High School Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

High School Statistics

Graduation and academic outcomes keep climbing while participation and readiness metrics reveal sharp gaps, from an 87% national graduation rate in 2022 to SAT and AP results that test how prepared students feel when school life turns demanding. You will also see the less visible side of high school, including chronic absenteeism rising to 42% in 2021 to 22 and mental health, discipline, and safety indicators that help explain why numbers alone do not capture the full experience.

125 statistics6 sections10 min readUpdated today

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

In 2022, the national adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 87%, up from 79% in 2010-11.

Statistic 2

White students had an ACGR of 90% in 2021-22, compared to 82% for Black students.

Statistic 3

Hispanic high school students' ACGR reached 88% in 2021-22, a 14-point increase since 2011-12.

Statistic 4

Students with disabilities had an ACGR of 72% in 2021-22, improving from 61% a decade prior.

Statistic 5

English learners' ACGR was 68% in 2021-22, up from 59% in 2011-12.

Statistic 6

In 2022, 66% of public high school students took the SAT, with an average score of 1057.

Statistic 7

In 2023, 1.9 million students took AP exams, with 63% scoring 3 or higher.

Statistic 8

Advanced Placement participation rate among public high school graduates was 39% in 2022.

Statistic 9

In 2022, 92% of AP U.S. History exam takers scored 1-5, with 11% earning a 5.

Statistic 10

NAEP 12th-grade reading proficiency was 37% at or above proficient in 2019, down from 40% in 2015.

Statistic 11

Math NAEP scores for 12th graders averaged 150 in 2022, with 26% proficient or above.

Statistic 12

In 2021-22, 85% of high school seniors planned to pursue postsecondary education.

Statistic 13

Average GPA for public high school students was 3.0 in 2019, per self-reported surveys.

Statistic 14

STEM course enrollment in high schools reached 35% of students in advanced math by 2021.

Statistic 15

In 2023, 57% of high school graduates met all four ACT college readiness benchmarks.

Statistic 16

IB Diploma pass rate for U.S. high school students was 80% in May 2023.

Statistic 17

In 2022, 24% of 12th graders scored proficient in NAEP science.

Statistic 18

Dual enrollment participation tripled to 1.4 million high school students by 2020.

Statistic 19

In 2021, average PSAT score for 11th graders was 1010.

Statistic 20

High school courseload averaged 7.2 credits per year in 2019.

Statistic 21

ACT composite average for 2023 high school graduates was 19.5, down from 21.0 in 2010.

Statistic 22

Chronic absenteeism affected 25% of high school students pre-pandemic in 2017-18.

Statistic 23

In 2021-22, 42% of public high school students were chronically absent (missing 10%+ of days).

Statistic 24

Suspension rates for high school students averaged 5.5% in 2017-18.

Statistic 25

In 2019, 15% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

Statistic 26

Truancy rates in urban high schools reached 20% in some districts pre-2020.

Statistic 27

In 2022, 8% of high school students were expelled or had out-of-school suspensions exceeding 10 days.

Statistic 28

Bullying victimization occurred among 20% of high school students in 2021 YRBS survey.

Statistic 29

Average daily attendance in high schools was 92% in 2018-19.

Statistic 30

In 2019, 7% of high school students skipped school 3+ days in past month due to safety concerns.

Statistic 31

High school dropout rate was 5.2% for 16-24 year olds in 2021.

Statistic 32

Cyberbullying affected 16% of high school students in 2021.

Statistic 33

In 2022, 28% of high schoolers reported electronic bullying.

Statistic 34

Tardiness impacted 12% of high school students daily in urban areas.

Statistic 35

Gang involvement was reported by 5% of high school students in 2019 surveys.

Statistic 36

In 2021, 14% of high school boys and 6% of girls were in physical fights on school property.

Statistic 37

Vaping on school grounds was admitted by 10% of high schoolers in 2022.

Statistic 38

In 2019, 4% of high school students carried weapons to school.

