Numbers to know
$9,582
Average annual private school tuition
20
Percentage of students in private schools who receive some need-based support
$2,000
Max amount that can be deposited tax-free into an education savings account each year until a child reaches age 18
1595 | 1662
Average SAT score of college-bound seniors in religious private and independent private schools, respectively (vs. 1474 for public school)
23.2
Average ACT score of graduates of private schools (vs. 20.8 for public school graduates)
83
Percentage of private school graduates who met or surpassed the ACT's college readiness benchmark score in English (vs. 60 percent of public school graduates)
60
Percentage of private school graduates who met or surpassed the ACT's college readiness benchmark score in math (vs. 44 percent of public school graduates)
67
Percentage of private scholarships won by students with above-average SAT and ACT test scores
2
Times as likely private school 10th-graders are to earn a bachelor's degree or higher than public school counterparts
2
Times as likely private school students are to give their school an "A"
80
Percentage of parents with students in private schools who are happy with the school (vs. 62 percent for even charter and magnet schools the parents chose)
Sources: Council for American Private Education, Private School Review, "Top Ten Myths about Scholarships," "Private School Scholarships: Top Sources for Financial Aid"