A private academy is an educational institution that is not funded by the government and charges fees for tuition. Other synonyms for private academy include independent school, prep school, boarding school, and non-public school. Independent schools have their own governing boards and are not affiliated with any religion or other organization. Prep schools are often high-quality private schools that prepare students for college or university. Boarding schools provide students with a residential option and are located on campus. Non-public schools refer to schools that are not publicly funded or supported by the government. All these synonyms relate to schools that provide excellent education with less interference from outside sources.