While it's easy to overlook the one in ten public school students who are English Learners, this community of over 5 million children—whose academic struggles and triumphs shape our nation's future—deserves far greater understanding and support.
Key Takeaways
- In fall 2020, about 4.7 million public school students, or 9.5% of all public school students in the United States, were identified as English learners (ELs)
- As of the 2018–19 school year, English language learners (ELLs) made up 10.1% of public K–12 enrollment, totaling roughly 5 million students
- Hispanic students accounted for 73% of all ELs enrolled in public K–12 schools in 2018–19
- The average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for ELs in 2019–20 was 64.3 percent, compared with 86.4 percent for non-EL students
- In 2018–19, the status dropout rate for ELs ages 16–24 was 19.6 percent, compared with 4.8 percent for non-EL students
- Fourth-grade EL students’ average NAEP mathematics score in 2022 was 215, 35 points lower than non-EL students’ score of 250
- Approximately 40% of U.S. teachers report lacking preparation to teach ELLs effectively
- ELLs are four times more likely to drop out of high school than native English speakers
- In 2020, 25% of ELLs experienced homelessness compared to 5% of non-ELLs
- In 2022, 1.1 million students were served under Title III for ELLs, funding $800 million
- 85% of districts offer ESL pull-out programs for ELLs
- Dual language immersion programs grew 300% from 2010-2020, serving 10% of ELLs
- 65% of ELs who reclassified as fluent had higher college enrollment rates of 70% vs. 50% ongoing ELs in 2020
- Former ELs had 85% high school graduation rate in 2019, compared to 65% current ELs
- ELLs who exit program earn 10% higher wages long-term
English learners face significant achievement gaps despite their growing population in schools.
Academic Performance
- The average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for ELs in 2019–20 was 64.3 percent, compared with 86.4 percent for non-EL students
- In 2018–19, the status dropout rate for ELs ages 16–24 was 19.6 percent, compared with 4.8 percent for non-EL students
- Fourth-grade EL students’ average NAEP mathematics score in 2022 was 215, 35 points lower than non-EL students’ score of 250
- In 2022, eighth-grade ELs’ average NAEP reading score was 227, 43 points lower than non-ELs’ 270
- ELs had lower average NAEP scores in 12th-grade reading in 2019: 238 vs. 291 for non-ELs
- In mathematics at grade 12, ELs averaged 106 on NAEP in 2019, 61 points below non-ELs’ 167
- ELs’ average score on NAEP grade 4 science in 2019 was 126, compared to 157 for non-ELs
- In 2019–20, the ACGR for ELs was 63.0%, 23 percentage points lower than non-ELs’ 86.0%
- EL high school students had a 28% proficiency rate in reading on state assessments in 2021, vs. 55% for non-ELs
- Math proficiency for grade 8 ELs was 12% in 2022 NAEP, compared to 34% for all students
- ELs in grade 4 reading NAEP 2022 scored at or above basic: 53%, vs. 74% non-ELs
- In 2019, 4th-grade ELs proficient in NAEP writing: 7%, vs. 27% non-ELs
- EL dropout rate was 7.8% in 2020, twice the national average of 3.9%
- Grade 8 EL science NAEP 2019: average 127 vs. 159 non-ELs
- ELs’ grade 12 NAEP civics score 2018: 138, 40 points below non-ELs’ 178
- In 2021-22, only 15% of ELLs met grade-level standards in ELA on state tests, vs. 45% non-ELLs
- EL math NAEP grade 8 proficient 2022: 8%, national 26%
- Chronic absenteeism among ELLs was 32% in 2021-22, higher than 22% for non-ELLs
- ELs scored 20-30 percentile points lower on standardized tests across subjects in 2020
- Grade 4 EL NAEP math 2022: 209 vs. 241 non-ELs
- EL high school GPA average 2.5 vs. 3.2 for non-ELs in 2019
- Only 41% of ELs passed algebra I on first try in 2021, vs. 70% non-ELs
- EL reading proficiency grade 3: 22% in 2022, national 40%
- Grade 12 EL history NAEP 2018: 101 vs. 143 non-ELs
- ELs suspended at 1.5 times rate of non-ELs, impacting academic performance, 15% vs. 10% in 2019
- In 2022, EL grade 8 reading below basic: 57%, vs. 27% all students
- EL postsecondary enrollment rate: 50% vs. 65% non-ELs immediately after high school in 2020
- Grade 4 EL writing NAEP proficient: 9% in 2019
- EL science grade 8 NAEP proficient 2019: 18%, vs. 41% non-ELs
- In 2021, 68% of ELs scored below proficient in math on state assessments
- ELs accounted for 10.6% of public school students but only 5% of Advanced Placement exam takers in 2021
Academic Performance Interpretation
Despite carrying the incredible potential of multilingualism, English Learners are being systematically failed by a system that, judging by the data, seems to believe that speaking another language is a learning disability rather than an asset.
