Private Schools K-12

Private Schools K-12

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Institutions in this industry provide primary and secondary classroom education not associated with public school systems. No major companies dominate the industry.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by perceived inadequacies in the public school system as well as the desire for a specific curriculum or school culture. The success of an individual school depends largely on its reputation for quality. Large schools can offer a wider range of instruction and have some economies of scale. Small schools can be successful by providing instruction in a special field.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

According to Education Data, there were about 57 million students that attended elementary and secondary high school in the US in 2019, with 6 million students enrolled in US private schools. Operations are similar to those at public schools: schools hire teachers, administrators, and support staff; buy educational and other materials; and buy or rent buildings and other space for classrooms and other student activities. Larger schools may operate food and sleeping facilities.

The average enrollment at US private schools is about 140 students. The average public school has 530 students. The student-teacher ratio is about 10:1 at all private schools; 13:1 at Catholic schools; 10:1 at other religious schools; and 7:1 at nonsectarian schools. The national average for public schools is 16:1.

Parents send their children to private schools because of the perception that they provide a better academic or moral education. Some private schools provide intensive...