Religious school

A religious school is a school that either has a religious component in its operations or its curriculum, or exists primarily for the purpose of teaching aspects of a particular religion.

For children

A 2002 study in the United States found higher academic performance in children attending religious schools than those attending secular institutions, including when controlling for socioeconomic status.^[1]

A school can either be of two types, though the same word is used for both in some areas:^{[citation needed]}

Religious teaching

Institutions solely or largely for teaching a particular religion, often outside regular school

Cheder (Jewish)
Hebrew school (Jewish)
Madrasa (Muslim)
Sunday school (Christian)
Talmud Torah (Jewish)

General education

Institutions providing general education but run by a religious group, or in some way giving extra weight to a particular religion

Bais Yaakov (Jewish girls school)
Cathedral school (Christian)
Catholic school
Chabad (Jewish)
Christian school
Faith school UK term
Jewish day school
Lutheran school (Christian)
Madrasa (Muslim) also general education in some places
Parochial school USA in particular, former UK
Separate school Canada

For adults

Bible college (Christian)
Madrasa (Muslim)
Yeshiva (Jewish)

Sources

^ Jeynes, William H. (July 2002). "Educational Policy and the Effects of Attending a Religious School on the Academic Achievement of Children". Educational Policy. 16 (3): 406–424. doi:10.1177/08904802016003003. ISSN 0895-9048. Retrieved 2 February 2024.