NAIS represents 1,009 independent private schools in the United States in addition to 91 English-speaking schools in other countries. On average, NAIS member schools in the U.S. receive over 1,000 inquiries about admission each year and 30 percent of those who inquire actually file an application. Of those who apply, half are accepted. Seventy percent of those accepted choose to enroll. Those deciding to apply for the following fall generally complete their applications by January or February and schools send letters of acceptance in mid-March.
Families then have approximately one month to make their decisions.
NAIS member schools have grown steadily over the years and last year was no exception. Independent schools vary in size about 200 schools have fewer than 200 students and a similar number have more than 700 students. The median enrollment at an NAIS school is 403 students, up from a 1989-1990 median of 330. NAIS schools in the U.S. enrolled 476,349 students in 1999-2000. Since new schools join the association each year, enrollment trend data is based on a consistent sample of member schools in order that the figures fairly and accurately reflect market trends.