Private school choice enrolment surges 25% in US: Can public schools survive the shift?

The US education system is undergoing a dramatic transformation. According to EdChoice, a pro-school choice advocacy group, private school choice enrolment surged by 25% in a single year, jumping from just over 1 million students in 2024 to 1.3 million in 2025.

This marks the largest year-over-year increase ever recorded and signals that parents are embracing alternatives to traditional public schools at unprecedented levels.

What’s behind the surge

The sharp rise is driven largely by the expansion of school voucher programs and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). ESAs allow families to use taxpayer-funded accounts for tuition, tutoring, or educational services outside the public system.

Once limited to low-income families or children with special needs, many programs have been restructured to cover all students, regardless of income.Some states have witnessed especially dramatic enrollment shifts. Arkansas nearly tripled its participation in just one year, while West Virginia’s numbers more than doubled between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years. Early-adopter private schools quickly adjusted, opening more seats to voucher-eligible families.

The promise of choice

Supporters argue that this surge shows families want more tailored educational opportunities. By expanding school choice, parents who once lacked financial access to private education can now choose schools that align better with their children’s needs. EdChoice surveys back this up: 60% of American parents say they would prefer private, charter, or homeschooling options if cost and access were not barriers.Advocates also note that competition could push public schools to innovate, while private schools gain new resources to serve a broader mix of students.

Rising criticism and equity concerns

Yet the expansion has sparked fierce opposition. Public school advocates argue that taxpayer money should first strengthen public schools, which are legally obligated to educate all students, including those with disabilities, English learners, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.Critics warn that private schools—many of them religious—retain the ability to select or reject applicants, raising concerns about exclusion and equity. Others point to a lack of transparency, since private schools are not bound by the same accountability standards or reporting requirements as public institutions.Legal battles are also mounting, with opponents challenging the constitutionality of public funds flowing to faith-based schools.

Can public schools withstand the shift?

Traditional public schools still enroll the vast majority—about 80% of U.S. students. But the pace of change raises questions about whether this dominance is sustainable. If more states continue to universalize school choice programs, the funding base for public schools could shrink, especially in rural and low-income districts where enrollment losses hit hardest.Another challenge lies in supply and capacity. While parental demand for private options is rising, the number of private schools and available seats may not grow fast enough to keep up.

Policymakers are already debating whether to loosen regulatory barriers to allow more nonpublic schools to open.

Looking ahead

The surge in private school choice marks a turning point in American education. For some, it represents long-overdue empowerment of families. For others, it threatens the financial stability and inclusive mission of public schools.As more states expand programs—and as federal policymakers consider national initiatives—the central question remains: Can public schools adapt and thrive alongside a rapidly growing private choice sector, or will this shift fundamentally reshape the future of American education?