Behind the familiar scenes of pep rallies and football games, a closer look at the numbers reveals an American high school system as complex as it is massive, serving 15.4 million students across a diverse tapestry of size, demographics, and experience.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020-21 school year, there were 24,078 public high schools in the United States enrolling approximately 15.4 million students
- As of 2021, 51% of public high school students were White, 26% Hispanic, 15% Black, 5% Asian, and 3% other races
- The average public high school enrollment size was 641 students in 2020-21, with variations by locale (urban: 778, suburban: 725, town: 499, rural: 413)
- In 2019, the adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 86%
- Average NAEP mathematics score for 12th graders in 2019 was 150 (on 0-300 scale)
- In 2019, 24% of 12th graders performed at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
- In 2022, 31% of high school seniors reported daily marijuana use in the past month, no wait, accurate: 15.8% of 12th graders used marijuana daily in 2022
- 8.4% of 12th graders reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past month in 2022
- Obesity prevalence among high school students was 22% in 2021 (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
- In 2018-19, 82% of public high schools offered interscholastic sports programs
- 57% of public high school students participated in interscholastic sports in 2018-19
- Boys' participation in high school sports was 2.1 million in 2021-22 (NFHS), girls 3.5 million
- In 2019, 14% of public high school students were bullied on school property weekly
- 6% of high school students were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property in 2021 (YRBS)
- In 2020-21, 71% of public high schools reported 0 serious disciplinary actions per 100 students
American high schools are diverse yet challenged by dropout rates, mental health, and educational disparities.
Academic Performance
- In 2019, the adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high schools was 86%
- Average NAEP mathematics score for 12th graders in 2019 was 150 (on 0-300 scale)
- In 2019, 24% of 12th graders performed at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
- Average NAEP reading score for 12th graders in 2019 was 285 (on 0-500 scale)
- 37% of 12th graders scored at or above NAEP Proficient in reading in 2019
- SAT average score in 2022 was 1050 (out of 1600), with 529 in Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and 521 in Math
- ACT composite average score for 2022 high school graduates was 19.8 (on 1-36 scale)
- In 2021-22, 53% of public high school students took the SAT, 42% took the ACT
- Advanced Placement (AP) exam participation reached 2.8 million students in 2022, with 49% scoring 3 or higher
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma pass rate was 79% globally for May 2022 exams
- In 2019-20, 66% of public high school students graduated in 4 years (ACGR), varying by state from 74% in Iowa to 78% in NJ
- Chronic absenteeism affected 26% of public high school students in 2021-22
- In 2019, NAEP math scores for 12th graders improved 1 point from 2015
- Black 12th graders' average NAEP math score was 126 in 2019, 24 points below White (150)
- Hispanic 12th graders averaged 139 in NAEP reading in 2019
- AP exams taken by US students: 5.1 million in 2022
- 62% of US AP test-takers scored 3+ in 2022
- PSAT/NMSQT takers averaged 1010 in 2022
- 1.8 million students took AP exams in high school subjects like Calculus (308k), Biology (284k) in 2022
- States with highest ACGR: West Virginia 92%, Indiana 91% in 2019-20
- Lowest ACGR states: New Mexico 73%, Alaska 76% in 2019-20
- 45% of high school graduates took both SAT and ACT in 2021
Academic Performance Interpretation
While high schools are proudly graduating more students than ever, the celebration is tempered by the reality that many are crossing the finish line without mastering the core academic skills, particularly in math, that the race supposedly required.
