This page examines how students with disabilities experience school across subjects, outcomes, and day-to-day conditions, using recent NAEP and IDEA data. We highlight who is affected—7.5 million students ages 3–21 receiving special education services under IDEA—and the disability types reported in 2021–22. It also connects achievement, graduation, and classroom experiences to supports such as IEPs and related services, plus factors including poverty, discipline, and bullying.
Key Takeaways
- In NAEP 2019 math grade 8, 26% of students with disabilities scored below basic
- 2019 NAEP reading grade 8: only 12% of students with disabilities proficient or above
- Grade 4 NAEP math 2019: 37% of disabled students below basic
- 40% of students with disabilities live in poverty vs 18% general population
- Discipline rates: disabled students 2x more likely suspended than non-disabled 2020-21
- 25% of special ed students reported bullying vs 15% general (2021 survey)
- In 2021-22, adjusted cohort graduation rate for students with disabilities was 72%
- Non-disabled students had 88% ACGR vs 72% for disabled in 2021-22
- Students with cognitive disabilities graduated at 60% rate in 2021-22 ACGR
- In the 2021-22 school year, 7.5 million students ages 3-21 received special education services under IDEA, representing 15% of public school enrollment
- Among students with disabilities in public schools (2021-22), 34% had specific learning disabilities
- In 2021-22, 18% of students with disabilities had speech or language impairments
- In 2021-22, 72% of students with disabilities received IEPs
- 90% of students with disabilities had IEPs or IFSPs under IDEA Part B/C in 2020-21
- Related services provided to 85% of special ed students in 2021-22
Students with disabilities face major learning gaps and higher discipline, poverty, and bullying rates despite IDEA services.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Achievement22 stats
01
In NAEP 2019 math grade 8, 26% of students with disabilities scored below basic
02
2019 NAEP reading grade 8: only 12% of students with disabilities proficient or above
03
Grade 4 NAEP math 2019: 37% of disabled students below basic
04
In 2022 NAEP, students with disabilities had 32-point gap in grade 4 reading vs. non-disabled
05
2022 NAEP grade 8 math: 68% of students with disabilities below proficient
06
Students with disabilities scored 29 points lower in NAEP grade 12 reading 2019
07
In 2019 PISA, U.S. students with disabilities averaged 50 points lower in reading
08
2015 NAEP science grade 8: 71% of disabled students below proficient
09
Grade 4 NAEP 2022: achievement gap for disabled students in reading was 31 points
10
In 2021-22, 42% of students with disabilities in grade 4 were proficient in ELA per state tests avg
11
Math proficiency for grade 8 students with disabilities averaged 28% in 2021-22 states
12
Students with specific learning disabilities had 15-point NAEP gap in grade 8 math 2019
13
Autism students scored lowest in NAEP reading grade 4 at 8% proficient 2019
14
In 2019, 51% of grade 12 students with disabilities below basic in math NAEP
15
Emotional disturbance students had 25% proficiency in grade 8 reading NAEP 2019
16
2022 NAEP grade 4 math gap for disabled widened to 36 points from 33 in 2019
17
Undergrads with disabilities had lower GPAs: 2.9 vs 3.1 for non-disabled in 2015-16
18
35% of disabled undergrads had GPA below 2.5 vs 25% non-disabled (2015-16)
19
In STEM courses, students with LD scored 0.5 grade points lower avg (2010 study)
20
22% proficiency rate in college algebra for disabled students vs 45% general (2020)
21
HS seniors with disabilities averaged 440 SAT math vs 520 non-disabled (2022)
22
ACT composite for disabled students: 18.5 vs 21.0 national avg 2022
Interpretation
Academic Achievement Interpretation
Across NAEP for students with disabilities, academic achievement is consistently lower than peers, with major gaps such as 68% below proficient in grade 8 math (2022) and 32-point lower reading scores in grade 4 (2022), showing a clear and persistent underperformance in this category.
