Private schools in the United States educate millions of children outside the public district system, and every state treats them a little differently. Our directory holds 26,737 listings, from Lodi Christian School in Acampo, California, to Yeshiva Gedola of South Monsey in Airmont, New York. This page explains who oversees these schools, how rules and costs change between states, and how to reach the right state page before you pick up the phone.

Who Oversees Private Schools in the United States

No single agency runs private schools nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education does not license, accredit or inspect them. Education is mainly a state responsibility. The Supreme Court's 1925 decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters confirmed that parents may choose a private school instead of a public one. States can still set reasonable standards for attendance, safety and basic instruction.

Federal involvement is narrow and mostly indirect. Nonprofit schools apply to the IRS for tax-exempt status. Federal civil rights laws apply to schools that accept federal funds. Some federal programs, including Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, require the local public school district to offer certain services to eligible students who attend private schools. Participating private schools can also join the National School Lunch Program. None of this amounts to federal approval of a school's teaching.

What State Education Departments Actually Do

The state education agency is usually the office that matters most. Its role falls into three broad patterns, and a school's state tells you which one applies.

Registration or reporting. The school files a form, and the state keeps a record without inspecting classrooms. California requires private schools to file an annual affidavit with the California Department of Education. Florida asks private schools to complete an annual survey with the Florida Department of Education. Filing a form is not the same as being reviewed.

State approval. Some states run a formal approval or recognition process. Maryland, home to St Joan of Arc School in Aberdeen, Harford County, uses the Maryland State Department of Education to approve many nonpublic schools. Approval usually means the school met written standards, so it carries more weight than a simple filing.

Voluntary accreditation. In Texas, the Texas Education Agency does not accredit private schools. Many Texas schools instead seek accreditation from private associations, and families rely on those reviews. Other states with light oversight work the same way, which puts more of the checking on you.

Counties and cities do not run private schools, but they still touch them. Local governments handle zoning, building permits and fire inspections. County health departments inspect school kitchens. Preschools and day cares usually answer to a separate state child care licensing agency. That is why our listings show a county for each school, such as Rockland County for the yeshiva in Airmont or DuPage County for Sunrise Montessori Academy in Addison, Illinois.

How Rules, Fees and Services Differ From State to State

Tuition is the first big difference. No government body sets private school tuition, so a parish school in one county may charge a fraction of what an independent prep school charges in the next. Schools usually add registration fees, books, uniforms, technology charges and lunch costs. Ask for the full fee schedule in writing, and ask when each payment is due and whether deposits are refundable.

State aid is the second difference. Several states help families pay through vouchers, education savings accounts or tax-credit scholarships. Florida has some of the largest scholarship programs in the country. Ohio has its EdChoice program, Pennsylvania has tax-credit scholarship programs, and Wisconsin's parental choice program began in Milwaukee in 1990. Texas lawmakers approved an education savings account program in 2025. Eligibility, income limits and school participation change often, so confirm details with your state education department before counting on any aid.

Compliance rules are the third difference. Immunization requirements usually apply to private school students, and exemption rules differ by state. Many states do not require private school teachers to hold a state teaching license, though individual schools often set their own standards. Compulsory attendance ages, required subjects and minimum days of instruction also vary. Most schools run safety drills and follow reporting duties, but the details are not uniform. A school that meets one state's rules may not match what another state expects.

Choosing the Right State Page and Reading a Listing

Start with the state where the school building is located, not where its mailing address points. The largest collections are Private Schools in California with 3,277 listings, Private Schools in New York with 1,768, Private Schools in Florida with 1,700, Private Schools in Pennsylvania with 1,618 and Private Schools in Illinois with 1,396. Smaller states have shorter lists, but every state page works the same way.

Town names repeat across the country, which causes mix-ups. Our database has an Aberdeen school in Harford County, Maryland (St Joan of Arc School), one in Grays Harbor County, Washington (St Mary's School), one in Moore County, North Carolina (Solid Rock Baptist Preschool) and one in Monmouth County, New Jersey (Home Away From Home Academy). Abbeville works the same way: J&M Day Care and Harvest Time Christian Academy share a town name but sit in different states. Always check the county and state before you drive anywhere.

The listings also cover many kinds of schools. You will find Catholic parish schools such as Sacred Heart School in Adams, Minnesota, and Lutheran schools such as Trinity Lutheran School in Alamosa, Colorado. Christian academies include Arlington Christian Academy in Akron, Ohio. There are Montessori programs, Bhaktivedanta Academy in Alachua, Florida, and small rural schools like Paradise School in Abbottstown, Pennsylvania. A few entries are preschools or day cares, so check the grade range before you call.

