A quantitative overview of the current South African independent schooling sector in presented in this study of 410 independent schools that dispels many prevalent myths about the schools. Presumptions that the sector is largely white and elitist are debunked by findings that historically disadvantaged learners currently constitute more than 70% of all learners and that more than 50% of all schools charge low to average fees. However, evidence also emerged of new forms of inequity in independent South African schools and of poor performance in certain sections of the independent sector.