Demographics of U.S. Private Schools
Private schools in the United States are, on the whole, whiter than public schools, with fewer Black and Hispanic or Latino students.
- Private Schools in the United States
- Public Schools
- White
- Black
- Hisp.
- Asian Am.
- Am. Ind. / Ala. Nat.
- Haw. / Pac. Isl.
- Multi.
- Not spec.
Private Schools That are Much Whiter than Nearby Public Schools
These lists show large, majority-white private schools in each region where students least reflect the demographics of the surrounding school district. Schools are ranked by comparing the percentage of white students in the school against the percentage of white students in the local public schools.
Private Schools by State
- White
- Black
- Hisp.
- Asian Am.
- Am. Ind. / Ala. Nat.
- Haw. / Pac. Isl.
- Multi.
- Not spec.
Where is this data from?
Most of the data we use comes from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Private School Universe Survey, which has aimed to gather information about U.S. private schools every other year since 1989. Because the regulation of private schools is handled differently by state, there is no comprehensive list of every private school in the country. The PSS attempts to approximate such a list using various sources, including state education departments, private school associations and religious organizations, and, in some areas, online yellow pages and local government offices.
Read the latest education investigations from ProPublica.
Do you have information about private schools? Send us a tip.
A new ProPublica analysis shows the extent to which private schools segregate students. Alongside majority-Black public school districts, a separate web of private academies are filled almost entirely with white students.
Arizona’s acclaimed voucher program provides zero transparency into private schools’ history, academic performance or financial sustainability to help parents make informed school choices.
The state is giving millions in taxpayer dollars directly to private schools to help them renovate and expand their campuses. It may be the next frontier in the push to increase the use of school vouchers, proponents say.
Current site
Current page
