) | 9.3 | (0.23) | 439,460 | (5,073) | 9.4 | (0.07) | 144,640 | (3,392) | 8.3 | (0.14) | 186,870 | (3,579) | 10.3 | (0.12) | 107,950 | (734) | 9.8 | (0.05) | ||||||||||||
| Hispanic | 443,290 | (4,113) | 9.4 | (0.09) | 552,000 | (13,863) | 11.3 | (0.22) | 549,230 | (3,749) | 11.8 | (0.08) | 301,090 | (2,164) | 17.3 | (0.19) | 146,770 | (2,956) | 8.1 | (0.11) | 101,370 | (369) | 9.2 | (0.06) | ||||||||||||
| Asian | 239,320 | (1,894) | 5.1 | (0.05) | 315,970 | (8,834) | 6.5 | (0.15) | 307,790 | (1,772) | 6.6 | (0.04) | 89,530 | (1,178) | 5.1 | (0.06) | 92,190 | (885) | 5.1 | (0.05) | 126,070 | (581) | 11.5 | (0.07) | ||||||||||||
| Pacific Islander | 28,020 | (884) | 0.6 | (0.02) | 40,960 | (1,418) | 0.8 | (0.03) | 32,510 | (633) | 0.7 | (0.01) | 10,790 | (138) | 0.6 | (0.01) | 14,350 | (604) | 0.8 | (0.04) | 7,360 | (61) | 0.7 | (0.01) | ||||||||||||
| American Indian/ Alaska Native |
21,080 | (162) | 0.4 | (#) | 26,840 | (1,659) | 0.5 | (0.03) | 25,960 | (202) | 0.6 | (#) | 8,950 | (66) | 0.5 | (#) | 10,110 | (106) | 0.6 | (0.01) | 6,900 | (57) | 0.6 | (#) | ||||||||||||
| Two or more races | 127,090 | (781) | 2.7 | (0.02) | 240,970 | (3,881) | 4.9 | (0.06) | 245,310 | (1,947) | 5.3 | (0.03) | 89,180 | (1,356) | 5.1 | (0.05) | 72,930 | (874) | 4.0 | (0.05) | 83,200 | (540) | 7.6 | (0.04) | ||||||||||||
School locale |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 2,252,780 | (12,708) | 41.0 | (0.31) | 2,463,590 | (50,197) | 43.1 | (0.63) | 2,387,380 | (33,992) | 43.5 | (0.42) | 911,260 | (16,764) | 47.6 | (0.65) | 845,630 | (25,746) | 39.1 | (0.75) | 630,490 | (10,945) | 44.8 | (0.45) | ||||||||||||
| Suburban | 2,137,800 | (20,891) | 39.0 | (0.34) | 2,284,510 | (35,510) | 39.9 | (0.58) | 2,203,740 | (17,806) | 40.2 | (0.30) | 753,900 | (9,272) | 39.4 | (0.44) | 854,220 | (11,190) | 39.5 | (0.50) | 595,620 | (5,372) | 42.3 | (0.41) | ||||||||||||
| Town | 387,920 | (9,565) | 7.1 | (0.17) | 371,150 | (25,577) | 6.5 | (0.42) | 324,310 | (10,623) | 5.9 | (0.20) | 157,720 | (10,113) | 8.2 | (0.54) | 129,100 | (3,251) | 6.0 | (0.17) | 37,490 | (67) | 2.7 | (0.02) | ||||||||||||
| Rural | 709,990 | (26,462) | 12.9 | (0.42) | 600,740 | (25,531) | 10.5 | (0.41) | 570,370 | (10,961) | 10.4 | (0.20) | 90,810 | (5,629) | 4.7 | (0.28) | 334,610 | (8,927) | 15.5 | (0.45) | 144,950 | (1,232) | 10.3 | (0.12) | ||||||||||||
Teachers4 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 437,410 | (3,222) | 100.0 | (†) | 482,320 | (5,669) | 100.0 | (†) | 481,200 | (3,060) | 100.0 | (†) | 140,000 | (1,141) | 100.0 | (†) | 185,980 | (2,247) | 100.0 | (†) | 155,230 | (1,461) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||||
| School level2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prekindergarten, elementary, and middle |
