U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND IMPROVEMENT NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS JUNE 1991 STATISTICAL PROFILE OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES INCLUDES COMPARISONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS Contact: Marilyn Miles McMillen at 202-219-1754 Since 1852, when Massachusetts enacted the first compulsory school attendance law, two schooling traditionsone public, one private-have become mainstays in American education. A new statistical report from the National Center for Education Statistics provides an overview of basic private school data primarily for the school years 1980-81 through l985-86. PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES: A STATISTICAL PROFILE, WITH COMPARISONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, a baseline historical document, gives priority to those studies that either compare public and private schools or make it possible to compare several private school subgroups, or both. The report uses national data with sample sizes sufficient to draw reliable national estimates. The report has estimates and trends for private schools; number and characteristics of private school students, teachers, and other staff; curriculum, resources, and student outcomes; national data on parental choice; and a review of upcoming NCES private school research efforts. Highlights include: o In the mid-1980s, private elementary and secondary schools accounted for approximately 25 percent of all schools, between 12 and 13 percent of all students, and about 14 percent of all teachers in the United States. o During the first half of the 1980s, the number of private schools increased by 14 percent. o Eight out of 10 private schools had a religious orientation, and about 85 percent of all private school students attended schools with a religious orientation. o Catholic schools enrolled about 60 percent of all private school students. One interesting note: At least two-thirds of all secondary teachers in public and private schools indicated that their colleagues shared their beliefs and values on school mission, the school staff maintained high standards of performance, and cooperative effort existed among staff. Despite these shared appraisals, significantly fewer public than private school teachers gave good ratings on school spirit and a sense of familial bond within the school. Copies of Private Schools in the United States: A STATISTICAL PROFILE, WITH COMPARISONS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS are available from Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325. The stock number is 065-000-00441-1, and the price is $9.50. Please print out and complete the following form. GPO PUBLICATION ORDER FORM 1. PUBLICATION REQUESTED NAME: Private Schools in the United States: A Statitical Profile, With Comparisions to Public Schools GPO STOCK NUMBER: 065-000-00441-1 COST: $9.50 per copy NUMBER OF COPIES: 2. REQUESTOR INFORMATION (Please type or print) NAME: NAME OF ORGANIZATION: MAILING ADDRESS (include number, street, city, State, and zip code): DAYTIME PHONE (include area code): TOTAL COST OF ORDER IS $ (International customers please add an additional 25%.) All prices include regular domestic postage and handling. Please call Order and Information Desk at 202-783-3238 to verify prices, which are subject to change. 3. ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS To obtain a copy of this publication, complete the order form, and choose method of payment: [ ] Check payable to Superintendent of Documents [ ] GPO Deposit Account [ | | | | | | ]-[ ] [ ] VISA or [ ] MasterCard Account [ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ] -------------------------------------- --------------------------- Signature Credit Card Expiration date Mail to: Superintendent of Documents Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402-9325 Thank you for your order