Our nation is blessed by a rich diversity of private schools -- some rooted in religious traditions, some that provide intensive academic experiences, some that reflect a particular pedagogy, and some that are specialized for specific populations. These diverse schools and strong, often faith-based, communities help fulfill the American ideal of educational pluralism and collectively contribute to the common good.

Parochial Schools - Church-related schools, most commonly owned and operated by Catholic parishes or dioceses but also by Protestant denominations. Hebrew schools may also be termed parochial. The majority of the private schools in the United States are parochial schools. The academic curriculum at these schools is supplemented with required daily religious instruction and prayer. Teachers may be clergy or lay persons who may or may not be trained educators. Your child doesn't have to be Catholic to attend a parochial school, but she will still be required to attend religious education classes and prayer services.

Preparatory Schools - Prep schools are selective, academically challenging, and largely independent of state and local control. Yet, such controls, the primary, defining characteristics of public, government-operated (elementary and secondary) schools, have contributed to the private support, and growth, of prep schools, because said controls are viewed by prep school proponents as an unacceptable burden on schooling, education, and eventual university matriculation.  Parents of top-tier prep school students pay fees comparable to Ivy League university tuition. Among the principal benefits of prep schools is a very low student-to-teacher ratio, hence, smaller class sizes than in public schools. The tuition allows schools to hire highly-qualified teachers and retain them in tenure. These schools often have significant endowments financing scholarships permitting demographic heterogeneity.
Preparatory schools place a strong emphasis on sports

Montessori Schools - The Montessori philosophy is built upon the idea that children develop and think differently than adults; that they are not merely "adults in small bodies". Dr. Montessori advocated children's rights, children working to develop themselves into adults, and that these developments would lead to world peace.  the Montessori method's focus is on the individuality of each child, respecting their needs or talents as opposed to the needs of the class as a whole. A goal is to help the child maintain his or her natural joy of learning.

The Montessori method encourages independence and freedom with limits and responsibility. The youngest children are guided in practical life skills, e.g., domestic skills and manners. These skills are emphasized with the goal of increasing attention spans, hand-eye coordination, and tenacity. The Montessori Method states that satisfaction, contentment and joy result from the child feeling like a full participant in daily activities. Montessori education carried through the elementary and high school years follows the child's emerging tendency for peer-oriented interactions and still emphasizes that each student is the guardian of his or her own intellectual development.

Boarding Schools - A boarding school is a usually fee-paying school where some or all pupils not only study, but also live during term time, with their fellow students and possibly teachers. The word 'boarding' in this sense means to provide food and lodging.