Statistic 39

Hazing incidents affected 11% of high school athletes in recent surveys.

Statistic 40

In 2023, average high school tardy rate was 15% per period in some states.

Statistic 41

Substance use led to 9% absence rate among high schoolers in 2021.

Statistic 42

In 2022, 18% of high school students considered suicide, linked to absenteeism.

Statistic 43

Disciplinary referrals averaged 50 per 100 high school students in 2018.

Statistic 44

In 2019, 22% of high school students felt unsafe at school.

Statistic 45

Post-pandemic, high school unexcused absences rose 50% in 2022.

Statistic 46

35% of 12th graders binge drank in the past two weeks in 2022.

Statistic 47

In 2023, 12% of high schoolers used illicit drugs in past month, impacting attendance.

Statistic 48

Theft or property damage reported by 12% of high school students in 2019.

Statistic 49

In the 2020-21 school year, approximately 14.6 million students were enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public high schools, representing 8% of the total public school population.

Statistic 50

The percentage of public high school students who were Hispanic/Latino increased from 18.6% in 2010-11 to 28.4% in 2020-21.

Statistic 51

In fall 2021, about 24% of public high school students were Black, compared to 15% a decade earlier.

Statistic 52

Female students made up 49% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21, while males were 51%.

Statistic 53

Rural areas accounted for 19% of public high school students in 2020-21, down from 22% in 2010.

Statistic 54

In 2021, 15.4 million students attended traditional public high schools, while 1.2 million were in public charter high schools.

Statistic 55

The student-to-teacher ratio in public high schools averaged 16:1 in 2020-21.

Statistic 56

English learners comprised 10.6% of public high school students in 2020-21, up from 8.1% in 2010-11.

Statistic 57

Students with disabilities represented 16% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.

Statistic 58

In 2021, 5% of public high school students attended schools in large cities, while 28% were in suburbs.

Statistic 59

Asian/Pacific Islander students were 5.2% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.

Statistic 60

White students declined from 53% to 44% of public high school enrollment between 2010-11 and 2020-21.

Statistic 61

In 2020-21, 82% of public high school students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, varying by state.

Statistic 62

Multiracial students increased to 4.8% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21 from 3% in 2010.

Statistic 63

American Indian/Alaska Native students were 1.1% of public high schoolers in 2020-21.

Statistic 64

In 2021, private high school enrollment was about 1.1 million students, or 7% of total high school population.

Statistic 65

Homeschooled high school-aged students numbered around 1.7 million in 2019, per U.S. Census estimates.

Statistic 66

In 2020-21, 91% of public high school students were U.S. citizens, with 9% non-citizens or status unknown.

Statistic 67

Pacific Islander students alone were 0.5% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.

Statistic 68

In large urban districts, high school enrollment dropped 3% from 2019-20 to 2020-21 due to pandemic.

Statistic 69

The average public high school had 842 students in 2020-21, up from 824 in 2010.

Statistic 70

In 2021, 56% of high school students were in schools with 750+ enrollment.

Statistic 71

Migrant students numbered 289,000 in public high schools in 2020-21.

Statistic 72

In 2020-21, 4.1% of public high school students were identified as homeless.

Statistic 73

Foster care students in public high schools totaled about 140,000 in recent years.

Statistic 74

In 2021, high school enrollment in California was 1.75 million, the largest state total.

Statistic 75

Texas had 1.47 million public high school students in 2020-21.

Statistic 76

New York state's public high school enrollment was 788,000 in 2020-21.

Statistic 77

Florida enrolled 850,000 students in public high schools in 2020-21.

Statistic 78

11 million high school students participated in sports in 2019.

Statistic 79

Boys' basketball had 551,000 high school participants in 2022-23.

Statistic 80

Girls' track and field led with 605,000 participants in 2022-23.

Statistic 81

7.6 million students played NFHS sports in 2022-23, up 1.5%.

Statistic 82

Band/marching band involved 1.2 million high school students annually.

Statistic 83

23% of high school students participated in school clubs in 2019.