Challenges Faced
- Approximately 40% of U.S. teachers report lacking preparation to teach ELLs effectively
- ELLs are four times more likely to drop out of high school than native English speakers
- In 2020, 25% of ELLs experienced homelessness compared to 5% of non-ELLs
- Only 29% of ELLs have access to certified ESL teachers daily
- ELLs face 2-3 years longer to reach proficiency due to interrupted education for immigrants
- 56% of ELLs live in poverty, compared to 18% of non-ELLs in 2021
- Language barriers cause 60% of ELLs to miss instructional time in core subjects
- ELLs are overrepresented in special education by 20%, often misdiagnosed due to language issues
- Remote learning during COVID led to 15-point larger NAEP score drops for ELLs
- 70% of ELLs report bullying related to language or accent
- Parental involvement is 40% lower for ELL families due to language barriers
- ELLs have 50% higher chronic absenteeism rates at 28% vs. 18% in 2022
- Only 20% of ELLs receive adequate sheltered instruction
- Mobility rates for ELLs are 25%, disrupting continuity twice that of non-ELLs
- 35% of ELLs have parents with limited English proficiency, hindering support
- ELLs face higher suspension rates: 10% vs. 6% non-ELLs in 2019
- Lack of bilingual materials affects 65% of ELLs in mainstream classes
- ELLs from low-income homes (67%) score 25 points lower on NAEP
- 45% of ELLs have disabilities misidentified due to language screening flaws
- Pandemic learning loss: ELLs regained only 60% of ELA losses by 2023
- 52% of rural ELLs lack ESL programs
- Cultural adjustment stress affects 80% of newcomer ELLs, leading to mental health issues
- ELLs underrepresented in gifted programs by 70%
- Transportation barriers impact 30% of ELL students daily
- 61% of ELL teachers report insufficient training time
- Legal immigrants' children still face 15% higher academic gaps due to prior trauma
- ELLs experience 2x higher rates of food insecurity at 38%
- Inadequate assessment tools misplace 40% of ELLs in wrong programs
- 75% of ELLs in high-poverty schools lack certified bilingual staff
- Refugee ELLs have 50% PTSD rates impacting focus
Challenges Faced Interpretation
This relentless cascade of systemic failures—from underprepared teachers and higher dropout rates to poverty, misdiagnosis, and the profound indignity of bullying—paints a stark portrait of a nation that teaches English learners more about hardship than language.
Demographics
- In fall 2020, about 4.7 million public school students, or 9.5% of all public school students in the United States, were identified as English learners (ELs)
- As of the 2018–19 school year, English language learners (ELLs) made up 10.1% of public K–12 enrollment, totaling roughly 5 million students
- Hispanic students accounted for 73% of all ELs enrolled in public K–12 schools in 2018–19
- In 2018–19, the states with the largest percentages of EL public K–12 students were California (19.3%), Texas (20.0%), New Mexico (16.8%), Nevada (14.8%), and Alaska (14.4%)
- During the 2018–19 school year, EL enrollment as a percent of total public K–12 enrollment ranged from less than 1% in West Virginia to 21.0% in California
- In 2019, approximately 21.1% of school-age children (ages 5–17) in the United States spoke a language other than English at home
- From 2010 to 2019, the percentage of public school students who were ELs increased from 9.2% to 10.1%
- In 2021, over 5 million students were classified as English learners, representing 10% of all K-12 public school students
- ELL students are more concentrated in elementary schools, comprising 12% of students in grades K-5 compared to 6% in high schools in 2020
- In 2019, 76% of ELLs were Spanish speakers, followed by 5% Arabic and 3% Chinese speakers
- Urban schools had 16% ELL enrollment in 2019, suburban 9%, rural 5%
- In 2022, New York City public schools had 14.5% ELL students, totaling over 120,000
- Asian/Pacific Islander students made up 12% of ELLs in public schools in 2018-19
- Black students comprised 8% of ELL public school enrollment in 2019
- In 2020, 25% of ELLs were in grades 9-12, but they were 10% of high school enrollment
- Female ELL students were 48.5% of total ELL enrollment in U.S. public schools in 2019
- In 2021, 1.1 million ELLs were recent immigrants (arrived within 3 years)
- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander ELLs were 1% of total ELLs in 2019
- In California, ELLs were 20.8% of K-12 enrollment in 2021-22
- Texas had 1.1 million ELLs in 2022, 20% of enrollment
- In 2019, 4.9% of ELLs were classified as "newcomers" (less than 1 year in U.S. schools)
- Multiracial ELL students were 2.5% of ELL enrollment in 2020
- In Florida, ELLs comprised 11.2% of public school students in 2022
- White ELL students made up 9% of total ELLs in 2019
- In 2021, 37% of ELLs were born in the U.S.
- Arizona public schools had 12.5% ELL enrollment in 2022, totaling 90,000 students
- In 2020, 15% of ELLs were enrolled in charter schools, higher than non-ELLs at 7%
- Nevada's Clark County had 25% ELL students in 2021
- In 2019, American Indian/Alaska Native ELLs were 3% of total ELLs
- Illinois had 15.3% ELL enrollment in Chicago public schools in 2022
- In fall 2019, ELs ages 5–20 numbered 5.0 million, representing 10.4% of students in that age range
Demographics Interpretation
While the national conversation often treats bilingualism as a special challenge, these numbers reveal it is actually a foundational and growing feature of the American classroom, concentrated in our youngest students and most populous states, demanding serious investment rather than peripheral concern.
