Public elementary and secondary schools enrolled 22.1 million students in fall 2023. Even with that scale, 18% of adults ages 16 to 74 reported literacy below Level 2 in the 2017 to 2018 NAAL-like assessment results. Federal student aid totaled $1.09 trillion in 2022 to 2023, while outstanding student loan debt reached $1.2 trillion by 2024.
Key Takeaways
- 22.1 million students in public elementary and secondary schools (fall 2023)
- 2.6 million students were enrolled in public colleges in fall 2021 (IPEDS degree-granting enrollment totals)
- 1.7% of U.S. elementary and secondary students were migrant students in 2021–22
- 18% of U.S. adults ages 16–74 reported having literacy below Level 2 in the 2017–2018 NAAL-like assessment results (basic literacy insufficiency level share)
- 78% of students graduated high school on time within 4 years in the 2021–22 cohort (national public high school graduation rate)
- 9.0% of adults ages 25–64 had not completed high school in 2023
- 12.3% of students in public schools had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in 2021–22
- 52% of public schools reported providing transportation services for students with disabilities in 2021–22
- 84% of public schools reported having at least 1:1 device access for students in 2022
- $4,565 average public elementary and secondary school revenue per student from federal sources in FY 2021
- $135.3 billion student aid awarded in 2022–23 via federal student financial aid programs (Direct Loans, Pell Grants, etc.)
- $1.09 trillion total federal student aid in award year 2022–23
- 3.6 million people worked as K–12 teachers in the U.S. in 2022
- $67,080 median annual wage for kindergarten and elementary school teachers (U.S.) in May 2023
- 1.2 million teachers were in secondary schools in 2022
U.S. education spans 22.1 million public school students, rising costs, major literacy gaps, and substantial federal aid.
Related reading
01 · Category
Enrollment5 stats
01
22.1 million students in public elementary and secondary schools (fall 2023)
02
2.6 million students were enrolled in public colleges in fall 2021 (IPEDS degree-granting enrollment totals)
03
1.7% of U.S. elementary and secondary students were migrant students in 2021–22
04
19.8% of U.S. public school students were in schools where 75% or more of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2021–22.
05
8.9% of K–12 public schools reported being fully remote for all students at any point in the 2021–22 school year (COVID-era operating mode, Schools and Staffing Survey).
Interpretation
Enrollment Interpretation
For Enrollment in the United States, the scale is clear with 22.1 million students in public elementary and secondary schools in fall 2023, while smaller but notable shares like 1.7% migrant students in 2021 to 2022 and 8.9% of K to 12 schools operating fully remote at some point in 2021 to 2022 show how student needs and delivery modes were still varying within that overall enrollment landscape.
02 · Category
Outcomes4 stats
01
18% of U.S. adults ages 16–74 reported having literacy below Level 2 in the 2017–2018 NAAL-like assessment results (basic literacy insufficiency level share)
02
78% of students graduated high school on time within 4 years in the 2021–22 cohort (national public high school graduation rate)
03
9.0% of adults ages 25–64 had not completed high school in 2023
04
44% of adults ages 25–64 had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2023
Interpretation
Outcomes Interpretation
For the Outcomes category, the United States shows a mixed picture: while 78% of students graduated high school on time and 44% of adults ages 25–64 earned at least a bachelor’s degree in 2023, sizable literacy and attainment gaps remain with 18% of adults ages 16–74 below Level 2 literacy and 9.0% of adults ages 25–64 not completing high school.
03 · Category
Equity & Access3 stats
01
12.3% of students in public schools had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in 2021–22
02
52% of public schools reported providing transportation services for students with disabilities in 2021–22
03
84% of public schools reported having at least 1:1 device access for students in 2022
Interpretation
Equity & Access Interpretation
For Equity and Access, the data show uneven support across key needs, with only 12.3% of public school students having IEPs in 2021–22 while just 52% of schools provide transportation for students with disabilities even as 84% report at least 1:1 device access in 2022.
04 · Category
Spending5 stats
01
$4,565average public elementary and secondary school revenue per student from federal sources in FY 2021
02
$135.3 billion student aid awarded in 2022–23 via federal student financial aid programs (Direct Loans, Pell Grants, etc.)
