With just 64% of Kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolled in public schools in 2020–21, the rest of the picture spans charters, private schools, and major gaps by race, poverty, and opportunity that you will want to unpack in the full School Race statistics.
Key Takeaways
- 64% of students in Kindergarten–12th grade were enrolled in public schools in the 2020–21 school year
- 3.1 million public school students were enrolled in charter schools in the 2020–21 school year
- 50.5 million students were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2022
- 20% of students were chronically absent in 2021–22
- 72% of 8th graders met reading proficiency in 2019 (NAEP scale: at least Basic)
- 36% of 8th graders met reading proficiency at the Proficient level in 2019
- In 2022, 7.0% of students were enrolled in alternative schools
- $13,248 average per-pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools in 2020–21
- 9% of public school operating revenue came from local sources nationally in 2020–21
- 1 teacher for every 16 students in public schools in 2020–21 (U.S. average student-teacher ratio)
- In 2020–21, the student-teacher ratio in high-poverty schools was 1.3 higher than in low-poverty schools
- In 2020–21, average class size was 22 students in grades 1–12 (public schools)
Nearly half of public students attend schools where minority enrollment is high, alongside persistent segregation and opportunity gaps.
Enrollment Demographics
164% of students in Kindergarten–12th grade were enrolled in public schools in the 2020–21 school year[1]
Verified23.1 million public school students were enrolled in charter schools in the 2020–21 school year[2]
Verified350.5 million students were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2022[3]
Verified47.1 million students attended private schools in fall 2019[4]
Directional546% of students in public schools were White in fall 2021[3]
Single source625% of students in public schools were Black in fall 2021[3]
Verified727% of students in public schools were Hispanic in fall 2021[3]
Verified85% of students in public schools were Asian in fall 2021[3]
Verified91% of students in public schools were Native American/Alaska Native in fall 2021[3]
Directional101% of students in public schools were Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander in fall 2021[3]
Single source1110% of public school students were English learners (ELs) in 2021[5]
Verified1215% of public school students had disabilities (IDEA) in 2021[6]
Verified1324% of public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2021[7]
Verified1419% of students in public schools were in schools with a high concentration of poverty (based on NCES definitions) in 2021[7]
Directional1517% of public schools were considered high-poverty schools in 2021[7]
Single source162.0 million students were homeless in the 2019–20 school year[8]
Verified173.8 million students were eligible for special education services in 2021[9]
Verified18In 2022, 43% of public school students attended a school where the racial/ethnic minority student enrollment was at least 50%[10]
Verified19In 2022, 14% of public school students attended a school where the racial/ethnic minority student enrollment was at least 90%[10]
Directional20In 2022, 8% of public school students attended a school that was effectively all-minority (racial/ethnic minority enrollment at least 99%)[10]
Single source21In 2022, 30% of public school students attended a school with less than 10% minority enrollment[10]
Verified22In 2022, 24% of public school students attended a school with between 10% and 19% minority enrollment[10]
Verified23In 2022, 20% of public school students attended a school with between 20% and 49% minority enrollment[10]
Verified24In 2022, 18% of public school students attended a school with between 50% and 79% minority enrollment[10]
Directional25In 2022, 10% of public school students attended a school with between 80% and 89% minority enrollment[10]
Single source26In 2022, 6% of public school students attended a school with between 90% and 98% minority enrollment[10]
Verified27In 2022, 46% of Black students attended a school where the minority student enrollment was at least 90%[10]
Verified28In 2022, 36% of Hispanic students attended a school where the minority student enrollment was at least 90%[10]
Verified29In 2022, 21% of Asian students attended a school where the minority student enrollment was at least 90%[10]
Directional30In 2022, 15% of White students attended a school where the minority student enrollment was at least 90%[10]
Single source311 in 5 Black students attended a school that was 90%–100% minority in 2022[10]
Verified32Approximately 3 in 10 Hispanic students attended a school that was 90%–100% minority in 2022[10]
Verified33In 2022, the average exposure of White students to minority peers (minority exposure index) was 0.56[10]
Verified34In 2022, the average exposure of Black students to White peers was 0.08[10]
Directional35In 2022, 48% of districts served students of one race/ethnicity group only (segregation category definition)[10]
Single source36In 2022, the index of dissimilarity for students by race/ethnicity was 0.23[10]
Verified37In 2022, the index of dissimilarity for students by poverty was 0.31[10]
Verified38In 2022, 28% of public school districts were highly segregated by race/ethnicity (top quintile using segregation measures)[10]
Verified39In 2022, 22% of public school districts were highly segregated by poverty (top quintile using segregation measures)[10]
Directional40In 2020–21, 77% of public school districts offered free meals to all students[11]
Single source41In 2020–21, 26% of public school districts were Title I schools[12]
Verified4242% of public school students were enrolled in Title I schools in 2020–21[13]
VerifiedEnrollment Demographics Interpretation
In 2022, the average White student had a minority exposure index of 0.56 while only 15% of White students attended schools with at least 90% minority enrollment, showing that most racial integration is limited by how students are distributed across schools.