What to Bring and Mistakes to Avoid

Most schools ask for similar paperwork. Gather these items before your first visit:

  • Your child's birth certificate or other proof of age
  • Immunization records that match your state's requirements
  • Report cards or transcripts from the previous school
  • A copy of any IEP, 504 plan or recent evaluation
  • Proof of address and a parent photo ID
  • The application fee and any recommendation forms the school requests

Timing matters. Competitive independent schools often set application deadlines in winter for the following fall. Small parish and church schools frequently accept students on a rolling basis. Call early, ask about tours, and ask when the tuition contract becomes binding.

Several mistakes come up again and again. Families treat a directory listing as proof of approval, when a listing only shows that the school exists. They rely on an old phone number and never confirm the school is still open. They assume a school covers every grade, when some serve only preschool or the early years. They skip the accreditation question, or forget to tell the public district when they withdraw a child. A short phone call and one visit prevent most of these problems.

Finally, compare at least two schools in the same county. Ask each one about class size, teacher experience, special education support and how it handles discipline. The answers will tell you more than any website.

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Verifying a Private School Anywhere in the United States

Treat each listing as a starting point, not a verdict. An entry shows the school name, a street address or PO box, the town and county, and a phone number where one is available. Use that information to confirm the school is open, then check your state education department's records. The variety is wide. Ada Christian School sits in Ada, Kent County, Michigan. Cornerstone Christian School is in Albion, Noble County, Indiana, and Abby Free Church is in Abbotsford, Clark County, Wisconsin. Afton Christian School is in Afton, Nelson County, Virginia. In Texas, A Habitat For Learning in Abilene, Taylor County, is one of many entries on Private Schools in Texas. Ask about grade range, enrollment capacity and whether a church or a nonprofit board runs the school. Visit during school hours if you can.

No. The U.S. Department of Education does not accredit, license or rank private schools. States set the legal rules, and independent accrediting groups review academic quality on a voluntary basis. The federal government does appear in a few places. The IRS grants tax-exempt status to nonprofit schools, civil rights laws cover schools that receive federal funds, and programs such as Title I and IDEA direct public districts to provide limited services to private school students. If a school claims federal approval, ask which document supports that claim and who issued it.

Usually not by law. Accreditation is typically voluntary, although a few states run approval or recognition systems that work in a similar way. Schools that pursue accreditation often work with groups such as Cognia, or with associations tied to a faith or teaching method, like the Association of Christian Schools International or the American Montessori Society. Accreditation can help when a student transfers or applies to college, and some state programs consider it. Ask which body accredits the school, then check that body's website for current status. A small unaccredited school can still be excellent, but review its record more closely.

Start with your state education department's website and search for terms such as nonpublic schools, private school directory or private school registration. California and Florida, for example, collect annual filings from private schools through their education departments. If you cannot find the school online, call the department's nonpublic school office and ask. You can also ask the school for its registration or approval paperwork. Preschools and day cares are licensed by a separate agency, often a state human services or children and family department, so check there for those programs.

Tuition varies widely by state, grade level and school type. Parish and church-run schools often cost less than independent day schools, and boarding schools usually cost more. No government agency sets a standard rate. Ask for the full cost, including registration, books, uniforms, technology, transportation, lunch and activities. Many schools offer need-based aid, and applications often run through a third-party service with its own deadline. Some states also offer vouchers, education savings accounts or tax-credit scholarships. Rules change, so check your state education department's current information before assuming a program applies to you.

It depends on the school and your local district. Under IDEA, public districts must identify and evaluate children with disabilities who attend private schools within their boundaries, and they must spend a set share of federal funds on services for that group. However, a child placed in a private school by parents does not have the same individual right to services as a public school student. Share evaluations and any IEP or 504 plan early, ask what supports the school offers itself, and contact the special education office at your public district.

Use the state where the school building is located, because that state's registration records and rules apply to it. Then check the county on each listing, since town names repeat. Our Aberdeen entries alone fall in Maryland, Washington, North Carolina and New Jersey. If you plan to use a voucher or scholarship, ask whether your home state's program allows out-of-state schools, because many limit funds to in-state schools. Also confirm which state's attendance and immunization rules your child must follow, and compare commute times on a real map.

Rules differ by state. Many states do not require private school teachers to hold a state teaching license, so hiring standards are left to the school. Some states set requirements for approved or chartered schools. Many schools still hire certified teachers, and accrediting bodies set their own staffing expectations. Ask about the credentials of the teacher in your child's grade, how long teachers typically stay, and whether every employee and volunteer goes through a background check. A school should answer these questions plainly and without hesitation.