196,860 | (1,867) | 45.0 | (0.24) | 201,430 | (3,691) | 41.8 | (0.56) | 198,290 | (1,375) | 41.2 | (0.26) | 81,730 | (994) | 58.4 | (0.64) | 64,420 | (1,006) | 34.6 | (0.37) | 52,140 | (329) | 33.6 | (0.31) | ||||||||||||
| Secondary and high | 80,520 | (573) | 18.4 | (0.17) | 93,950 | (2,494) | 19.5 | (0.49) | 89,910 | (1,230) | 18.7 | (0.21) | 45,680 | (382) | 32.6 | (0.26) | 16,600 | (330) | 8.9 | (0.14) | 27,630 | (760) | 17.8 | (0.42) | ||||||||||||
| Other, ungraded, and not applicable/not reported |
160,040 | (1,946) | 36.6 | (0.28) | 186,950 | (3,243) | 38.8 | (0.46) | 193,000 | (2,129) | 40.1 | (0.31) | 12,590 | (1,027) | 9.0 | (0.70) | 104,950 | (1,447) | 56.4 | (0.32) | 75,460 | (1,179) | 48.6 | (0.50) | ||||||||||||
School enrollment |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 50 | 34,120 | (1,642) | 7.8 | (0.34) | 35,760 | (1,330) | 7.4 | (0.25) | 33,120 | (502) | 6.9 | (0.11) | 1,140 | (†) | 0.8 | (0.01) | 15,910 | (376) | 8.6 | (0.21) | 16,080 | (341) | 10.4 | (0.22) | ||||||||||||
| 50 to 149 | 82,460 | (1,102) | 18.9 | (0.23) | 85,130 | (2,523) | 17.6 | (0.42) | 87,530 | (817) | 18.2 | (0.15) | 14,070 | (369) | 10.1 | (0.25) | 37,370 | (565) | 20.1 | (0.25) | 36,090 | (359) | 23.2 | (0.25) | ||||||||||||
| 150 to 299 | 107,490 | (1,873) | 24.6 | (0.33) | 114,100 | (2,944) | 23.7 | (0.53) | 111,170 | (565) | 23.1 | (0.15) | 39,380 | (547) | 28.1 | (0.51) | 42,440 | (793) | 22.8 | (0.40) | 29,350 | (†) | 18.9 | (0.18) | ||||||||||||
| 300 to 499 | 86,850 | (751) | 19.9 | (0.19) | 91,470 | (2,245) | 19.0 | (0.46) | 95,980 | (831) | 19.9 | (0.18) | 38,160 | (676) | 27.3 | (0.39) | 34,090 | (469) | 18.3 | (0.24) | 23,720 | (33) | 15.3 | (0.15) | ||||||||||||
| 500 to 749 | 56,920 | (†) | 13.0 | (0.10) | 68,790 | (2,335) | 14.3 | (0.46) | 64,100 | (1,596) | 13.3 | (0.30) | 22,240 | (236) | 15.9 | (0.15) | 23,180 | (1,107) | 12.5 | (0.51) | 18,690 | (1,126) | 12.0 | (0.64) | ||||||||||||
| 750 or more | 69,570 | (566) | 15.9 | (0.13) | 87,090 | (1,768) | 18.1 | (0.34) | 89,290 | (1,771) | 18.6 | (0.29) | 25,010 | (1,093) | 17.9 | (0.70) | 32,980 | (943) | 17.7 | (0.42) | 31,300 | (713) | 20.2 | (0.39) | ||||||||||||
School locale |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 176,740 | (799) | 40.4 | (0.33) | 206,880 | (3,770) | 42.9 | (0.58) | 210,720 | (2,765) | 43.8 | (0.37) | 66,030 | (1,062) | 47.2 | (0.63) | 73,420 | (1,795) | 39.5 | (0.57) | 71,260 | (1,379) | 45.9 | (0.49) | ||||||||||||
| Suburban | 166,170 | (2,463) | 38.0 | (0.41) | 185,400 | (2,704) | 38.4 | (0.53) | 188,090 | (1,309) | 39.1 | (0.26) | 54,650 | (658) | 39.0 | (0.38) | 71,900 | (830) | 38.7 | (0.40) | 61,540 | (430) | 39.6 | (0.40) | ||||||||||||
| Town | 30,390 | (663) | 6.9 | (0.15) | 31,410 | (2,294) | 6.5 | (0.45) | 27,200 | (832) | 5.7 | (0.18) | 12,150 | (799) | 8.7 | (0.57) | 10,920 | (230) | 5.9 | (0.14) | 4,120 | (5) | 2.7 | (0.02) | ||||||||||||