Statistic 84

Student government participation was 12% among high schoolers.

Statistic 85

Drama/theater engaged 4% of high school students in 2021.

Statistic 86

Robotics clubs grew to 150,000 participants by 2023.

Statistic 87

JV/Freshman sports had 1.1 million participants in 2022.

Statistic 88

Cheerleading involved 400,000 high school girls in 2022.

Statistic 89

Esports participation reached 500 high school programs by 2023.

Statistic 90

Yearbook staff averaged 50 students per high school.

Statistic 91

DECA/FBLA business clubs had 250,000 members in 2023.

Statistic 92

Science Olympiad teams numbered 7,800 high schools in 2023.

Statistic 93

60% of high school graduates had extracurricular involvement linked to college apps.

Statistic 94

Volleyball girls' participation was 452,000 in 2022-23.

Statistic 95

Soccer boys had 459,000 players in high school 2022.

Statistic 96

Mock Trial competitions involved 15,000 students yearly.

Statistic 97

FFA agriculture club membership was 850,000 in 2023.

Statistic 98

Newspaper/journalism staff in 70% of high schools, avg 20 students.

Statistic 99

Lacrosse participation doubled to 120,000 since 2010.

Statistic 100

15% of high schoolers volunteered 100+ hours/year.

Statistic 101

In 2021, 8.9% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide.

Statistic 102

22% of female high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, vs 11% males.

Statistic 103

Obesity rates among high school students were 22% in 2021.

Statistic 104

10% of high school students had asthma in 2021 surveys.

Statistic 105

Vaping nicotine was reported by 10% of high schoolers daily in 2022.

Statistic 106

57% of high school students got 8+ hours of sleep on school nights in 2021, down from 65%.

Statistic 107

Concussions affected 8% of high school athletes annually.

Statistic 108

In 2021, 14% of high school girls attempted suicide.

Statistic 109

Depression symptoms were reported by 30% of high school students in 2022.

Statistic 110

16% of high school students had poor mental health in past month in 2021.

Statistic 111

Physical activity met CDC guidelines by 24% of high schoolers in 2021.

Statistic 112

4% of high school students had diabetes in 2017-2020 NHANES data.

Statistic 113

Sexual violence victimization was 11% among high school girls in 2021.

Statistic 114

2% of high school students injected drugs in past year in 2021.

Statistic 115

Anxiety prevalence among high schoolers reached 32% in 2022 surveys.

Statistic 116

20% of high school students experienced homelessness or housing instability.

Statistic 117

Fruit/vegetable consumption was <5 servings/day for 90% of high schoolers.

Statistic 118

STI rates among high school age group were 1 in 4 sexually active teens.

Statistic 119

7% of high school students had a concussion in past year in 2022.

Statistic 120

Screen time averaged 7.5 hours/day for high schoolers excluding schoolwork.

Statistic 121

28% of high school students played video games 3+ hours daily.

Statistic 122

Dental visits in past year for 70% of high school students.

Statistic 123

COVID-19 vaccination rate among high schoolers was 65% fully vaccinated by 2022.

Statistic 124

45% of high school athletes participated in football, with injury rates 15%.

Statistic 125

Soda consumption daily by 20% of high school students in 2021.

Sources
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Lars Eriksen

Written by Lars Eriksen·Edited by Leah Kessler·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 4, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

