Comparative analysis of public and private secondary school education systems in the United States

Research Article
Open access

Comparative analysis of public and private secondary school education systems in the United States

Anni Lin 1*
  • 1 University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada    
  • *corresponding author Annielam1225@gmail.com
JEEPS Vol.3 Issue 2
ISSN (Print): 3049-7256
ISSN (Online): 3049-7248

Abstract

The American secondary education system is defined by a distinctive dual-track structure, where public and private high schools operate in parallel. These two systems demonstrate significant disparities in their governance and funding structures. These structural differences not only influence the experience and formation processes of the student but also have extensive implications for the achievement of educational equity and resource allocation. This research compares public and private high schools in the United States with three dimensions: analyzing teacher characteristics, student demographics, and curricula approaches, using National Centre for Education Statistics (NCES) data and academic research to explore key differences and their causes. These findings illustrate three key differences between educational systems. First, teacher certification and professional autonomy differ significantly, with public schools emphasizing formal standardized requirements and private schools offering more flexibility. Second, student demographics and academic outcomes differ, as public schools serve more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, whereas private schools often have higher academic performance because of higher socioeconomic factors. Third, curriculum and assessment approaches diverge, as public schools focus on strict accountability and standardization, while private schools emphasize more operational autonomy and offer specialized curricula tailored to specific educational philosophies or student needs.

Keywords:

private vs public high schools in United States, educational system, curricular approaches

Lin,A. (2025). Comparative analysis of public and private secondary school education systems in the United States. Journal of Education and Educational Policy Studies,3(2),84-87.
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References

[1]. Azimi, E., Friesen, J., & Woodcock, S. (2023). Private schools and student achievement. Education Finance and Policy, 18(4), 623–653. https://doi.org/10.1162/edfp_a_00405

[2]. Allegretto, S., & Tojerow, I. (2014). Teacher staffing and pay differences: Public and private schools. Monthly Labor Review, 9, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.21916/MLR.2014.33

[3]. Ballou, D., & Podgursky, M. (1998). Teacher recruitment and retention in public and private schools. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 17, 393-417. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6688(199822)17:3<393::AID-PAM2>3.0.CO;2-B

[4]. Chambers, J. G. (1985). Patterns of compensation of public and private school teachers. Economics of Education Review, 4(4), 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(85)90014-7

[5]. COE 2024 At a Glance. (n.d.). The condition of education 2024 at a glance. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/ataglance

[6]. Etim, J. S., Etim, A., & Blizard, Z. (2022). Economically disadvantaged, incoming readiness and school achievement: Implications for building high-performing and effective schools. Education Sciences, 12(8), 558. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12080558

[7]. Goldring, R., Taie, S., & Riddles, M. (2023). Teacher preparation and professional development: A national perspective. Educational Researcher, 52(4), 234-248. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X23456789

[8]. Imig, S., Koziol, S., Pilato, V., & Imig, D. (2009). Teacher certification and credentials: From a focus on qualification to a commitment to performance. In L. J. Saha & A. G. Dworkin (Eds.), International Handbook of Research on Teachers and Teaching (pp. 141-157). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73317-3_9

[9]. James, J. (2021). New assessments and teacher accountability: Lessons for teachers’ practice. American Educational Research Journal, 59, 252 -283. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312211024596

[10]. Logan, J. R., & Burdick-Will, J. (2017). School segregation and disparities in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 674(1), 199-216.

[11]. Monto, M., & Dahmen, J. (2009). College success among students graduating from public and private high schools. Journal of School Choice, 3, 307 - 312. https://doi.org/10.1080/15582150903280698

[12]. Murnane, R., & Reardon, S. (2018). Long-term trends in private school enrollments by family income. AERA Open, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858417751355

[13]. National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). Digest of education statistics 2021. U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

[14]. Reardon, S. F., & Owens, A. (2014). 60 years after Brown: Trends and consequences of school segregation. Annual Review of Sociology, 40, 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043152

[15]. Raskoff, S., & Sundeen, R. (1999). Community service programs in high schools. Law and Contemporary Problems, 62, 73-112. https://doi.org/10.2307/1192268

