Private K-12 Schools NAICS 611110
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Industry Summary
The 30,000 private K-12 schools in the US provide basic preparatory education for children in kindergarten through 12th grade. Elementary schools typically include grades kindergarten through six. Secondary schools typically include grade seven through twelve. Combined schools offer elementary and secondary education. The vast majority of K-12 private schools are non-profit organizations and about 66% of them are religion-based.
Dependence on Skilled Staff
Private school families expect high quality education from qualified, experienced teachers.
Competition from Alternative Education
In addition to standard public schools (which are free), private schools face competition from a variety of alternative sources, including charter schools, magnet schools, and home schooling.
Recent Developments
Apr 2, 2026 - Private School Choice Legislation Proposals Proliferate
- FutureEd has identified 162 private-school-choice bills in 28 states that have been introduced or pre-filed so far in 2026. Most aim to broaden private-school choice options but a few seek to scale back such programs. Others are intended to increase program oversight. More bills supporting school choice are expected in the coming months, particularly in Republican-led states where choice bills failed last year or where lawmakers have yet to extend private-school-choice eligibility to all students. States are beginning to respond to the new federal tax credit scholarship program scheduled to take effect in January 2027. Governors are beginning to opt in, while state legislatures are moving to shape how their states participate.
- Kentucky became the 24th state to opt into a federal tax credit program that allows donors to receive a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 by donating to a nonprofit scholarship-granting organization when the state's House and Senate overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of legislation opting the state in. Organizations that receive donations can distribute the funds to families for things like private school tuition, tutoring, and transportation. The Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit reduces a donor's federal tax liability directly by the amount donated (up to $1,700) rather than merely reducing taxable income.
- Private schools reported steady enrollment increases since the coronavirus pandemic but the momentum appears to be slowing, according to the Cato Institute. The proportion of schools reporting growth dropped by 15 percentage points from a peak of 55% between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years to 40% between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Some 32% of private schools saw enrollment decrease between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years and 28% reported no change, the Cato Institute said. Among schools with rising enrollment, 69% attribute the growth to "a values alignment between the school and parents." Other top reasons cited include a better academic experience (44%) and parents’ religious beliefs (43%).
- Private K-12 school industry employment has rebounded from pandemic-era lows and remained above pre-pandemic levels in late 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private K-12 school revenue is forecast to grow at a 3.86% compounded annual rate from 2025 to 2029, slower than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Sources of revenue for private schools include tuition, private grants, donations, fundraisers, and income from endowments.
Industry Revenue
Private K-12 Schools
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
The average private K-12 school operates out of a single location, employs 10-26 workers and generates over $1 million in annual revenue.
- The private K-12 school industry consists of over 30,000 schools that educate over 4.7 million students and employ about 481,000 teachers, according to the National Center for Education Statistics Private School Universe Survey.
- Although tuition can vary significantly, average tuition is about $9,200 for elementary schools, $15,420 for secondary schools, and $15,550 for combined schools.
- The vast majority of K-12 private schools are nonprofit organizations.
- Most private schools are small institutions. About 61% of private schools have less than 150 students; 21% have between 150 and 299 students; 10% have between 300 and 499 students; and 8% have 500 students or more.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Private K-12 Schools Industry Growth
Source: Vertical IQ and Inforum
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