The number of private schools increased from 76 schools in 2011 to 102 schools in 2024, with 57 non-profit and 45 for-profit upper secondary schools in Norway in 2024. The number of private school pupils increased by 37 per cent from 2011 to 2024, while the number of pupils in public schools increased by only 2 per cent during the same period. Among private upper secondary schools, denominational schools were the most common each year throughout the period.
In 2024, the counties of Vestland, Rogaland and Oslo had the highest number of private schools, with the most non-profit schools in Vestland and the most for-profit schools in Oslo. In 2024, there were no elite sports schools in the least central municipalities, and all for-profit elite sports schools were in the most central, second most central and above medium central municipalities.
Among private school pupils attending for-profit schools in 2024, 81 per cent were enrolled in specialization in general studies. The corresponding proportion in non-profit schools was 57 per cent and 44 per cent in public schools. There was a higher proportion of female pupils in private upper secondary schools, with for-profit schools maintaining the highest share of women throughout the period 2011–2024. Vocational schools had the highest proportion of male pupils across all types of ownership, while combined and academic-preparatory schools had a predominance of women. For private for-profit schools, the proportion of pupils 25 years and older was the lowest (2 per cent in 2024), compared with 4 per cent among both non-profit and public school pupils. Vocational schools had the highest proportion of pupils over 25 across all types of ownership in 2024, with private for-profit schools having 16 per cent.
The average lower secondary score points were slightly higher in private upper secondary schools compared to public schools. In 2011, the mean score points in public schools were 39.8, compared with 42.3 points in non-profit schools and 42.6 points in for-profit schools. The corresponding figures for 2024 were 42.5 points mean score in public schools, 43.8 points in non-profit schools, and 46.0 points in for-profit schools. Elite sports schools had the highest mean score points throughout the period from 2011 to 2024.
Among five selected municipalities (Oslo, Stavanger, Trondheim, Bergen, and Fredrikstad), Oslo had the highest proportion of pupils with parents holding higher education degrees in private schools in 2024. Private schools in Oslo had the highest proportion of pupils in the 5th income quintile (highest household income) in 2024. Public schools had the highest proportion of pupils with an immigrant background in 2024.
In 2024, 74 per cent of employees at for-profit schools and 59 per cent at non-profit schools worked as teachers. There was a larger proportion of teachers working in public schools who had formal teacher education, compared to teachers at non-profit as well as for-profit schools. Among private schools, elite sports schools had the highest proportion of teachers with formal teacher education in 2024. The proportion of teachers under 30 was highest at for-profit schools in 2024, and elite sports schools had the highest proportion of teachers under the age of 50. There was a predominance of female teachers in both 2015 and 2024, with the highest per cent of women in 2024 among non-profit elite sports schools.