Educational Programs
- In 2022, 1.1 million students were served under Title III for ELLs, funding $800 million
- 85% of districts offer ESL pull-out programs for ELLs
- Dual language immersion programs grew 300% from 2010-2020, serving 10% of ELLs
- Title I funds support 90% of ELLs in high-poverty schools
- 40 states mandate ESL certification, training 200,000 teachers by 2022
- Newcomer programs exist in 60% of large districts, serving 500,000 ELLs annually
- Bilingual education serves 15% of ELLs, improving reclassification by 20%
- Online ESL platforms reached 1 million ELLs during COVID via federal grants
- Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) used in 70% of ELL classrooms
- After-school tutoring for ELLs funded for 300,000 students in 2023
- 25% of ELLs in transitional bilingual programs, reclassify in 3-5 years
- Head Start serves 20,000 preschool ELLs with language support
- IDEA funds special ed for 15% of ELLs with language accommodations
- 50 states have ELL standards aligned to Common Core
- Summer bridge programs help 100,000 transitioning ELLs yearly
- Parental advisory councils in 80% of Title III districts engage ELL families
- Technology integration: 60% ELLs use adaptive software like Rosetta Stone
- Vocational ESL programs train 50,000 adult ELLs for workforce annually
- Co-teaching models pair ESL specialists with 70% mainstream teachers
- Early childhood ELL programs enroll 400,000 in biliteracy initiatives
- Federal ESSER funds allocated $10B for ELL recovery 2020-2024
- Push-in ESL services provided to 55% of ELLs in general ed classes
- Mentor programs pair 200,000 ELLs with bilingual peers
- State ELL consortia like WIDA assess 2.5 million students yearly
- Cultural competency training reaches 1 million educators for ELLs
- Community school models serve 30% urban ELLs with wraparound services
- Biliteracy seals awarded to 100,000 high school ELL graduates since 2010
- Mobile apps for ELL vocabulary used by 40% of programs
- Family literacy nights engage 500,000 ELL parents annually
- IB programs adapt for ELLs in 1,000 schools worldwide
- Reclassification rates improved 15% with data-driven ELL programs in 2022
Educational Programs Interpretation
We’ve seen a significant surge in investment and structural support for English Language Learners, yet the reality remains a complex tapestry where promising growth in dual-language programs and federal funding must still contend with the fact that the majority of ELLs are primarily served through traditional, segregated models like pull-out ESL, leaving us to wonder if we’re building bridges or just better silos.
Long-term Outcomes
- 65% of ELs who reclassified as fluent had higher college enrollment rates of 70% vs. 50% ongoing ELs in 2020
- Former ELs had 85% high school graduation rate in 2019, compared to 65% current ELs
- ELLs who exit program earn 10% higher wages long-term
- 40% of bilingual adults from ELL backgrounds access higher-paying jobs
- Reclassified ELs postsecondary enrollment: 62% vs. 42% never ELs in low-income groups
- Dual language program alumni have 25% higher biliteracy rates, leading to STEM careers
- Long-term ELs (7+ years) have 50% graduation rate, but exiters 80%
- ELL high school completers 75% pursue some college within 2 years
- Biliterate graduates earn Seal of Biliteracy, boosting resumes for 150,000 since 2012
- Former ELs have 15% lower dropout risk post-reclassification
- Adult ELL program completers have 30% higher employment rates
- U.S.-born ELLs achieve parity in earnings by age 30
- ESL college support leads to 55% degree completion for ELLs vs. 40% without
- Long-term outcomes show ELLs in dual programs 2x more likely college-ready
- Reclassified ELs NAEP scores match peers within 2 years
- 70% of exited ELs pass state proficiency exams on first retest
- ELL alumni leadership: 20% become educators serving new ELLs
- Economic mobility: ELL children of immigrants match natives by second generation
- Biliteracy correlates with 12% higher lifetime earnings
- Former LTELs (long-term ELs) with intervention graduate at 75%
- College persistence for reclassified ELs: 60% after 3 years
- ELL program success: 80% biliterate adults report career advantages
- High school EL exiters have ACT scores 3 points higher average
- Long-term: 45% of ELLs attain bachelor's by age 25, rising with support
- Immigrant ELLs' children have 90% citizenship rate, full access outcomes
- Vocational training ELLs: 85% employed within 6 months post-program
- Reclassified ELs less likely incarcerated: 5% vs. 12% ongoing ELs
- Dual immersion grads 30% more likely multilingual professionals
- Adult literacy ELL completers vote at 65% rate, civic engagement up
- ELL success stories: 25% become entrepreneurs by age 40
Long-term Outcomes Interpretation
These statistics reveal a compelling truth: mastering English unlocks doors, but nurturing native language creates a bridge to a future where former English Learners not only catch up but often leap ahead, proving that bilingualism is less a remedial program and more a strategic launchpad for economic mobility and civic contribution.
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