03
$1.09 trillion total federal student aid in award year 2022–23
04
$1.2 trillion in outstanding student loan debt in the United States as of 2024
05
$1.6 trillion estimated total student loan debt outstanding in the U.S. (federal+private), reported for 2024
Interpretation
Spending Interpretation
Spending on education and student support is heavily concentrated in student aid, with $135.3 billion awarded in 2022 to 2023 and a far larger $1.09 trillion total federal student aid in the same award year, underscoring how federal dollars flow into higher education even as outstanding student loan debt reaches about $1.6 trillion in 2024.
05 · Category
Workforce & Technology6 stats
01
3.6 million people worked as K–12 teachers in the U.S. in 2022
02
$67,080median annual wage for kindergarten and elementary school teachers (U.S.) in May 2023
03
1.2 million teachers were in secondary schools in 2022
04
$69,680median annual wage for high school teachers (U.S.) in May 2023
05
$21,000average teacher salary for first-year teachers (public school teachers) in 2022–23
06
7.8% teacher turnover rate in 2021–22 for public school teachers
Interpretation
Workforce & Technology Interpretation
With 3.6 million K–12 teachers employed in 2022 and a 7.8% public school teacher turnover rate in 2021–22 alongside first-year pay averaging about $21,000, the U.S. workforce behind K–12 education is under steady pressure, which is a key technology and workforce readiness challenge for the education system.
More related reading
06 · Category
Digital Infrastructure1 stats
01
$87.5 billion in global edtech investment occurred in 2021 (edtech funding total).
Interpretation
Digital Infrastructure Interpretation
In 2021, global edtech investment totaled $87.5 billion, signaling a rapid buildout of digital infrastructure that is attracting major funding and strengthening the technology backbone of US education.
07 · Category
Expenditure & Funding2 stats
01
Average per-student spending in U.S. public schools increased by $1,631(from $8,191 to $9,822) between 2011–12 and 2021–22.
02
14.6% of K–12 district revenue came from local sources in 2021–22 (local share of total revenue).
Interpretation
Expenditure & Funding Interpretation
From 2011–12 to 2021–22, average per-student spending in U.S. public schools rose by $1,631 to $9,822, showing sustained increases in expenditure even as local sources accounted for just 14.6% of K–12 district revenue in 2021–22.
08 · Category
Workforce & Skills2 stats
01
49% of teachers reported they planned to leave the profession within the next 5 years (RAND State of Teachers survey).
02
12% of workers with a bachelor’s degree were employed in jobs not requiring a bachelor’s degree in 2022 (education-occupation mismatch).
Interpretation
Workforce & Skills Interpretation
With 49% of teachers planning to leave within the next 5 years and 12% of bachelor’s degree holders working in jobs that do not require one, the US education workforce is facing both retention and skills alignment pressures that threaten long term workforce strength.
09 · Category
Outcomes & Equity2 stats
01
52% of U.S. public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2021–22 (poverty measure, NCES Digest).
02
28% of U.S. students experience bullying at school at least once a year (CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey meta-estimate).
Interpretation
Outcomes & Equity Interpretation
In the Outcomes and Equity lens, the fact that 52% of U.S. public school students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch and 28% reported bullying at least yearly in 2021–22 highlights how poverty and school climate risks continue to affect many students’ lived experiences and potential educational outcomes.
report visual · Comparison
Snapshot of U.S. education outcomes and student needs
Key education indicators highlight strong on-time graduation alongside ongoing needs such as poverty exposure, special education participation, and remote-learning during the COVID-era.
78% of students graduated high school on time within 4 years in the 2021–22 cohort (national public high school graduati78%
52% of U.S. public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2021–22 (poverty measure, NCES Diges
52%
12.3% of students in public schools had Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in 2021–22
12.3%
8.9% of K–12 public schools reported being fully remote for all students at any point in the 2021–22 school year (COVID-
8.9%
source-verifiednces.ed.gov · cdc.gov2021
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
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). United States Education Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-education-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "United States Education Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-education-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "United States Education Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-education-statistics.
Sources & references
30 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+20 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)