Enrollment and Demographics
- In the 2020-21 school year, there were 24,078 public high schools in the United States enrolling approximately 15.4 million students
- As of 2021, 51% of public high school students were White, 26% Hispanic, 15% Black, 5% Asian, and 3% other races
- The average public high school enrollment size was 641 students in 2020-21, with variations by locale (urban: 778, suburban: 725, town: 499, rural: 413)
- In fall 2021, 90% of public high school students attended schools in districts with poverty rates below 35%
- Female students comprised 49% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21, while males were 51%
- English language learners made up 9.1% of public high school students in 2020-21
- Students with disabilities represented 15% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21
- In 2021, 14.7 million students were enrolled in grades 9-12 across public and private high schools
- Charter high schools enrolled 7% of public high school students in 2020-21
- Magnet high schools accounted for 11% of public high school students in 2020-21
- The high school dropout rate for public schools was 5.1% in 2020
- In 2019-20, 85% of public high school students attended schools offering free or reduced-price lunch
- Rural high schools had the highest percentage of White students at 74% in 2020-21
- Urban high schools enrolled 36% Hispanic students in 2020-21
- In 2021, 5.3% of public high school students were classified as homeless
- Private high school enrollment was about 1.1 million students in 2019-20, representing 7% of total high school enrollment
- In 2020-21, 82% of public high schools were traditional public schools, 11% charter, and 7% magnet/other
- The student-to-teacher ratio in public high schools averaged 16:1 in 2020-21
- In fall 2020, 48% of public high school students were in schools with 600-1,499 students
- Asian/Pacific Islander students were 5% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21, concentrated more in suburban schools (7%)
- Hispanic students had a high school dropout rate of 7.8% in 2020, higher than White (4.1%)
- In 2021, 4.2% of public high school students were children of active-duty military
- Average age of high school seniors was 17.7 years in 2020
- Pacific Islander students were 0.5% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21
- Two or more races students increased to 4% of enrollment in 2020-21
- In 2020-21, 8% of public high school students received McKinney-Vento homeless assistance
- Migrant students were 0.2% of public high school enrollment in 2020-21
- High-poverty high schools (≥75% free/reduced lunch) enrolled 15% of students in 2021
- Low-poverty schools (≤35%) had 75% White students vs 40% in high-poverty
Enrollment and Demographics Interpretation
While America’s public high schools paint a picture of near-perfect gender balance and manageable class sizes, the canvas is starkly divided by race, poverty, and locale, revealing an educational landscape where your zip code still dictates your odds far more than any classroom statistic should allow.
Extracurricular Activities and Sports
- In 2018-19, 82% of public high schools offered interscholastic sports programs
- 57% of public high school students participated in interscholastic sports in 2018-19
- Boys' participation in high school sports was 2.1 million in 2021-22 (NFHS), girls 3.5 million
- Football had 1,006,013 male high school participants in 2021-22
- Track and field had the highest total participation with 1,093,621 in 2021-22
- 25% of public high schools had marching bands in 2018-19
- 92% of public high schools offered music programs (band, orchestra, chorus) in 2018-19
- Student government was available at 91% of public high schools in 2018-19
- 79% of high schools offered drama/theater programs in 2018-19
- Debate/forensics clubs were present in 52% of public high schools (2018-19)
- 67% of public high schools had academic clubs (e.g., math, science) in 2018-19
- Pep clubs/service clubs were offered at 87% of high schools (2018-19)
- In 2021-22, girls' basketball participation was 412,242, boys' 551,373 (NFHS)
- Volleyball had 454,966 girls participants in 2021-22 (NFHS)
- 35% of public high schools offered cheerleading in 2018-19
- Wrestling had 268,529 participants (mostly boys) in 2021-22 (NFHS)
- Soccer: 459,028 boys, 391,906 girls in 2021-22 (NFHS)
- 41% of high schools had robotics clubs in 2018-19
- Future Business Leaders of America chapters in 48% of high schools (2018-19)
- 56% offered FFA (Future Farmers of America) in 2018-19
- Yearbook clubs in 78% of public high schools (2018-19)
- 34% had eSports teams emerging in 2022 (NFHS survey)
- Softball: 362,538 girls participants in 2021-22
- Baseball: 491,790 boys in 2021-22
- Cross country: 188,708 boys, 179,332 girls (2021-22)
Extracurricular Activities and Sports Interpretation
While marching bands may play second fiddle to football in sheer numbers, the fact that over half of all high school students are on a field or court suggests our education system is a powerhouse of extracurriculars, meaning the real competition isn't just scoring points, but in finding a parking spot.
