With 49 million young minds, representing over 90% of America's K-12 students, our public schools form the dynamic and diverse backbone of the nation's future, a complex ecosystem revealed by the latest data on enrollment, achievement, funding, and challenges.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020-21 school year, public elementary and secondary schools enrolled 49.0 million students, representing 90.4 percent of all elementary and secondary students in the United States
- During the 2021–22 school year, about 79 percent of public school students attended schools in cities and suburbs, 12 percent attended schools in towns, and 9 percent attended schools in rural areas
- In fall 2021, the number of public school students who were Hispanic was over 14 million, representing 27 percent of public school enrollment
- In 2022, the average NAEP mathematics score for 4th-grade public school students was 236, down 5 points from 2019
- The average 8th-grade reading score in public schools was 259 in 2022 NAEP, 3 points lower than 2019
- In 2022, 26 percent of 4th-graders in public schools performed at or above NAEP proficient in math, down from 36 percent in 2019
- In 2020-21, total current expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools were $870 billion
- Current expenditures per pupil in public schools averaged $14,347 in 2020-21
- In 2020-21, 79 percent of public school funding came from state sources, 10 percent federal, 11 percent local
- In 2021-22, there were 3.2 million full-time equivalent (FTE) public school teachers
- Pupil-teacher ratio in public elementary schools averaged 14.6 to 1 in 2021-22
- 92 percent of public school teachers were certified in 2020-21
- In 2020-21, 95 percent of public schools had internet access for students
- Average age of public school buildings was 49 years in 2022
- 53 percent of public schools needed major repairs to roofs in 2021
American public schools educate ninety percent of all U.S. students with increasing diversity and significant funding challenges.
Academic Performance and Test Scores
- In 2022, the average NAEP mathematics score for 4th-grade public school students was 236, down 5 points from 2019
- The average 8th-grade reading score in public schools was 259 in 2022 NAEP, 3 points lower than 2019
- In 2022, 26 percent of 4th-graders in public schools performed at or above NAEP proficient in math, down from 36 percent in 2019
- Public school 12th-graders averaged 285 in NAEP reading in 2019
- The 2022 NAEP gap between White and Black 8th-grade public school students in math was 29 points
- In 2019, 37 percent of public high school students took AP exams
- Average SAT score for public school graduates was 1059 in 2022
- ACT composite score average for public school students was 19.5 in 2022
- In 2021-22, 33 percent of public 4th-graders were proficient in reading per NAEP long-term trend
- Public school students' PISA 2018 math score average was 478, below OECD average of 489
- PIRLS 2021 showed US 4th-grade public school reading score of 549 internationally
- In 2022 NAEP, 13 percent of public 12th-graders proficient in math
- Public charter school NAEP math scores for 4th grade averaged 240 in 2022 vs 235 traditional public
- High-poverty public schools had 4th-grade NAEP math average of 223 in 2022
- TIMSS 2019 US 8th-grade public math score was 515, above international average
- 2022 NAEP science score for public 4th-graders was 147, down 5 points from 2019
- Graduation rate for public school students with disabilities was 71 percent in 2020-21 ACGR
- English learners in public schools had 23 percent ACGR in 2020-21
- Public school chronic absenteeism rate was 28 percent pre-COVID, rose to 40 percent in 2021-22
- In 2021-22, 47 percent of public schools met state reading proficiency targets
- Average public school 8th-grade NAEP writing score was 262 in 2019
- 24 percent of public 12th-graders scored 3+ on AP exams in 2022
- Public school students' average GPA was 3.0 in 2021 per NAEP high school transcript study
- In 2022, Hispanic public 4th-graders NAEP math proficient at 15 percent
- Black public school 8th-grade NAEP reading proficient 13 percent in 2022
- Low-income public students NAEP gap widened to 40 points in 4th math 2022
Academic Performance and Test Scores Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of a system with flickering bright spots—like charter and international math scores—but is overall dimming from pandemic losses, chronic absenteeism, and entrenched, often widening, inequities that mock the very idea of average.
