New Study Confirms That Private Schools Are No Better Than Public Schools
Introduction
Many parents still wonder: Are private schools truly better than public ones? A wave of new evidence from 2025 challenges that notion. This updated review keeps the original structure while integrating fresh insights鈥攆rom outcomes and tuition to equity and policy trends.
What Do Test Scores Actually Show?
While private schools often report higher raw test scores, this advantage largely disappears鈥攐r reverses鈥攚hen adjustments are made for demographic differences like socioeconomic status. In effect, students鈥 backgrounds, not schooling type, are the strongest predictor of performance. () ()
Other analyses confirm similar findings: after controlling for factors like income and parental education, public schools often outperform private schools, reflecting the continued myth of private-school superiority. ()
Enrollment Trends & Tuition Snapshot
Private schools serve about 10% of U.S. K鈥12 students, with enrollment holding steady around 5.5 million. ()
The typical private school enrolls just 176 students, compared to far larger public schools. ()
Average private tuition stands between $12,000 and $16,000 per year, depending on region and school type. (,)
These figures underscore how private schooling remains a premium option鈥攕mall, selective, and often less diverse than the broader public system.
Choice Policy & the Private Sector Trend
Private school enrollment is growing modestly due to expanded educational choice policies. For example:
In Iowa, new education savings account (ESA) programs have enabled 4,500 to 5,600 students to switch to private schools鈥攎any of whom otherwise wouldn鈥檛 have had access. ()
Texas enacted the largest universal voucher program in 2025, allocating $1 billion over two years for students to attend private schools鈥攔aising critical questions about the impact on public funding and equity. ()
Despite this expansion, research remains clear: choice doesn鈥檛 guarantee better academic outcomes, and broad performance gains are not evident statewide. ()
Equity: Who Benefits from Private Schools?
Private schools skew less diverse: White students are overrepresented, while Black and Hispanic students are underrepresented compared to public schools. ()
Policy expansions like ESAs risk exacerbating this divide. As studies show, early participants often come from higher-income families, limiting equity gains. (,)
Key Takeaways
| Insight | Implication for Families & Educators |
|---|---|
| No consistent academic advantage | Public schools perform just as well when controlling for demographics. |
| Higher costs, limited access | Private schooling is selective, costly, and often less diverse. |
| Growth via policy, not performance | Voucher programs are expanding, but better outcomes are not guaranteed. |
| Equity remains a concern | Private schools reflect broader socio-economic disparities. |
For practical comparisons鈥攍ike how public and private school resources, teacher ratios, or extracurricular offerings stack up鈥攕ee related analysis at PublicSchoolReview.com.
To explore how choice programs affect postsecondary success and accountability models, visit.
For authoritative federal data on enrollment, spending, and school demographics, the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 National Center for Education Statistics remains the gold standard source.
Conclusion
Despite persistent public belief in private school superiority, the 2025 evidence offers a different picture: Private schools aren't academically better, and often highlight entrenched inequities. While private options can benefit some, public schools continue to educate the vast majority effectively鈥攁nd equitably鈥攚ith appropriate resources and support.