With 42% of public high school students chronically absent in 2021 to 2022, attendance has become one of the most urgent signals in the latest school performance picture. Graduation rates are also shifting, from 79% in 2010 to 2011 up to 87% in 2022, but outcomes vary sharply by student group. This post connects results like ACGR, test participation, and college readiness with the behind the scenes trends that shape everyday school life.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2022, the national adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 87%, up from 79% in 2010-11.
  • White students had an ACGR of 90% in 2021-22, compared to 82% for Black students.
  • Hispanic high school students' ACGR reached 88% in 2021-22, a 14-point increase since 2011-12.
  • ACT composite average for 2023 high school graduates was 19.5, down from 21.0 in 2010.
  • Chronic absenteeism affected 25% of high school students pre-pandemic in 2017-18.
  • In 2021-22, 42% of public high school students were chronically absent (missing 10%+ of days).
  • Suspension rates for high school students averaged 5.5% in 2017-18.
  • In the 2020-21 school year, approximately 14.6 million students were enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public high schools, representing 8% of the total public school population.
  • The percentage of public high school students who were Hispanic/Latino increased from 18.6% in 2010-11 to 28.4% in 2020-21.
  • In fall 2021, about 24% of public high school students were Black, compared to 15% a decade earlier.
  • 11 million high school students participated in sports in 2019.
  • Boys' basketball had 551,000 high school participants in 2022-23.
  • Girls' track and field led with 605,000 participants in 2022-23.
  • In 2021, 8.9% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide.
  • 22% of female high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, vs 11% males.

Graduation and test performance improved overall, but persistent attendance and mental health challenges remain.

Academic Achievement

1In 2022, the national adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 87%, up from 79% in 2010-11.
Verified
2White students had an ACGR of 90% in 2021-22, compared to 82% for Black students.
Verified
3Hispanic high school students' ACGR reached 88% in 2021-22, a 14-point increase since 2011-12.
Verified
4Students with disabilities had an ACGR of 72% in 2021-22, improving from 61% a decade prior.
Verified
5English learners' ACGR was 68% in 2021-22, up from 59% in 2011-12.
Directional
6In 2022, 66% of public high school students took the SAT, with an average score of 1057.
Verified
7In 2023, 1.9 million students took AP exams, with 63% scoring 3 or higher.
Verified
8Advanced Placement participation rate among public high school graduates was 39% in 2022.
Verified
9In 2022, 92% of AP U.S. History exam takers scored 1-5, with 11% earning a 5.
Verified
10NAEP 12th-grade reading proficiency was 37% at or above proficient in 2019, down from 40% in 2015.
Verified
11Math NAEP scores for 12th graders averaged 150 in 2022, with 26% proficient or above.
Verified
12In 2021-22, 85% of high school seniors planned to pursue postsecondary education.
Verified
13Average GPA for public high school students was 3.0 in 2019, per self-reported surveys.
Single source
14STEM course enrollment in high schools reached 35% of students in advanced math by 2021.
Single source
15In 2023, 57% of high school graduates met all four ACT college readiness benchmarks.
Single source
16IB Diploma pass rate for U.S. high school students was 80% in May 2023.
Verified
17In 2022, 24% of 12th graders scored proficient in NAEP science.
Verified
18Dual enrollment participation tripled to 1.4 million high school students by 2020.
Verified
19In 2021, average PSAT score for 11th graders was 1010.
Verified
20High school courseload averaged 7.2 credits per year in 2019.
Verified

Academic Achievement Interpretation

While we’re celebrating high school graduation rates hitting record highs and advanced course enrollment surging, the sobering asterisk is that these impressive climbing numbers are still sitting uncomfortably beside stubborn gaps in equity and proficiency, revealing a system that’s getting more students across the stage but not necessarily ensuring they’re all ready for what comes next.

Advanced Placement

1ACT composite average for 2023 high school graduates was 19.5, down from 21.0 in 2010.
Verified

Advanced Placement Interpretation

After a dozen years of trying to solve for X, the class of 2023 found the answer to be a disappointing 19.5, proving that the only thing trending downward faster than their scores is our hope for the education system.