[16]. Stearns, E., & Glennie, E. (2010). Opportunities to participate: Extracurricular activities’ distribution across and academic correlates in high schools. Social Science Research, 39, 296-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SSRESEARCH.2009.08.001

[17]. Videobypro. (2021, April 17). Private school vs public school. JAG Consulting. https://jagconsultingservices.com/private-school-vs-public-school/

[18]. Walton, N. (2010). The price of admission: Who gets into private school, and how much do they pay? Economics of Education Review, 29(5), 738–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2010.04.004

[19]. Warne, R. T. (2017). Research on the academic benefits of the Advanced Placement Program: Taking stock and looking forward. SAGE Open, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016682996

Cite this article

Lin,A. (2025). Comparative analysis of public and private secondary school education systems in the United States. Journal of Education and Educational Policy Studies,3(2),84-87.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Journal：Journal of Education and Educational Policy Studies

Volume number: Vol.3
Issue number: Issue 2
ISSN：3049-7248(Print) / 3049-7256(Online)

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References

[1]. Azimi, E., Friesen, J., & Woodcock, S. (2023). Private schools and student achievement. Education Finance and Policy, 18(4), 623–653. https://doi.org/10.1162/edfp_a_00405

[2]. Allegretto, S., & Tojerow, I. (2014). Teacher staffing and pay differences: Public and private schools. Monthly Labor Review, 9, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.21916/MLR.2014.33

[3]. Ballou, D., & Podgursky, M. (1998). Teacher recruitment and retention in public and private schools. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 17, 393-417. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6688(199822)17:3<393::AID-PAM2>3.0.CO;2-B

[4]. Chambers, J. G. (1985). Patterns of compensation of public and private school teachers. Economics of Education Review, 4(4), 291–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-7757(85)90014-7

[5]. COE 2024 At a Glance. (n.d.). The condition of education 2024 at a glance. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/ataglance

[6]. Etim, J. S., Etim, A., & Blizard, Z. (2022). Economically disadvantaged, incoming readiness and school achievement: Implications for building high-performing and effective schools. Education Sciences, 12(8), 558. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12080558

[7]. Goldring, R., Taie, S., & Riddles, M. (2023). Teacher preparation and professional development: A national perspective. Educational Researcher, 52(4), 234-248. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X23456789

[8]. Imig, S., Koziol, S., Pilato, V., & Imig, D. (2009). Teacher certification and credentials: From a focus on qualification to a commitment to performance. In L. J. Saha & A. G. Dworkin (Eds.), International Handbook of Research on Teachers and Teaching (pp. 141-157). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73317-3_9

[9]. James, J. (2021). New assessments and teacher accountability: Lessons for teachers’ practice. American Educational Research Journal, 59, 252 -283. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312211024596

[10]. Logan, J. R., & Burdick-Will, J. (2017). School segregation and disparities in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 674(1), 199-216.

[11]. Monto, M., & Dahmen, J. (2009). College success among students graduating from public and private high schools. Journal of School Choice, 3, 307 - 312. https://doi.org/10.1080/15582150903280698

[12]. Murnane, R., & Reardon, S. (2018). Long-term trends in private school enrollments by family income. AERA Open, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858417751355

[13]. National Center for Education Statistics. (2021). Digest of education statistics 2021. U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/

[14]. Reardon, S. F., & Owens, A. (2014). 60 years after Brown: Trends and consequences of school segregation. Annual Review of Sociology, 40, 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043152

[15]. Raskoff, S., & Sundeen, R. (1999). Community service programs in high schools. Law and Contemporary Problems, 62, 73-112. https://doi.org/10.2307/1192268

[16]. Stearns, E., & Glennie, E. (2010). Opportunities to participate: Extracurricular activities’ distribution across and academic correlates in high schools. Social Science Research, 39, 296-309. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SSRESEARCH.2009.08.001

[17]. Videobypro. (2021, April 17). Private school vs public school. JAG Consulting. https://jagconsultingservices.com/private-school-vs-public-school/

[18]. Walton, N. (2010). The price of admission: Who gets into private school, and how much do they pay? Economics of Education Review, 29(5), 738–750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2010.04.004

[19]. Warne, R. T. (2017). Research on the academic benefits of the Advanced Placement Program: Taking stock and looking forward. SAGE Open, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016682996

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