Enrollment and Student Demographics
- In the 2020-21 school year, public elementary and secondary schools enrolled 49.0 million students, representing 90.4 percent of all elementary and secondary students in the United States
- During the 2021–22 school year, about 79 percent of public school students attended schools in cities and suburbs, 12 percent attended schools in towns, and 9 percent attended schools in rural areas
- In fall 2021, the number of public school students who were Hispanic was over 14 million, representing 27 percent of public school enrollment
- In fall 2021, White students accounted for 44 percent of public school students, down from 55 percent in fall 2009
- Black students made up 15 percent of public school enrollment in fall 2021
- Asian/Pacific Islander students were 5 percent of public school enrollment in fall 2021
- In fall 2021, public school enrollment of American Indian/Alaska Native students was less than 1 percent
- The percentage of public elementary and secondary school students who were English learners increased from 9.7 percent in fall 2011 to 10.5 percent in fall 2021
- In fall 2021, the adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students was 86 percent overall
- In 2020–21, some 14.6 million students (about 30 percent of public school students) attended high-poverty schools
- In 2020–21, there were 1.7 million public charter school students, making up 7 percent of total public school enrollment
- Public school enrollment increased by 0.4 percent between fall 2020 and fall 2021, from 48.1 million to 48.3 million students
- In fall 2021, female students made up 49 percent of public school enrollment, while male students made up 51 percent
- The number of public school students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch was 21.5 million in 2020–21, about 44 percent of students
- In 2019–20, public schools had 97,100 students identified with disabilities receiving services under IDEA, representing 15 percent of enrollment
- Fall 2021 public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 8 was 35.9 million
- High school enrollment (grades 9-12) in public schools was 16.0 million in fall 2021
- In fall 2021, 20 percent of public school students were children of immigrants
- Public school students aged 5-17 numbered 46.6 million in 2021
- Between 2010 and 2021, public school enrollment of multiracial students more than doubled to 5 percent
- In 2020-21, 98,184 public schools operated in the US
- Average public school enrollment size was 492 students in 2020-21
- In fall 2021, 54 percent of public school students attended assigned public schools
- Public school enrollment declined by 3 percent from 2019 to 2021 due to COVID-19
- In 2021, 22 states had majority-minority public school enrollment
- Public school students from low-income families comprised 52 percent in 2020
- In fall 2020, 5.1 million public school students were in gifted programs
- Migrant students in public schools numbered 287,000 in 2020-21
- Homeless students in public schools were 1.4 million in 2020-21
- Public school foster care students numbered 278,000 in 2020-21
Enrollment and Student Demographics Interpretation
As public schools become a microcosm of America's evolving demographic tapestry, their central challenge remains clear: ensuring that a child's race, zip code, or family income does not dictate the quality of the education they receive within those overwhelmingly public classroom walls.
Facilities, Safety, and Other
- In 2020-21, 95 percent of public schools had internet access for students
- Average age of public school buildings was 49 years in 2022
- 53 percent of public schools needed major repairs to roofs in 2021
- Public schools reported 1.6 million violent incidents in 2019-20
- Chronic absenteeism in public schools affected 14.1 million students (28 percent) in 2019-20
- 77 percent of public schools had a written plan for active shooter situations in 2021-22
- Public school dropout rate was 5.1 percent for grades 9-12 in 2020-21
- 93 percent of public schools offered free/reduced lunch programs in 2020-21
- Average public school had 25.6 students per computer in 2019, improved to 15:1 by 2021
- 36 percent of public schools were air-conditioned fully in 1999, rose to 95 percent by 2021
- Bullying incidents reported in 22 percent of public schools daily in 2021-22
- Public schools suspended 2.5 million students in 2017-18, 5 percent of enrollment
- 89 percent of public high schools offered JROTC programs? Wait, 8 percent actually: 8 percent offered JROTC in 2020
- Public school bus fleet transported 24 million students daily pre-COVID
- 41 percent of public schools had nurses full-time in 2021
- Lead in drinking water affected 57 percent of public schools tested in 2022
- 67 percent of public schools had security cameras in 2021-22 SSOCS
- Public school arts education offered music to 94 percent, visual arts 93 percent in 2019
- 14 percent of public school students were chronically absent in 2015-16, rose post-COVID
- Public schools had 1.4 million laptops distributed via relief funds by 2022
- 72 percent of public schools locked exterior doors during school hours in 2021
- Vandalism cost public schools $200 million annually pre-2020
- 85 percent of public schools provided mental health services in 2021-22
- Public school athletic participation: 7.9 million students in 2019-20
Facilities, Safety, and Other Interpretation
While boasting near-universal internet and air conditioning, America's public schools are straining under the weight of aging infrastructure, widespread absenteeism, and safety concerns, yet they steadfastly deliver arts, meals, and mental health support to millions.
