Picture a nation educating nearly 50 million children, yet facing a sobering reality where less than a quarter of its high school seniors are proficient in math and reading—this is the complex portrait of American education today.
Key Takeaways
- In fall 2021, about 49.6 million students were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
- Public school enrollment in the United States increased by 1% from fall 2020 to fall 2021, reaching 49.6 million students.
- In fall 2021, 15.2 million students were enrolled in public high schools (grades 9–12).
- In 2022, the average NAEP mathematics score for 4th-grade public school students was 236, not significantly different from 2019.
- 8th-grade NAEP math score averaged 274 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019.
- 12th-grade NAEP math score was 377 in 2022, down 7 points from 2019.
- In 2021-22, total expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools were $857 billion.
- Current expenditures per pupil in public schools averaged $14,347 in 2021-22.
- Total federal funding for K-12 education was $119 billion in FY 2022.
- In 2020-21, there were 3.2 million full-time-equivalent (FTE) public school teachers.
- 77% of public school teachers were female in 2020-21.
- Average age of public school teachers was 42 years in 2020-21.
- Adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 86% in 2019-20.
- ACGR for White students was 90% in 2019-20.
- Black students' ACGR was 80% in 2019-20.
American schools are becoming more diverse while student performance remains a pressing challenge.
Academic Performance and Testing
- In 2022, the average NAEP mathematics score for 4th-grade public school students was 236, not significantly different from 2019.
- 8th-grade NAEP math score averaged 274 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019.
- 12th-grade NAEP math score was 377 in 2022, down 7 points from 2019.
- 4th-grade NAEP reading score averaged 217 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019.
- 8th-grade NAEP reading score was 259 in 2022, down 3 points from 2019.
- 12th-grade NAEP reading score averaged 285 in 2022, down 2 points from 2019.
- 33% of 4th-graders performed at or above NAEP Proficient in math in 2022.
- 23% of 8th-graders scored at or above Proficient in math in 2022.
- 22% of 12th-graders were Proficient or above in math NAEP 2022.
- 33% of 4th-graders reached NAEP Proficient in reading in 2022.
- 31% of 8th-graders were Proficient or above in reading NAEP 2022.
- 31% of 12th-graders scored Proficient or above in reading in 2022.
- PISA 2018 U.S. average math score was 478, below OECD average of 489.
- U.S. PISA reading score averaged 505 in 2018, above OECD average of 487.
- PISA science score for U.S. was 502 in 2018, above OECD average of 489.
- TIMSS 2019 4th-grade math average was 535 for U.S., above international average.
- U.S. 8th-grade TIMSS math score was 515 in 2019, above center point.
- PIRLS 2021 U.S. 4th-grade reading score was 549 internationally comparable.
- SAT average total score was 1050 in 2022, down from 1060 in 2021.
- ACT composite average score was 19.8 in 2022 for graduates.
- AP exam participation reached 2.8 million in 2022.
- 63% of AP exams scored 3 or higher in 2022.
- NAEP 2022 showed 26-point Black-White gap in 4th-grade math.
- Hispanic-White 4th-grade math gap was 22 points in NAEP 2022.
- 8th-grade math NAEP gap between high/low poverty schools was 40 points in 2022.
Academic Performance and Testing Interpretation
In America's education report card, while fourth-graders are stubbornly holding the line, their older siblings are backsliding, proficiency levels remain distressingly anemic, and the persistent, gaping chasms in achievement scream that our system excels mostly at sorting children rather than teaching them.
Graduation Rates and Post-Secondary Outcomes
- Adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 86% in 2019-20.
- ACGR for White students was 90% in 2019-20.
- Black students' ACGR was 80% in 2019-20.
- Hispanic ACGR reached 83% in 2019-20.
- Asian/Pacific Islander ACGR was 94% in 2019-20.
- Students with disabilities had 73% ACGR in 2019-20.
- English learners' ACGR was 68% in 2019-20.
- 4-year ACGR increased from 79% in 2010-11 to 86% in 2019-20.
- Extended 5-year ACGR was 88% for class of 2020.
- 62% of high school completers in 2021 had taken a math course beyond Algebra II.
- 54% had completed calculus by high school graduation in 2021.
- Immediate college enrollment rate for 2021 high school graduates was 62%.
- 42% enrolled in 4-year institutions immediately after high school in 2021.
- 6-year completion rate for first-time full-time bachelor's students was 64% in 2017 cohort.
- 40% of students at public 4-year colleges completed in 4 years (2017 cohort).
- Student loan default rate within 3 years was 7.3% for 2018 cohort.
- 59% of 25- to 34-year-olds held at least an associate's degree in 2022.
- Bachelor's degree attainment for 25-34 was 40% in 2022.
- Associate's degree holders earned median $48,800 annually in 2022.
- Bachelor's degree median earnings were $65,700 in 2022.
- Unemployment rate for high school graduates (no college) was 5.5% in 2022.
- College graduates' unemployment was 2.2% in 2022.
Graduation Rates and Post-Secondary Outcomes Interpretation
The nation’s educational ladder is getting taller and more people are climbing it, but the rungs are worryingly uneven and the view from the top remains a privilege, not a promise.
School Funding and Expenditures
- In 2021-22, total expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools were $857 billion.
- Current expenditures per pupil in public schools averaged $14,347 in 2021-22.
- Total federal funding for K-12 education was $119 billion in FY 2022.
- State sources provided 47% of public school revenues in 2021-22.
- Local governments funded 44% of public school revenues in 2021-22.
- Employee benefits accounted for 24% of current expenditures in 2021-22.
- Salaries made up 47% of current expenditures per pupil in 2021-22.
- Instruction was 60% of current expenditures in public schools 2021-22.
