Posted 12:41 PM by Susan Darst Williams

PRIVATE ED: BUSTING THE STEREOTYPES

Nebraska boasts 224 private schools in 91 communities, according to the Nebraska Education Directory published by the State Education Department. The state reports that 41,185 children are in private, parochial and homeschools across the state.

So much for the myth of private-schooling being exotic and inaccessible.

According to the Nebraska Federation of Catholic School Parents, private, parochial and homeschooling families save Nebraska taxpayers more than $250 million a year since they do not have their children enrolled in the ''free'' public schools.

So much for the myth that private-schoolers aren't community-minded and team-spirited.

According to the 2003-04 enrollment reports to the Nebraska Education Department by grade, race and gender, 10.6 percent of the children being educated in private-sector settings are African-American, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaska Native, or Asian/Pacific Islander. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, that's just about the same ratio as the overall population.

So much for the myth that private schools exclude racial minorities. In comparison, Nebraska's public schools are 20.5 percent minority, the reports show.