Attendance And Outcomes
120% of students were chronically absent in 2021–22[14]
Verified272% of 8th graders met reading proficiency in 2019 (NAEP scale: at least Basic)[15]
Verified336% of 8th graders met reading proficiency at the Proficient level in 2019[15]
Verified4In 2022, the graduation rate for Black students was 87% compared with 93% for White students (U.S.)[16]
Directional5In 2022, the graduation rate for Hispanic students was 82% compared with 93% for White students (U.S.)[16]
Single source6In 2022, the graduation rate for students with disabilities was 63% compared with 93% for White students (U.S.)[16]
Verified7In 2022, the graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students was 86% compared with 93% for non-economically disadvantaged (U.S.)[16]
Verified8In 2022, the overall high school graduation rate was 88%[16]
Verified9In 2019–20, 40% of Black students scored below proficient in reading on the SAT (College Board)[17]
Directional10In 2019–20, 26% of White students scored below proficient in reading on the SAT (College Board)[17]
Single source11In 2019–20, 44% of Black students scored below proficient in math on the SAT (College Board)[17]
Verified12In 2019–20, 23% of White students scored below proficient in math on the SAT (College Board)[17]
Verified13In 2017–18, 48% of students with disabilities were proficient or above in reading on NAEP at Grade 4[18]
Verified14In 2017–18, 33% of students with disabilities were proficient or above in math on NAEP at Grade 4[18]
Directional15In 2017–18, 53% of students without disabilities were proficient or above in reading on NAEP at Grade 4[18]
Single source16In 2017–18, 46% of students without disabilities were proficient or above in math on NAEP at Grade 4[18]
Verified17In 2022, 67% of students with disabilities graduated within 4 years[16]
Verified18In 2022, 93% of White students graduated within 4 years[16]
Verified19In 2022, 84% of economically disadvantaged students graduated within 4 years[16]
Directional20In 2019, the percent of Black students who were 4-year graduation rate completers was 78%[16]
Single source21In 2019, the percent of Hispanic students who were 4-year graduation rate completers was 77%[16]
Verified22In 2019, the overall 4-year graduation rate was 87%[16]
VerifiedAttendance And Outcomes Interpretation
Across these measures, graduation gaps remain stark even when overall outcomes look strong, with the 2022 4-year graduation rate at 88% overall but falling to 63% for students with disabilities compared with 93% for White students.
Funding And Resources
1In 2022, 7.0% of students were enrolled in alternative schools[19]
Verified2$13,248 average per-pupil expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools in 2020–21[20]
Verified39% of public school operating revenue came from local sources nationally in 2020–21[21]
Verified445% of public school operating revenue came from state sources nationally in 2020–21[21]
Directional546% of public school operating revenue came from federal sources nationally in 2020–21[21]
Single source6$700 per pupil average from federal sources (2020–21)[21]
Verified7$6,500 per pupil from state sources (2020–21)[21]
Verified8$6,000 per pupil from local sources (2020–21)[21]
Verified9$1.2 trillion spent by public elementary and secondary education systems in 2020–21 (current expenditures)[22]
Directional10$12.0 billion funding for school meals (NSLP) impact estimates in FY 2022[23]
Single source11$4.0 billion in funding for Child Nutrition Programs in FY 2022 (USDA)[24]
Verified1216.3 million students received free or reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch Program in 2021[25]
Verified1324.6 million students participated in the National School Lunch Program in 2021[25]
Verified1442% of schools reported they used federal funding to support school safety initiatives (survey: 2018–19)[26]
Directional157% of public schools lacked basic infrastructure such as working hot water (2017–18)[27]
Single source1658% of public schools reported they had 1:1 student device access in 2019[28]
Verified17$1,600 difference in spending per student between districts at the 90th and 10th percentile of revenue per pupil (2016–17)[29]
Verified18$2,000 difference in spending per student between districts at the 90th and 10th percentile of total revenue per pupil (2016–17)[29]
Verified1918% of teachers in public schools had less than 3 years of experience in 2017–18[30]
Directional20$60,477 median teacher salary in 2022–23 (U.S.)[31]
Single source21$92,000 median principal salary in 2022–23 (U.S.)[32]
Verified22$52,000 median assistant principal salary in 2022–23 (U.S.)[33]
Verified2311.8 million students enrolled in public school special education (IDEA Part B ages 3–21) in 2021[9]
Verified241.0 million special education teachers were employed in the U.S. in 2022[34]
Directional253.2 million full-time equivalent school staff were employed in public schools in 2017–18[35]
Single source263.7 million teachers were employed in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools in 2017–18[30]
VerifiedFunding And Resources Interpretation
Across the United States, public school systems in 2020–21 spent $1.2 trillion while federal, state, and local funding made up 46%, 45%, and 9% of operating revenue respectively, showing how strongly education finance still depends on the top two levels of government.
