The Top Metropolitan Areas for Private School Enrollment

As an expert in the field of education, I have always been fascinated by the distribution of private schools across the United States. Private schools, which represent 25 percent of the country's schools and enroll 10 percent of all PK-12 students, play a significant role in our education system. However, discussions about funding public schools rarely include private school enrollment. This led me to wonder: which state has the most private schools?After conducting extensive research and analysis, I have compiled a list of the top 10 metropolitan areas for private school enrollment.

Interestingly, many of these areas have a strong Catholic influence, with New Orleans taking the top spot.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Located in the heart of the French-influenced “New World”, New Orleans is home to some of the most important Catholic educational institutions in the country. With schools like Ursulines and Xavier University, it's no surprise that more than 13,000 students are enrolled in private high schools in this city.

Wilmington, Delaware

Wilmington may be a small city, but it boasts an impressive number of private schools – 60 to be exact. Most of these schools have a religious affiliation, with Roman Catholic and Christian being the most common. However, only 19 percent of students belong to racial or ethnic minorities, slightly lower than the state average.

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland has over 100 private schools, with Roman Catholic and Jewish schools being the most prevalent.

Surprisingly, minority enrollment in these schools is higher than Ohio's overall state average at 26 percent. One notable institution in Cleveland is Western Reserve Academy, a prestigious boarding and day school with strong ties to Case Western Reserve University – the best university in Ohio according to U. S. News and World Report.

St. Louis, Missouri

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, St.

Louis is known as the “gateway to the west”. This city has approximately 200 private schools serving 44,000 students. The majority of these schools have a religious affiliation, with Roman Catholic and Lutheran being the most common. One of the most notable private schools in St. Louis is St.

Louis University, a Catholic and Jesuit university that is ranked as one of the best research schools in the country.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Hawaii may be a small state, but it has an impressive number of private schools – over 90 to be exact. Honolulu, the capital city, is home to many of these schools and maintains its place on this top 10 list as one of the richest metropolitan areas with private high school enrollment. One of the most famous private schools in Honolulu is Punahou School, which counts former President Barack Obama among its alumni.

The Importance of Private Schools

Private schools play a significant role in our education system, with 5.7 million PK-12 students enrolled in over 34,000 private schools across the country. These students come from wealthier families on average compared to public school students. As an expert, I believe it's important to recognize and acknowledge the impact of private schools on our education system. While discussions about funding public schools are crucial, we must also consider the role that private schools play in providing quality education to students.