Independent schools are non-government schools that serve a variety of different communities. They include single-sex schools, co-educational schools, boarding schools, and small and large day schools. Some provide a religious-based education, while others may provide a more mainstream curriculum. In total, independent schools account for about one-third of all non-government schools.
Independent schools are different from most schools in that they are not supported by government financing. Instead, each operation is supported by tuition, charitable contributions, and endowment income. As a result, these schools are able to define and carry out their own mission and curriculum.