Staff at the Maryland State Department of Education annually summarize the enrollment statistics for nonpublic schools in the state under state authorization. Each August, enrollment surveys are sent to nonpublic school systems registered with the state. In 1997, the response was 97.4%. The list of schools surveyed includes both accredited and church exempt entities serving children in prekindergarten through grade 12. It does not include schools providing only religious education, day care facilities, or children being home-schooled. The number of students in nonpublic schools continues to increase. There were 170,285 students reported in this year, compared with 165,690, an overall increase of 2.8%. The largest nonpublic school populations are in Montgomery and Baltimore counties, which together represent 43% of the total nonpublic enrollment. The following tables are included: (1) nonpublic school enrollment and graduates; (2) Catholic school enrollment and graduates; (3) non-Catholic school enrollment and graduates; (4) nonpublic school enrollment by grade; (5) Catholic school enrollment by grade; (6) non-Catholic school enrollment by grade; (7) nonpublic school enrollment; (8) graduates of nonpublic schools; (9) number of nonpublic schools; (10) number of Catholic schools; and (11) number of non-Catholic schools. (SLD)