- Support services were 29% of current expenditures in 2021-22.
- Capital outlay spending per pupil was $1,838 in 2021-22.
- Interest on debt was 4% of total expenditures in 2021-22.
- New York spent $25,139 per pupil in 2021-22, highest among states.
- Idaho spent $9,387 per pupil, lowest in 2021-22.
- Title I funding totaled $18.4 billion for low-income schools in FY 2022.
- IDEA funding for special education was $13.6 billion federally in FY 2022.
- Public school revenue from property taxes was 37% in 2021-22.
- Private school tuition and fees averaged $12,350 in 2021-22.
- Pandemic relief funding added $190 billion to K-12 via ESSER funds 2020-2022.
- 80% of ESSER funds spent on learning loss recovery by 2023.
- Average teacher salary in public schools was $69,544 in 2021-22.
- Pupil-teacher ratio in public schools was 15.4 to 1 in 2021-22.
School Funding and Expenditures Interpretation
The sobering math of American education reveals we're spending over $14,000 per student—a sum whose generous headline belies a system strained by inequity, dependent on local property taxes, and where 71 cents of every dollar is consumed by staff and support services before a single textbook is bought.
Student Enrollment and Demographics
- In fall 2021, about 49.6 million students were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States.
- Public school enrollment in the United States increased by 1% from fall 2020 to fall 2021, reaching 49.6 million students.
- In fall 2021, 15.2 million students were enrolled in public high schools (grades 9–12).
- Private school enrollment totaled 5.7 million students in fall 2021, representing 10% of total elementary and secondary enrollment.
- From fall 2010 to fall 2021, public school enrollment increased by 1% overall, but decreased in prekindergarten by 16%.
- In fall 2021, 22% of public school students attended schools in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois combined.
- Hispanic students made up 27% of public school enrollment in fall 2021, up from 22% in fall 2011.
- White students accounted for 45% of public school enrollment in fall 2021, down from 51% in fall 2011.
- Black students comprised 15% of public school enrollment in fall 2021.
- Asian/Pacific Islander students were 5% of public school enrollment in fall 2021.
- In 2021, 22% of public school students were children of two or more races, up from 3% in 2011.
- English learners represented 10% of public K–12 students in fall 2021, about 5.0 million students.
- Students with disabilities were 15% of public school enrollment in fall 2021, or 7.5 million students.
- In 2020-21, 5.7% of public school students attended charter schools.
- Total preprimary enrollment (nursery/preschool and kindergarten) was 4.3 million in 2021.
- In 2021, 55% of 3- to 6-year-olds not yet in kindergarten were enrolled in nursery or preschool.
- College enrollment for 18- to 24-year-olds dropped to 40% in 2021 from 42% pre-pandemic.
- Undergraduate enrollment declined by 2.9 million from 2019 to 2021.
- In 2021-22, 15.4 million students were enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions.
- Female undergraduate enrollment was 57% in fall 2021.
- Black students were 13% of undergraduate enrollment in 2021.
- Hispanic students reached 20% of undergraduate enrollment in fall 2021.
- In 2021, 36% of recent high school completers enrolled immediately in 4-year colleges.
- Public 2-year college enrollment was 4.7 million in fall 2021.
- In fall 2021, 72% of public school students attended traditional public schools, 10% charter schools.
- Rural areas had 19% of public school enrollment in 2021.
- In 2020-21, average public school size was 525 students.
- Dropout rate for public high school students was 5.1% in 2020.
- Status dropout rate for 16- to 24-year-olds was 5.2% in 2021.
- Event dropout rate in grades 9–12 was 4.7% in 2019–20.
Student Enrollment and Demographics Interpretation
American education is a portrait of precarious stability, where a 1% overall enrollment uptick masks dramatic demographic shifts, a troubling drop in college attendance, and the quiet crisis of disappearing pre-K seats, suggesting a system simultaneously full, changing, and fraying at the edges.
Teacher Statistics and Workforce
- In 2020-21, there were 3.2 million full-time-equivalent (FTE) public school teachers.
- 77% of public school teachers were female in 2020-21.
- Average age of public school teachers was 42 years in 2020-21.
- 90% of public school teachers held a regular or standard state teaching certificate in 2020-21.
- 8% of public school teachers were in their first year in 2020-21.
- Turnover rate among public school teachers was 12% in 2021-22.
- 42% of public schools reported teacher shortages in 2022-23.
- Special education teachers numbered 373,000 FTE in 2020-21.
- 56% of public school teachers have a master's degree or higher.
- White teachers were 78% of public school staff in 2020-21.
- Black teachers comprised 7% of public school teachers in 2020-21.
- Hispanic teachers were 9% of the public school workforce in 2020-21.
- Average public school principal salary was $98,420 in 2020-21.
- 54% of new teachers leave within 5 years.
- 23% of teaching vacancies were in special education in 2022.
- Private school teachers numbered 506,000 in 2021-22.
- 44% of public school teachers felt unprepared for online teaching in 2020-21.
- National Board Certified Teachers numbered 118,000 in 2022.
- Pupil-teacher ratio dropped from 16.0 in 2011 to 15.4 in 2021.
Teacher Statistics and Workforce Interpretation
While America's classrooms are staffed by a predominantly female, highly credentialed, and increasingly older workforce, the system is buckling under a turnover crisis, acute shortages, and a glaring lack of racial diversity, all of which threaten to erode the educational foundation we're asking these overstretched professionals to build.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2REPORTSreports.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 3ACTact.orgVisit source
- Reference 4APCENTRALapcentral.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 5EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 6LEARNINGPOLICYINSTITUTElearningpolicyinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 7NBPTSnbpts.orgVisit source
- Reference 8EDed.govVisit source