American private schools are different to those in the UK, in that they have been established to fulfil a multitude of particular educational needs. There is no 'typical' private school: some will cater for a religious minority, others will be expressly for the purpose of pushing their pupils on to university, others will be for students with learning difficulties.

Private school fees range from $20,000 to $26,000 per year for boarders, and between $10,000 and $15,000 for day pupils. The decision on whether or not to send your child to private school is quite often based on the area you live in rather than personal (or political) choice. There are elite private schools - particularly in Connecticut and Massachusetts - but private education is not generally a question of elitism: some parents will meet the fees of a private day school because they consider that the public schools in their area are not safe. When considering a private school it is essential to examine the particular goals of the school to decide if they are what you need.

The application process for day and boarding private schools is much the same as for the public schools. You must first establish that the school is eligible to issue the form I-20, and then apply to the school itself for details of academic requirements.

Many private secondary schools require the SSAT, the Secondary Schools Admissions Test. This is administered by the Educational Testing Service. It is held internationally in December and April: for more information and for application forms contact the Educational Advisory Service at the Fulbright Commission. It is advisable to begin the application process well in advance of the enrolment date in order to meet the school's application deadlines.