Skip Navigation
IES    
NCES
National Center for
Education Statistics
Menu
Contact
Tools
ED.gov
Newsflash
Search IES

Were you contacted about the 2023–24 PSS? Please contact the U.S. Census Bureau pss@census.gov or 1-888-329-5890 for more information. Questions about the survey? Click here for PSS participant information!
Private School Universe Survey (PSS)
Publications & Products| Data Tools | Staff


Percentage distribution of private schools, by program emphasis and selected characteristics: United States, 2013–14

 
Selected characteristic Regular
elementary/ secondary		   Montessori   Special
program emphasis		   Special education   Vocational/
technical programs		   Alternative   Early childhood  
Total 69.0   8.2   2.7   5.5   ‡   2.7   11.9  
                             
Private school typology                            
Catholic 95.5   0.8   0.5   1.1   ‡   ‡   1.8 !
Parochial 97.5   ‡   ‡   ‡   ‡   0.0   ‡  
Diocesan 97.3   ‡   ‡   0.9   ‡   ‡   0.8  
Private 85.0   3.7   1.8   4.3   ‡   ‡   4.4  
                             
Other religious 86.1   1.3   1.7   1.0   ‡   1.7   8.3  
Conservative Christian 91.8   0.4   1.8   0.7   ‡   2.2   3.0  
Other affiliated 87.3   1.4   3.1   1.0   ‡   0.9   6.2  
Unaffiliated 83.0   1.6   1.2   1.1   ‡   1.7 ! 11.4  
                             
Nonsectarian 25.6   23.6   5.5   15.3   ‡   5.9   24.0  
Regular 51.6   †   †   †   †   †   48.4  
Special emhasis   †   67.3   15.7   †   ‡   16.8   †  
Special education †   †   †   100.0   †   †   †  
                             
School level                            
Elementary 66.2   11.6   2.2   1.3   ‡   1.0   17.7  
Secondary 74.5   ‡   3.5   9.5   ‡   11.8   †  
Combined 74.7   1.6   3.7   15.3   ‡   4.4   ‡  
                             
Size (number of students)                            
Less than 50 51.3   13.2   2.2   6.5   ‡   3.1   23.7  
50-149 75.6   6.5   3.9   8.2   ‡   3.8   2.1  
150-299 91.9   1.8   2.4   2.5   ‡   1.4 ! ‡  
300-499 94.7   ‡   3.4   ‡   ‡   0.8   ‡  
500-749 97.2   ‡   1.9   ‡   ‡   ‡   0.0  
750 or more 97.1   ‡   ‡   ‡   ‡   ‡   0.0  
                             
Region                            
Northeast 63.2   6.2   2.3   10.2   ‡   2.4   15.6  
Midwest  82.0   6.5   1.1   1.9   ‡   1.3   7.2  
South  67.8   8.2   3.0   5.8   ‡   3.2   11.9  
West 58.5   13.0   4.8   4.9   ‡   4.3   14.6  
                             
Urbanicity type                            
City 65.1   8.8   3.4   6.6   ‡   3.0   13.0  
Suburban  58.9   11.0   2.9   6.9   ‡   2.2   18.0  
Town  76.8   10.1   1.4   1.7   ‡   1.8   8.2  
Rural  86.8   2.4   1.8   3.1   ‡   3.3   2.6 !
† Not applicable.
! Interperet data with caution. The coefficient of variation for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent (i.e. the standard erroris at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).
‡ Reporting standards not met. There are fewer than 15 sample cases.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding or missing values in cells with too few sample cases. These estimates include private schools that provide instruction for one or more of grades kindergarten through 12 (or comparable ungraded levels).
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 2013–14.

Back Arrow  List of Tables Download Excel Excel File (19 KB) Download SE Excel Excel File (17 KB)

IES    
NCES
National Center for
Education Statistics
Explore the Institute of Education Sciences