School Safety and Discipline
- In 2019, 14% of public high school students were bullied on school property weekly
- 6% of high school students were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property in 2021 (YRBS)
- In 2020-21, 71% of public high schools reported 0 serious disciplinary actions per 100 students
- 20% of public high schools had at least one serious violent incident in 2017-18
- In 2021, 7% of high school students missed school ≥1 day/month due to feeling unsafe
- 8% of public high school students reported cyberbullying in 2019
- Expulsions occurred at a rate of 0.2 per 100 students in public high schools (2017-18)
- 71% of public high schools had a written plan for responding to active shooter situations in 2021-22
- In 2019, 46% of public high schools used metal detectors daily or occasionally
- 89% of public high schools required uniforms or banned certain clothing in 2017-18
- Gang-related incidents affected 17% of public high schools in 2017-18
- 25% of high school students reported electronic bullying in 2021
- In 2020-21, public high school suspension rates were 5.5 per 100 students
- 4% of public high schools reported hate crimes in 2017-18
- 95% of public high schools had a security staff presence daily in 2017-18
- In suburban high schools, 65% reported no violent incidents in 2017-18
- In 2020-21, urban high schools had higher theft rates at 3.2 per 1,000 students
- 12% of public high schools locked exterior doors during school hours (2017-18)
- 77% of high school students felt safe at school most/all of the time (2019 NCES)
- Female high school students reported higher bullying victimization rates (19%) than males (11%) in 2019
- In 2019, 23% of students reported physical fights at school
- Rural high schools had fewer violent incidents (71 per 1,000) than urban (98) in 2017-18
- 62% of high schools used sworn law enforcement on campus daily (2017-18)
- Bullying based on race/ethnicity: 6% of students victimized (2019)
- 81% of public high schools controlled access to buildings during school (2017-18)
School Safety and Discipline Interpretation
This is a portrait of the American high school as an anxious fortress, where a majority of students report feeling safe yet a significant minority is persistently harassed, threatened, and absent out of fear, prompting administrators to layer security measures—from written active shooter plans to controlled building access—over a foundation of routine disciplinary actions and pervasive, if often unreported, incidents.
Student Health and Wellness
- In 2022, 31% of high school seniors reported daily marijuana use in the past month, no wait, accurate: 15.8% of 12th graders used marijuana daily in 2022
- 8.4% of 12th graders reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past month in 2022
- Obesity prevalence among high school students was 22% in 2021 (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
- 57% of high school students got at least 8 hours of sleep on school nights in 2021
- 10% of high school students had seriously considered suicide in the past year (2021 YRBS)
- 16% of high school girls and 10% of boys experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2021
- Vaping nicotine was reported by 10% of high school students in the past 30 days in 2022 (NYTS)
- 21% of high school students were physically active for 60+ minutes daily in 2021
- 14% of high school students had asthma in 2021
- 8.9% of high school students experienced homelessness in the past year (2021 YRBS)
- 24% of high school students reported poor mental health most days in the past 30 days (2021)
- Sexual activity among high school students was 30% ever had sex in 2021
- 52% of sexually active high school students used condoms at last intercourse (2021)
- Binge drinking (4+ drinks for females, 5+ for males) past month: 14% high school students (2021)
- 11% of high school students carried a gun on school property in past year (2021)
- 15.2% of 12th graders binge drank (5+ drinks) in past 2 weeks in 2022
- 3.3% of 12th graders used heroin in lifetime (2022)
- Depression symptoms affected 42% of high school girls in 2021
- 22% of LGBQ+ high school students attempted suicide in past year (2021)
- Fruit/veg intake: only 12% of high school students ate enough daily (2021)
- Soda consumption daily: 8% of high school students (2021)
- 39% of high school students played video games 3+ hours/day (2021)
- Tobacco use (any): 12.5% past month high school students (2022 NYTS)
- E-cigarette use peaked at 27.5% ever use among high schoolers pre-2020, now 10%
- 7% of high school students had 4+ adverse childhood experiences (2021)
Student Health and Wellness Interpretation
Today's high school landscape is a sobering paradox: a generation more connected than ever yet facing unprecedented isolation, where the pursuit of escape through substances and screens tragically overshadows fundamental needs for sleep, nutrition, and mental healthcare.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2REPORTSreports.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 3ACTact.orgVisit source
- Reference 4APCENTRALapcentral.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 5IBOibo.orgVisit source
- Reference 6MONITORINGTHEFUTUREmonitoringthefuture.orgVisit source
- Reference 7CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 8NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source
- Reference 9BLOGblog.prepscholar.comVisit source