Nonpublic Schools

At the beginning of the republic, there were no public schools as they are known today. All children were schooled either in private venues or at home. However, fairly early in the 19th century, publicly supported schools became common. While they were indeed public schools, religion with a Protestant flavor was much in evidence. In response, in the late 19th century, Roman Catholics developed their own schools where their children could be educated in settings conducive to their religious convictions. Eventually, Lutherans, Seventh Day Adventists, and congregations of other faith traditions followed suit. In addition, a variety of private and proprietary schools sprang up around the country. Today, it is estimated that 10% to 12% of children in the U.S. attend nonpublic schools. Some of ...