02 · Category
Barriers And Disparities19 stats
01
40% of students with disabilities live in poverty vs 18% general population
02
Discipline rates: disabled students 2x more likely suspended than non-disabled 2020-21
03
25% of special ed students reported bullying vs 15% general (2021 survey)
04
Funding per special ed student: $13,000vs $12,000 general in 2020-21 avg
05
Only 60% of IDEA funding authorized met in FY2022 ($13.6B appropriated)
06
Teacher shortage: 40% of special ed positions unfilled or underqualified 2022
07
30% of disabled students lack access to advanced courses in HS
08
Mental health: 50% of disabled students have co-occurring conditions untreated
09
Transportation barriers affect 20% of rural disabled students daily
10
English learners with disabilities: 16% over-identification rate
11
Pandemic learning loss: disabled students 50% more impacted in reading recovery 2022
12
Assistive tech funding gap: only 40% schools fully equipped 2022
13
Parental involvement lower: 35% of disabled student parents attend IEPs regularly
14
Gender disparity: girls with disabilities 10% less likely to get services identified
15
15 states have waitlists for early intervention services averaging 6 months
16
Post-COVID, absenteeism 25% higher for special ed students 2022-23
17
Only 50% of colleges fully compliant with ADA section 504 audits 2022
18
Transition planning inadequate: 40% no paid employment experience by age 21
19
STEM access: disabled students 5x less likely in AP STEM courses
Interpretation
Barriers And Disparities Interpretation
Students with disabilities face persistent barriers and disparities, with 40% living in poverty and discipline and bullying risks running notably higher, including disabled students being twice as likely to be suspended and 25% reporting bullying versus 15% in the general student population.
03 · Category
Graduation And Outcomes23 stats
01
In 2021-22, adjusted cohort graduation rate for students with disabilities was 72%
02
Non-disabled students had 88% ACGR vs 72% for disabled in 2021-22
03
Students with cognitive disabilities graduated at 60% rate in 2021-22 ACGR
04
84% of students with hearing impairments graduated in 2021-22
05
Emotional disturbance group had lowest ACGR at 64% in 2021-22
06
Specific learning disabilities graduated at 75% ACGR 2021-22
07
6-year completion rate for disabled undergrads: 45% vs 64% non-disabled (2016 cohort)
08
Dropout rate for special ed students was 18% vs 5% general in 2021-22
09
32% of disabled HS grads enrolled in 4-year college vs 45% non-disabled 2020
10
Postsecondary enrollment for disabled grads: 50% within 1 year vs 70% general
11
Employment rate 1 year post-HS for disabled: 40% vs 65% non-disabled (2022)
12
25% of disabled youth in supported employment 2 years post-school (NLTS 2012)
13
4-year college completion for disabled: 35% vs 60% non-disabled (2011 cohort)
14
GED attainment for dropouts with disabilities: 15% vs 25% general (2020)
15
In 2022, 57% of disabled HS grads pursued any postsecondary within 6 months
16
Community college enrollment highest for LD students at 42% post-HS
17
Long-term employment (8 yrs post): 60% for mildly disabled vs 20% severely
18
Independent living rate 8 yrs post-HS: 70% for LD vs 30% multiple disabilities
19
Disability employment gap post-college: 75% employed vs 85% non-disabled (2021)
20
20% of disabled undergrads transferred institutions vs 15% general (2015-16)
21
In 2021-22, Black students with disabilities had 67% ACGR vs 75% White disabled
22
Hispanic disabled students ACGR 73% in 2021-22
23
Rural students with disabilities had 70% ACGR vs 74% urban 2021-22
Interpretation
Graduation And Outcomes Interpretation
In the Graduation and Outcomes picture for 2021-22, students with disabilities had a 72% adjusted cohort graduation rate, trailing non-disabled students at 88% and ranging from 60% for students with cognitive disabilities to 84% for students with hearing impairments.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevalence And Demographics29 stats
01
In the 2021-22 school year, 7.5 million students ages 3-21 received special education services under IDEA, representing 15% of public school enrollment
02
Among students with disabilities in public schools (2021-22), 34% had specific learning disabilities
03
In 2021-22, 18% of students with disabilities had speech or language impairments
04
15% of students with disabilities in 2021-22 had other health impairments
05
Autism prevalence among students with disabilities reached 12% in 2021-22 public schools
06
Intellectual disabilities accounted for 7% of students receiving special education in 2021-22
07
Emotional disturbance affected 5% of special education students in 2021-22
08
Multiple disabilities represented 2% of special education enrollment in 2021-22
09
Hearing impairments comprised 1% of students with disabilities in public schools 2021-22
10