| Rural | 64,120 | (1,960) | 14.7 | (0.39) | 58,640 | (2,235) | 12.2 | (0.43) | 55,190 | (753) | 11.5 | (0.16) | 7,160 | (401) | 5.1 | (0.27) | 29,730 | (576) | 16.0 | (0.33) | 18,300 | (144) | 11.8 | (0.14) | ||||||||||||
Schools |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 33,370 | (834) | 100.0 | (†) | 32,460 | (559) | 100.0 | (†) | 30,490 | (192) | 100.0 | (†) | 6,450 | (52) | 100.0 | (†) | 13,790 | (153) | 100.0 | (†) | 10,250 | (109) | 100.0 | (†) | ||||||||||||
| School level2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prekindergarten, elementary, and middle |
21,610 | (744) | 64.8 | (0.69) | 20,250 | (460) | 62.4 | (0.82) | 18,870 | (138) | 61.9 | (0.27) | 4,930 | (56) | 76.5 | (0.36) | 7,680 | (85) | 55.7 | (0.43) | 6,260 | (85) | 61.1 | (0.44) | ||||||||||||
| Secondary and high | 3,410 | (42) | 10.2 | (0.27) | 3,640 | (105) | 11.2 | (0.34) | 3,630 | (66) | 11.9 | (0.22) | 1,130 | (5) | 17.5 | (0.15) | 970 | (17) | 7.0 | (0.13) | 1,530 | (63) | 14.9 | (0.60) | ||||||||||||
| Other, ungraded, and not applicable/not reported |
8,350 | (151) | 25.0 | (0.49) | 8,570 | (287) | 26.4 | (0.74) | 8,000 | (125) | 26.2 | (0.33) | 380 | (19) | 6.0 | (0.30) | 5,150 | (101) | 37.3 | (0.45) | 2,460 | (73) | 24.0 | (0.68) | ||||||||||||
School enrollment |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less than 50 | 11,070 | (801) | 33.2 | (1.61) | 10,300 | (323) | 31.7 | (0.67) | 8,940 | (116) | 29.3 | (0.32) | 230 | (†) | 3.6 | (0.03) | 4,930 | (67) | 35.8 | (0.42) | 3,780 | (91) | 36.9 | (0.65) | ||||||||||||
| 50 to 149 | 10,470 | (154) | 31.4 | (0.81) | 9,970 | (261) | 30.7 | (0.57) | 9,840 | (106) | 32.3 | (0.29) | 1,410 | (36) | 21.8 | (0.44) | 4,400 | (71) | 31.9 | (0.46) | 4,020 | (69) | 39.3 | (0.57) | ||||||||||||
| 150 to 299 | 6,690 | (46) | 20.1 | (0.49) | 6,790 | (196) | 20.9 | (0.54) | 6,500 | (90) | 21.3 | (0.24) | 2,530 | (27) | 39.3 | (0.41) | 2,580 | (91) | 18.7 | (0.53) | 1,390 | (†) | 13.6 | (0.14) | ||||||||||||
| 300 to 499 | 3,010 | (30) | 9.0 | (0.24) | 3,030 | (89) | 9.3 | (0.27) | 3,010 | (34) | 9.9 | (0.11) | 1,400 | (25) | 21.7 | (0.33) | 1,060 | (19) | 7.7 | (0.14) | 550 | (17) | 5.3 | (0.16) | ||||||||||||
| 500 to 749 | 1,280 | (†) | 3.8 | (0.10) | 1,410 | (51) | 4.4 | (0.17) | 1,250 | (23) | 4.1 | (0.08) | 540 | (5) | 8.4 | (0.09) | 450 | (19) | 3.2 | (0.13) | 260 | (11) | 2.5 | (0.11) | ||||||||||||
| 750 or more | 850 | (7) | 2.5 | (0.06) | 950 | (21) | 2.9 | (0.08) | 960 | (24) | 3.1 | (0.08) | 340 | (18) | 5.2 | (0.28) | 370 | (14) | 2.7 | (0.09) | 250 | (5) | 2.5 | (0.05) | ||||||||||||
Racial/ethnic enrollment concentration3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| More than 50 percent White |
25,110 | (818) | 75.2 | (0.74) | 23,250 | (434) | 71.6 | (0.60) | 21,390 | (175) | 70.2 | (0.50) | 4,540 | (63) | 70.4 | (0.41) | 10,310 | (113) | 74.8 | (0.98) | 6,540 | (107) | 63.8 | (0.65) | ||||||||||||