Attendance and Behavior

1Chronic absenteeism affected 25% of high school students pre-pandemic in 2017-18.
Verified
2In 2021-22, 42% of public high school students were chronically absent (missing 10%+ of days).
Verified
3Suspension rates for high school students averaged 5.5% in 2017-18.
Verified
4In 2019, 15% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Verified
5Truancy rates in urban high schools reached 20% in some districts pre-2020.
Verified
6In 2022, 8% of high school students were expelled or had out-of-school suspensions exceeding 10 days.
Verified
7Bullying victimization occurred among 20% of high school students in 2021 YRBS survey.
Verified
8Average daily attendance in high schools was 92% in 2018-19.
Single source
9In 2019, 7% of high school students skipped school 3+ days in past month due to safety concerns.
Verified
10High school dropout rate was 5.2% for 16-24 year olds in 2021.
Verified
11Cyberbullying affected 16% of high school students in 2021.
Verified
12In 2022, 28% of high schoolers reported electronic bullying.
Verified
13Tardiness impacted 12% of high school students daily in urban areas.
Verified
14Gang involvement was reported by 5% of high school students in 2019 surveys.
Verified
15In 2021, 14% of high school boys and 6% of girls were in physical fights on school property.
Single source
16Vaping on school grounds was admitted by 10% of high schoolers in 2022.
Directional
17In 2019, 4% of high school students carried weapons to school.
Verified
18Hazing incidents affected 11% of high school athletes in recent surveys.
Single source
19In 2023, average high school tardy rate was 15% per period in some states.
Verified
20Substance use led to 9% absence rate among high schoolers in 2021.
Single source
21In 2022, 18% of high school students considered suicide, linked to absenteeism.
Single source
22Disciplinary referrals averaged 50 per 100 high school students in 2018.
Verified
23In 2019, 22% of high school students felt unsafe at school.
Verified
24Post-pandemic, high school unexcused absences rose 50% in 2022.
Single source
2535% of 12th graders binge drank in the past two weeks in 2022.
Verified
26In 2023, 12% of high schoolers used illicit drugs in past month, impacting attendance.
Verified
27Theft or property damage reported by 12% of high school students in 2019.
Verified

Attendance and Behavior Interpretation

The troubling array of statistics paints a picture of a high school experience where, for a significant minority, chronic absenteeism, mental distress, and safety concerns have converged into a daily reality that often overshadows learning itself.

Demographics and Enrollment

1In the 2020-21 school year, approximately 14.6 million students were enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public high schools, representing 8% of the total public school population.
Verified
2The percentage of public high school students who were Hispanic/Latino increased from 18.6% in 2010-11 to 28.4% in 2020-21.
Verified
3In fall 2021, about 24% of public high school students were Black, compared to 15% a decade earlier.
Single source
4Female students made up 49% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21, while males were 51%.
Verified
5Rural areas accounted for 19% of public high school students in 2020-21, down from 22% in 2010.
Verified
6In 2021, 15.4 million students attended traditional public high schools, while 1.2 million were in public charter high schools.
Verified
7The student-to-teacher ratio in public high schools averaged 16:1 in 2020-21.
Verified
8English learners comprised 10.6% of public high school students in 2020-21, up from 8.1% in 2010-11.
Verified
9Students with disabilities represented 16% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.
Directional
10In 2021, 5% of public high school students attended schools in large cities, while 28% were in suburbs.
Single source
11Asian/Pacific Islander students were 5.2% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.
Verified
12White students declined from 53% to 44% of public high school enrollment between 2010-11 and 2020-21.
Verified
13In 2020-21, 82% of public high school students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch, varying by state.
Verified
14Multiracial students increased to 4.8% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21 from 3% in 2010.
Verified
15American Indian/Alaska Native students were 1.1% of public high schoolers in 2020-21.
Verified
16In 2021, private high school enrollment was about 1.1 million students, or 7% of total high school population.
Verified
17Homeschooled high school-aged students numbered around 1.7 million in 2019, per U.S. Census estimates.
Directional
18In 2020-21, 91% of public high school students were U.S. citizens, with 9% non-citizens or status unknown.
Verified
19Pacific Islander students alone were 0.5% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21.
Verified
20In large urban districts, high school enrollment dropped 3% from 2019-20 to 2020-21 due to pandemic.
Verified
21The average public high school had 842 students in 2020-21, up from 824 in 2010.
Verified
22In 2021, 56% of high school students were in schools with 750+ enrollment.
Verified
23Migrant students numbered 289,000 in public high schools in 2020-21.
Verified
24In 2020-21, 4.1% of public high school students were identified as homeless.
Verified
25Foster care students in public high schools totaled about 140,000 in recent years.
Directional
26In 2021, high school enrollment in California was 1.75 million, the largest state total.
Verified
27Texas had 1.47 million public high school students in 2020-21.
Verified
28New York state's public high school enrollment was 788,000 in 2020-21.
Verified
29Florida enrolled 850,000 students in public high schools in 2020-21.
Verified