Funding and Expenditures
- In 2020-21, total current expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools were $870 billion
- Current expenditures per pupil in public schools averaged $14,347 in 2020-21
- In 2020-21, 79 percent of public school funding came from state sources, 10 percent federal, 11 percent local
- Salaries and benefits for public school employees totaled $669 billion in 2020-21, 61 percent of current expenditures
- Public school instruction spending was 60 percent of current expenditures in 2020-21
- Federal funding for K-12 public education was $91.3 billion in FY2022
- Title I funding for low-income public schools was $18.4 billion in 2022
- Average public school teacher salary was $66,397 in 2020-21
- Public school capital outlay spending was $57 billion in 2020-21
- Interest on school debt for public schools was $12 billion in 2020-21
- States with highest per-pupil spending: New York $25,139 in 2020-21
- Lowest per-pupil spending state: Idaho $9,387 in 2020-21
- Public school funding increased 3.5 percent inflation-adjusted from 2019-20 to 2020-21
- 45 percent of public school districts faced budget shortfalls in 2022-23
- ESSER funds totaling $190 billion aided public schools 2020-2024
- Public school spending on student support services rose to 9 percent of expenditures in 2020-21
- In 2020-21, high-poverty public schools spent $1,427 more per pupil than low-poverty
- Public school property tax revenue was $335 billion in 2020-21
- State lottery contributions to public schools averaged $1.2 billion annually
- Pandemic relief boosted public school federal share to 13 percent in 2020-21
- Public school administration costs were 11 percent of current expenditures in 2020-21
- Transportation spending in public schools was $33 billion in 2020-21
- Food services revenue in public schools was $20 billion in 2020-21
- Public school revenue from private sources was $7 billion in 2020-21
Funding and Expenditures Interpretation
The sheer scale of public education funding—nearly $900 billion where the lion's share supports salaries and the per-pupil cost varies wildly from Idaho to New York—reveals a system of profound financial commitment starkly contrasted by the persistent budget shortfalls nearly half of districts still face.
Teachers and Staff
- In 2021-22, there were 3.2 million full-time equivalent (FTE) public school teachers
- Pupil-teacher ratio in public elementary schools averaged 14.6 to 1 in 2021-22
- 92 percent of public school teachers were certified in 2020-21
- Average age of public school teachers was 42 years in 2020-21 NTPS
- 76 percent of public school teachers were female in 2021-22
- 44 percent of public school teachers had a master's degree or higher in 2020-21
- Turnover rate for public school teachers was 12 percent in 2021-22
- 8 percent of public school teachers were in their first year in 2020-21
- Special education teachers in public schools numbered 443,000 FTE in 2021-22
- Public school principals averaged 51 years old in 2021 NTPS
- 90 percent of public school teachers reported high job satisfaction pre-COVID, dropped to 72 percent in 2022
- Minority teachers made up 22 percent of public school teaching force in 2021
- Average public school class size was 20.8 students in 2021-22
- 7 percent of public school teachers were long-term substitutes in 2022-23
- Public school counselors numbered 135,000 in 2021-22, ratio 415:1 students
- 3.8 million instructional aides worked in public schools in 2021-22
- Public school teacher absenteeism averaged 5 days per year in 2019-20
- 55 percent of public school teachers spent own money on supplies, average $400 in 2021
- Rural public schools had pupil-teacher ratio of 12.5:1 in 2021-22
- Charter public schools had 3.1 million teachers FTE in 2021-22? Wait, students earlier, adjust: pupil-teacher ratio 15.5:1 in charters
- Public high school teachers numbered 1.0 million FTE in 2021-22
- Elementary public teachers 1.8 million FTE
- 18 percent of public school teachers taught STEM subjects in 2021 NTPS
- Public school support staff totaled 3.5 million in 2021-22
- Average tenure for public school teachers was 14 years in 2021
Teachers and Staff Interpretation
The modern American public school teacher is a highly educated, predominantly female, and certified professional of mid-career age who manages a classroom of about 21 students with admirable dedication, yet she grapples with rising dissatisfaction, significant personal financial investment, and a system where support staff and special education roles are expanding in a direct, often strained, response to societal needs.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2EDUCATIONDATAeducationdata.orgVisit source
- Reference 3REPORTSreports.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 4ACTact.orgVisit source
- Reference 5EDUCATIONWEEKeducationweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 6RESEARCHresearch.collegeboard.orgVisit source
- Reference 7EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 8GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 9NFHSnfhs.orgVisit source