Visual impairments were 0.4% of special education students in 2021-22
11
Orthopedic impairments affected 1% of public school students with disabilities in 2021-22
12
In 2020-21, boys were 62% of students receiving special education services under IDEA
13
Black students were overrepresented in special education at 16% of enrollment vs. 15% general in 2021-22
14
Hispanic students comprised 28% of special education students in 2021-22 public schools
15
White students made up 45% of special education enrollment in 2021-22
16
In fall 2021, 6.4% of undergraduates reported having a disability
17
21% of undergraduates in 2015-16 self-identified as having a disability
18
Among public 4-year colleges in 2020, 28% of students reported disabilities
19
ADHD was reported by 8% of undergraduates with disabilities in 2015-16
20
Mental health conditions affected 22% of disabled undergraduates in 2015-16
21
Learning disabilities were 32% among undergraduate students with disabilities in 2015-16
22
In 2022, 1 in 36 children aged 8 years had autism (4.0% prevalence per 1,000)
23
1 in 6 U.S. children aged 3–17 had a developmental disability in 2018-2020
24
Boys were 4 times more likely than girls to have autism (CDC ADDM 2022)
25
20% of students in U.S. public schools receive special education or related services
26
In 2019-20, 95% of students with disabilities were served in regular schools
27
62% of students with disabilities spent 80% or more time in general education in 2021-22
28
14% of students with disabilities were in separate classes in 2021-22
29
3% of students with disabilities attended separate schools in 2021-22
Interpretation
Prevalence And Demographics Interpretation
In the 2021-22 school year, 7.5 million students ages 3 to 21, or 15% of public school students, received IDEA special education services, and within that group learning disabilities were most common at 34% with speech or language impairments at 18% and autism at 12%, showing a diverse and heavily concentrated set of disabilities shaping the prevalence and demographics of students with disabilities.
05 · Category
Services And Accommodations21 stats
01
In 2021-22, 72% of students with disabilities received IEPs
02
90% of students with disabilities had IEPs or IFSPs under IDEA Part B/C in 2020-21
03
Related services provided to 85% of special ed students in 2021-22
04
Speech-language pathology served 45% of special ed students 2021-22
05
Psychological services reached 12% of students with disabilities 2021-22
06
Physical therapy provided to 7% of special ed students in 2021-22
07
Occupational therapy for 15% of students with disabilities 2021-22
08
Counseling services to 20% of special ed students in 2021-22
09
65% of districts provided transition planning starting at age 14 in 2021-22
10
In higher ed, 43% of disabled undergrads received accommodations in 2015-16
11
Extended test time used by 52% of college students with disabilities 2015-16
12
Note-taking services for 25% of disabled undergrads in 2015-16
13
Priority registration benefited 33% of students with disabilities in college 2015-16
14
Assistive technology used by 45% of disabled college students 2015-16
15
78% of special ed teachers were fully certified in 2020-21
16
Student-teacher ratio for special ed was 13:1 in 2021-22 vs 15:1 general
17
25 states required paraprofessionals for special ed support in 2022
18
Early intervention services under Part C served 325,000 infants/toddlers in 2021
19
Transition from Part C to B occurred for 85% of children at age 3 in 2020-21
20
Braille instruction for 0.3% of visually impaired students only in 2021-22
21
504 plans covered 1.2 million more students than IEPs in 2020-21
Interpretation
Services And Accommodations Interpretation
For the Services And Accommodations category, the data shows that while most students with disabilities access core supports like IEPs and related services, only 45% receive speech language pathology and just 12% receive psychological services in 2021-22, suggesting uneven coverage of specialized accommodations.
report visual · Projection
Academic outcomes: a majority are below proficiency
Across NAEP grades, most students with disabilities score below basic/proficient levels in math and reading.
71 Percent of students below proficiency levels
Start
-0.61%
CAGR · 7y
68 Percent of students below proficiency levels
Projected
20192026
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Students With Disabilities Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/students-with-disabilities-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Students With Disabilities Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/students-with-disabilities-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Students With Disabilities Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/students-with-disabilities-statistics.
Sources & references
10 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level