| More than 50 percent Black |
2,640 | (70) | 7.9 | (0.28) | 2,220 | (79) | 6.8 | (0.26) | 2,050 | (87) | 6.7 | (0.26) | 270 | (†) | 4.2 | (0.03) | 1,170 | (85) | 8.5 | (0.55) | 610 | (16) | 5.9 | (0.16) | ||||||||||||
| More than 50 percent Hispanic |
1,550 | (72) | 4.6 | (0.23) | 1,990 | (153) | 6.1 | (0.42) | 1,810 | (20) | 5.9 | (0.08) | 720 | (14) | 11.2 | (0.30) | 530 | (11) | 3.9 | (0.08) | 550 | (8) | 5.4 | (0.10) | ||||||||||||
| No racial/ethnic group more than 50 percent |
3,300 | (103) | 9.9 | (0.36) | 4,080 | (121) | 12.6 | (0.32) | 4,270 | (107) | 14.0 | (0.32) | 830 | (†) | 12.8 | (0.10) | 1,410 | (83) | 10.2 | (0.53) | 2,040 | (68) | 19.9 | (0.63) | ||||||||||||
School locale |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| City | 10,810 | (171) | 32.4 | (0.88) | 10,530 | (221) | 32.4 | (0.61) | 10,440 | (172) | 34.3 | (0.49) | 2,630 | (21) | 40.8 | (0.44) | 4,090 | (164) | 29.6 | (0.97) | 3,730 | (58) | 36.4 | (0.55) | ||||||||||||
| Suburban | 11,610 | (176) | 34.8 | (0.94) | 12,150 | (300) | 37.4 | (0.76) | 11,670 | (147) | 38.3 | (0.39) | 2,420 | (23) | 37.5 | (0.48) | 4,360 | (60) | 31.6 | (0.41) | 4,890 | (114) | 47.7 | (0.78) | ||||||||||||
| Town | 3,340 | (154) | 10.0 | (0.50) | 2,750 | (150) | 8.5 | (0.43) | 2,480 | (60) | 8.1 | (0.19) | 900 | (60) | 13.9 | (0.84) | 1,180 | (6) | 8.5 | (0.10) | 400 | (5) | 3.9 | (0.06) | ||||||||||||
| Rural | 7,610 | (799) | 22.8 | (1.86) | 7,020 | (336) | 21.6 | (0.86) | 5,900 | (108) | 19.4 | (0.37) | 500 | (15) | 7.8 | (0.22) | 4,170 | (96) | 30.2 | (0.77) | 1,230 | (44) | 12.0 | (0.46) | ||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #Rounds to zero. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Includes students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in schools that offer kindergarten or higher grade. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 School levels are assigned based on the current Common Core of Data (CCD) school level definitions. For more information about the CCD school levels, see https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/doc/11_Changes_SCH_LEA_Level_Assignments_3.4.2020.docx. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Race/ethnicity was not collected for prekindergarten students (832,900 in fall 2019). Percentage distribution is based on the students for whom race/ethnicity was reported. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Reported in full-time equivalents (FTE). Excludes teachers who teach only prekindergarten students. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Tabulation includes schools that offer kindergarten or higher grade. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 2009-10, 2017-18, and 2019–20. (This table was prepared October 2021.) |