Demographics and Enrollment Interpretation

The American high school, that microcosm of our national evolution, reveals a student body that is less rural, more diverse, economically challenged, and increasingly found in larger schools, with each statistic a data point in the story of a changing nation.

Extracurriculars and Sports

111 million high school students participated in sports in 2019.
Single source
2Boys' basketball had 551,000 high school participants in 2022-23.
Directional
3Girls' track and field led with 605,000 participants in 2022-23.
Single source
47.6 million students played NFHS sports in 2022-23, up 1.5%.
Directional
5Band/marching band involved 1.2 million high school students annually.
Verified
623% of high school students participated in school clubs in 2019.
Verified
7Student government participation was 12% among high schoolers.
Verified
8Drama/theater engaged 4% of high school students in 2021.
Verified
9Robotics clubs grew to 150,000 participants by 2023.
Verified
10JV/Freshman sports had 1.1 million participants in 2022.
Verified
11Cheerleading involved 400,000 high school girls in 2022.
Directional
12Esports participation reached 500 high school programs by 2023.
Verified
13Yearbook staff averaged 50 students per high school.
Verified
14DECA/FBLA business clubs had 250,000 members in 2023.
Verified
15Science Olympiad teams numbered 7,800 high schools in 2023.
Verified
1660% of high school graduates had extracurricular involvement linked to college apps.
Verified
17Volleyball girls' participation was 452,000 in 2022-23.
Verified
18Soccer boys had 459,000 players in high school 2022.
Verified
19Mock Trial competitions involved 15,000 students yearly.
Verified
20FFA agriculture club membership was 850,000 in 2023.
Verified
21Newspaper/journalism staff in 70% of high schools, avg 20 students.
Directional
22Lacrosse participation doubled to 120,000 since 2010.
Verified
2315% of high schoolers volunteered 100+ hours/year.
Verified

Extracurriculars and Sports Interpretation

While the numbers clearly show that high school athletics, particularly track and field, are the main event drawing millions, the quiet but steady growth of everything from robotics and esports to Mock Trial and FFA proves that the true spirit of competition—and college applications—is thriving just as fiercely off the field.

Health and Mental Health

1In 2021, 8.9% of high school students had seriously considered attempting suicide.
Verified
222% of female high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, vs 11% males.
Verified
3Obesity rates among high school students were 22% in 2021.
Verified
410% of high school students had asthma in 2021 surveys.
Verified
5Vaping nicotine was reported by 10% of high schoolers daily in 2022.
Verified
657% of high school students got 8+ hours of sleep on school nights in 2021, down from 65%.
Directional
7Concussions affected 8% of high school athletes annually.
Verified
8In 2021, 14% of high school girls attempted suicide.
Verified
9Depression symptoms were reported by 30% of high school students in 2022.
Single source
1016% of high school students had poor mental health in past month in 2021.
Directional
11Physical activity met CDC guidelines by 24% of high schoolers in 2021.
Verified
124% of high school students had diabetes in 2017-2020 NHANES data.
Verified
13Sexual violence victimization was 11% among high school girls in 2021.
Verified
142% of high school students injected drugs in past year in 2021.
Single source
15Anxiety prevalence among high schoolers reached 32% in 2022 surveys.
Verified
1620% of high school students experienced homelessness or housing instability.
Single source
17Fruit/vegetable consumption was <5 servings/day for 90% of high schoolers.
Verified
18STI rates among high school age group were 1 in 4 sexually active teens.
Single source
197% of high school students had a concussion in past year in 2022.
Directional
20Screen time averaged 7.5 hours/day for high schoolers excluding schoolwork.
Verified
2128% of high school students played video games 3+ hours daily.
Verified
22Dental visits in past year for 70% of high school students.
Verified
23COVID-19 vaccination rate among high schoolers was 65% fully vaccinated by 2022.
Directional
2445% of high school athletes participated in football, with injury rates 15%.
Single source
25Soda consumption daily by 20% of high school students in 2021.
Verified

