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1. How many private schools are there in the U.S.A.?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) surveys private schools through its ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Universe Survey. According to the latest data published by the , approximately 4.7 million students attend private schools nationwide, representing about 9% of all K-12 students in the United States.

Families interested in enrollment trends and school selection may also enjoy reading Choosing the Right ²ÝÁñÉçÇø School Path: Cost, Readiness, and Fit.

2. How many boarding schools are there?

The Association of Boarding Schools reports nearly 300 member schools in the United States, Canada, and abroad. While membership numbers change slightly from year to year, the total remains just under 300 schools.

3. Which private school offers the most Advanced Placement courses?

Quite a few private schools offer more than 25 Advanced Placement courses, which is impressive considering that the now offers more than 40 AP subjects.

Rather than identifying a single school as the leader, it is more accurate to say that many large college-preparatory schools offer extensive AP programs, while others have shifted toward International Baccalaureate programs, dual enrollment, capstone research, or advanced school-designed courses.

As advanced academics continue to evolve, many schools are expanding beyond AP coursework. For additional insight, see How ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Schools Teach Tech & AI Skills, Not Just Tools.

In this video, an expert answers questions about the optimal number of AP courses a student

Are you thinking about sending your child to a private school?

• There are many reasons why you should consider sending your child to a private school.
• Most of us parents have had the same concerns as you do.
• We all want our children to receive the very best education possible so that they are positioned for success in later life.

Here's how to make that happen.

1. You want your child to receive specialized instruction from well-qualified instructors.

• Your local public school can develop an for your child.
• This is mandated by the .
• While your child's needs will indeed be identified and an instructional program devised for her, she will probably not receive as much individual attention as if she were in a private school with smaller classes.
• Depending on your area's public school district, resources are often spread very thin.
• When you send your child to a private school for special needs, she will be taught by credentialed, highly skilled teachers and paraprofessionals throughout the school day.

This video explains an IEP.

When your child has a learning difference, enrolling her in a private school with specialized teachers can be beneficial. I know this was the case with my eldest son who had never learned how to read before he came to live with us.

• Hundreds of private

This is the first of three articles addressing the advantages of sending your child to private school. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø schools offer several advantages specific to students, of which you, as a parent, need to be aware. Here are three of them.

1. Your child will build a network of friends that she will have for life.

Some may wonder why I would put this benefit for students at the top of my list. That's because I sincerely believe networking is the key to success in almost everything. Because most private schools are relatively small communities, your child will have a perfect chance of getting to know almost everybody in the school community, especially her classmates. According to the , private schools generally have smaller enrollments than public schools, creating opportunities for closer relationships among students and teachers. While your child may come from an entirely different background, perhaps even another country, from her classmates, she will get to know everybody in the classroom, on the playing field, and on the stage. With social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, and other messaging apps providing instantaneous communication, it is relatively easy to keep that high school network of friends going after she graduates.

This close-knit network of friends from school will help open doors for years after she graduates. The bonds of friendship developed in private school are an essential advantage for a private school student as she begins her career.

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Joann McPike, the founder of , graciously answered some questions that I posed about the school. ~ Rob Kennedy

RK: Explain why you took the reins rather than finding some institution that you could guide and shape according to your ideals and goals.

JM: My husband and I love to travel. We have always taken our son Alexander with us whenever we went anywhere. We took his schoolwork with us. It was Alexander's never-ending questions and comments that started showing us the benefits of traveling and opening the minds of youngsters.

We started looking at boarding schools all over the world for when he had to go to high school, and although there are some fantastic schools out there, we couldn't find one that would provide the different points of view that we felt were necessary to have a truly open mind.

As to why I didn't find an institution that we could guide and shape... I assume you mean an existing school? I guess I thought it would be more challenging to try to convince a school board to do something so out of the ordinary than to start a school from scratch. Most people feel safe in the status quo, but there are a few risk-takers who want to shake things up a little. I guess I am one of those who want to shake things up a little... as are the courageous parents who took a leap of faith and sent

You want the best possible education for your child. The local school district may be reasonably good, but many families continue to face concerns about budget pressures, staffing shortages, curriculum debates, and changing educational priorities. You don't want to sacrifice your child's educational opportunities or spend money needlessly on other educational options, such as private school or homeschooling.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø school makes sense on many levels because everything is there. Academics, activities, sports, facilities, and staff are the critical components of every private school's package. In a private school, learning and teaching are continuous. It doesn't matter whether your child is in the classroom or on the playing field; he or she will be learning.

Perhaps you are considering homeschooling. While homeschooling is certainly possible and has grown significantly in recent years, it requires careful planning, recordkeeping, curriculum selection, and compliance with state regulations. It can be a rewarding experience, but it is also a significant commitment for families.

Now contrast that with the kind of life and activities your child can have at private school.

So, what about some of those rumors you have heard about private schools? Are they true? False? Are things changing? Are private schools different from what they were fifty years ago?

Well, things have indeed changed over that period. Most of what people think they know about private K-12 schools today can be charitably categorized as misconceptions. Frequently, discussions about private