Staffing And Equity
11 teacher for every 16 students in public schools in 2020–21 (U.S. average student-teacher ratio)[36]
Verified2In 2020–21, the student-teacher ratio in high-poverty schools was 1.3 higher than in low-poverty schools[36]
Verified3In 2020–21, average class size was 22 students in grades 1–12 (public schools)[37]
Verified4In 2020–21, average class size was 24 students in high-poverty schools[37]
Directional5Teachers in public schools were 79% White, 9% Black, 8% Hispanic, 3% Asian in 2017–18 (NCES)[38]
Single source6In 2017–18, 12% of teachers were Black in districts with high Black enrollment[38]
Verified7In 2017–18, 27% of principals were Black (top quartile districts)[39]
Verified8In 2017–18, 88% of principals were White in low-minority districts[39]
Verified9In 2020, 36% of teachers reported being stressed often or always (RAND Teacher Survey)[40]
Directional10In 2019, 40% of teachers reported considering leaving the profession (RAND Teacher Survey)[40]
Single source11In 2017–18, 15% of teachers were expected to work without full certification (U.S.)[41]
Verified12In 2017–18, 20% of teachers in high-poverty schools were not fully certified[41]
Verified13In 2017–18, 75% of teachers had a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.)[42]
Verified14In 2017–18, 40% of teachers held a master's or higher degree[42]
Directional15In 2022, 19% of public school teachers planned to leave the profession at the end of the school year (RAND Teacher Survey)[40]
Single source16In 2020, 22% of teachers reported they were likely to leave within 1–3 years (RAND Teacher Survey)[40]
Verified17In 2022, 2.4% of public schools had no fully licensed teachers in at least one core subject (NCES)[43]
Verified18In 2020–21, 42% of principals were female[39]
Verified19In 2017–18, the average teacher salary for White teachers was $69,000 and for Black teachers was $61,000 (BLS/NCES derived comparisons)[44]
Directional20In 2017–18, the average teacher salary for Hispanic teachers was $57,000 (NCES)[44]
Single source21In 2020–21, 15% of public schools were staffed with a teacher workforce having less than 3 years experience average[36]
Verified22In 2021, 25% of schools reported difficulty hiring teachers (schools survey)[26]
Verified23In 2021, 18% of schools reported difficulty retaining teachers[26]
Verified24In 2019, 9% of schools reported having a high teacher vacancy rate (Teacher Vacancy rates)[45]
Directional25In 2019, 5% of schools reported having a high teacher turnover rate[45]
Single source26In 2022, 2.6 students per counselor were reported in high-poverty schools (U.S.)[46]
Verified27In 2022, 3.3 students per counselor were reported in low-poverty schools (U.S.)[46]
Verified28In 2022, student-to-nurse ratios were 1,250 students per nurse in public schools[47]
Verified29In 2018, 33% of public schools had a school counselor-to-student ratio of 1:250 or better[46]
Directional30In 2018, 12% of public schools had no counselors on staff[46]
Single source31In 2018, 2% of public schools had no school nurses on staff[47]
Verified3219% of students were taught by an experienced teacher (defined as 3+ years experience) in high-poverty schools compared with 28% in low-poverty schools (2017)[48]
Verified3328% of students were taught by an experienced teacher (3+ years) in low-poverty schools in 2017[48]
Verified34In 2020–21, 14% of public school teachers were new (0–2 years experience)[48]
Directional35In 2020–21, 19% of teachers in high-poverty schools were new (0–2 years experience)[48]
Single source36In 2020–21, 10% of teachers in low-poverty schools were new (0–2 years experience)[48]
Verified37In 2019, 36% of schools had at least one teacher vacancy in the first month of school[49]
Verified38In 2019, 18% of schools reported multiple vacancies in core subjects[49]
Verified39In 2016, 14% of public schools reported lack of access to effective teachers for at least one subject (SASS)[50]
Directional40In 2016, 20% of public schools serving high-minority enrollment reported such access issues[50]
Single source41In 2016, 12% of public schools serving low-minority enrollment reported such access issues[50]
VerifiedStaffing And Equity Interpretation
Across the board, staffing strain falls hardest on high-poverty and high-minority schools, with average class size rising from 22 students overall to 24 in high-poverty schools while teachers are also more likely to be new or unfully certified, including 19% of teachers new in high-poverty schools versus 10% in low-poverty schools and 20% not fully certified in high-poverty schools.
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