Health and Mental Health Interpretation

The portrait of American high schoolers in 2021 reveals a generation navigating a minefield of mental health crises, physical ailments, and lifestyle hazards, where feeling persistently sad is more common than meeting basic exercise or nutrition standards.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). High School Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/high-school-statistics
MLA
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Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "High School Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/high-school-statistics.

Sources & References

  • NCES logo
    Reference 1
    NCES
    nces.ed.gov

    nces.ed.gov

  • REPORTS logo
    Reference 2
    REPORTS
    reports.collegeboard.org

    reports.collegeboard.org

  • ACT logo
    Reference 3
    ACT
    act.org

    act.org

  • APCENTRAL logo
    Reference 4
    APCENTRAL
    apcentral.collegeboard.org

    apcentral.collegeboard.org

  • RESEARCH logo
    Reference 5
    RESEARCH
    research.collegeboard.org

    research.collegeboard.org

  • APSTUDENTS logo
    Reference 6
    APSTUDENTS
    apstudents.collegeboard.org

    apstudents.collegeboard.org

  • IBO logo
    Reference 7
    IBO
    ibo.org

    ibo.org

  • CCRC logo
    Reference 8
    CCRC
    ccrc.tc.columbia.edu

    ccrc.tc.columbia.edu

  • OCRDATA logo
    Reference 9
    OCRDATA
    ocrdata.ed.gov

    ocrdata.ed.gov

  • CDC logo
    Reference 10
    CDC
    cdc.gov

    cdc.gov

  • URBAN logo
    Reference 11
    URBAN
    urban.org

    urban.org

  • ATTENDANCEWORKS logo
    Reference 12
    ATTENDANCEWORKS
    attendanceworks.org

    attendanceworks.org

  • STOPHAZING logo
    Reference 13
    STOPHAZING
    stophazing.org

    stophazing.org

  • EDWEEK logo
    Reference 14
    EDWEEK
    edweek.org

    edweek.org

  • SAMHSA logo
    Reference 15
    SAMHSA
    samhsa.gov

    samhsa.gov

  • BROOKINGS logo
    Reference 16
    BROOKINGS
    brookings.edu

    brookings.edu

  • MONITORINGTHEFUTURE logo
    Reference 17
    MONITORINGTHEFUTURE
    monitoringthefuture.org

    monitoringthefuture.org

  • FDA logo
    Reference 18
    FDA
    fda.gov

    fda.gov

  • HHS logo
    Reference 19
    HHS
    hhs.gov

    hhs.gov

  • NCBI logo
    Reference 20
    NCBI
    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

    ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

  • NFHS logo
    Reference 21
    NFHS
    nfhs.org

    nfhs.org

  • FIRSTINSPIRES logo
    Reference 22
    FIRSTINSPIRES
    firstinspires.org

    firstinspires.org

  • DECA logo
    Reference 23
    DECA
    deca.org

    deca.org

  • SOINC logo
    Reference 24
    SOINC
    soinc.org

    soinc.org

  • NATIONALMOCKTRIAL logo
    Reference 25
    NATIONALMOCKTRIAL
    nationalmocktrial.org

    nationalmocktrial.org

  • FFA logo
    Reference 26
    FFA
    ffa.org

    ffa.org

  • NATIONALSERVICE logo
    Reference 27
    NATIONALSERVICE
    nationalservice.gov

    nationalservice.gov

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