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| 2008 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 7. | Percentage of the population 3 to 34 years old enrolled in school, by age group: Selected years, 1940 through 2007 |
| Year | Total, 3 to 34 years | 3 and 4 years | 5 and 6 years | 7 to 13 years | 14 to 17 years | 18 and 19 years old | 20 to 24 years old | 25 to 29 years | 30 to 34 years | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total | In elementary and secondary | In higher education | Total | 20 and 21 years | 22 to 24 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| 1940 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 95.0 | (—) | 79.3 | (—) | 28.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 6.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1945 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 98.1 | (—) | 78.4 | (—) | 20.7 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 3.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1947 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 73.8 | (—) | 98.5 | (—) | 79.3 | (—) | 24.3 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 10.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 3.0 | (—) | — | (†) | |
| 1948 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 74.7 | (—) | 98.1 | (—) | 81.8 | (—) | 26.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 9.7 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 2.6 | (—) | — | (†) | |
| 1949 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 76.2 | (—) | 98.6 | (—) | 81.6 | (—) | 25.3 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 9.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 3.8 | (—) | — | (†) | |
| 1950 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 74.4 | (—) | 98.7 | (—) | 83.7 | (—) | 29.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 9.0 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 3.0 | (—) | 0.9 | (—) | |
| 1951 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 73.6 | (—) | 99.1 | (—) | 85.2 | (—) | 26.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 8.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 2.5 | (—) | — | (†) | |
| 1952 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 75.2 | (—) | 98.8 | (—) | 85.2 | (—) | 28.8 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 9.7 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 2.6 | (—) | 1.2 | (—) | |
| 1953 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 78.6 | (—) | 99.4 | (—) | 85.9 | (—) | 31.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 11.1 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 2.9 | (—) | 1.7 | (—) | |
| 1954 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 77.3 | (—) | 99.4 | (—) | 87.1 | (—) | 32.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 11.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 4.1 | (—) | 1.5 | (—) | |
| 1955 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 78.1 | (—) | 99.2 | (—) | 86.9 | (—) | 31.5 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 11.1 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 4.2 | (—) | 1.6 | (—) | |
| 1956 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 77.6 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 88.2 | (—) | 35.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 12.8 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 5.1 | (—) | 1.9 | (—) | |
| 1957 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 78.6 | (—) | 99.5 | (—) | 89.5 | (—) | 34.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 14.0 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1958 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 80.4 | (—) | 99.5 | (—) | 89.2 | (—) | 37.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 13.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1959 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 80.0 | (—) | 99.4 | (—) | 90.2 | (—) | 36.8 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 12.7 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1960 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 80.7 | (—) | 99.5 | (—) | 90.3 | (—) | 38.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 13.1 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 4.9 | (—) | 2.4 | (—) | |
| 1961 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 81.7 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 91.4 | (—) | 38.0 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 13.7 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1962 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 82.2 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 92.0 | (—) | 41.8 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 15.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1963 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 82.7 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 92.9 | (—) | 40.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 17.3 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |
| 1964 | — | (†) | — | (†) | 83.3 | (—) | 99.0 | (—) | 93.1 | (—) | 41.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 16.8 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 5.2 | (—) | 2.6 | (—) | |
| 1965 | 55.5 | (—) | 10.6 | (—) | 84.9 | (—) | 99.4 | (—) | 93.2 | (—) | 46.3 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 19.0 | (—) | 27.6 | (—) | 13.2 | (—) | 6.1 | (—) | 3.2 | (—) | |
| 1966 | 56.1 | (—) | 12.5 | (—) | 85.8 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 93.7 | (—) | 47.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 19.9 | (—) | 29.9 | (—) | 13.2 | (—) | 6.5 | (—) | 2.7 | (—) | |
| 1967 | 56.6 | (—) | 14.2 | (—) | 87.4 | (—) | 99.3 | (—) | 93.7 | (—) | 47.6 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 22.0 | (—) | 33.3 | (—) | 13.6 | (—) | 6.6 | (—) | 4.0 | (—) | |
| 1968 | 56.7 | (—) | 15.7 | (—) | 87.6 | (—) | 99.1 | (—) | 94.2 | (—) | 50.4 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 21.4 | (—) | 31.2 | (—) | 13.8 | (—) | 7.0 | (—) | 3.9 | (—) | |
| 1969 | 57.0 | (—) | 16.1 | (—) | 88.4 | (—) | 99.2 | (—) | 94.0 | (—) | 50.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 23.0 | (—) | 34.1 | (—) | 15.4 | (—) | 7.9 | (—) | 4.8 | (—) | |
| 1970 | 56.4 | (0.22) | 20.5 | (0.73) | 89.5 | (0.53) | 99.2 | (0.08) | 94.1 | (0.27) | 47.7 | (0.85) | 10.5 | (0.52) | 37.3 | (0.83) | 21.5 | (0.47) | 31.9 | (0.85) | 14.9 | (0.52) | 7.5 | (0.33) | 4.2 | (0.27) | |
| 1971 | 56.2 | (0.21) | 21.2 | (0.75) | 91.6 | (0.49) | 99.1 | (0.08) | 94.5 | (0.26) | 49.2 | (0.84) | 11.5 | (0.54) | 37.7 | (0.81) | 21.9 | (0.46) | 32.2 | (0.83) | 15.4 | (0.51) | 8.0 | (0.33) | 4.9 | (0.29) | |
| 1972 | 54.9 | (0.21) | 24.4 | (0.80) | 91.9 | (0.50) | 99.2 | (0.08) | 93.3 | (0.28) | 46.3 | (0.82) | 10.4 | (0.50) | 35.9 | (0.79) | 21.6 | (0.45) | 31.4 | (0.79) | 14.8 | (0.50) | 8.6 | (0.33) | 4.6 | (0.27) | |
| 1973 | 53.5 | (0.21) | 24.2 | (0.78) | 92.5 | (0.49) | 99.2 | (0.08) | 92.9 | (0.28) | 42.9 | (0.81) | 10.0 | (0.49) | 32.9 | (0.77) | 20.8 | (0.44) | 30.1 | (0.78) | 14.5 | (0.49) | 8.5 | (0.32) | 4.5 | (0.26) | |
| 1974 | 53.6 | (0.21) | 28.8 | (0.83) | 94.2 | (0.43) | 99.3 | (0.08) | 92.9 | (0.28) | 43.1 | (0.80) | 9.9 | (0.48) | 33.2 | (0.76) | 21.4 | (0.44) | 30.2 | (0.76) | 15.1 | (0.50) | 9.6 | (0.33) | 5.7 | (0.29) | |
| 1975 | 53.7 | (0.21) | 31.5 | (0.87) | 94.7 | (0.41) | 99.3 | (0.08) | 93.6 | (0.27) | 46.9 | (0.80) | 10.2 | (0.48) | 36.7 | (0.77) | 22.4 | (0.44) | 31.2 | (0.76) | 16.2 | (0.51) | 10.1 | (0.33) | 6.6 | (0.30) | |
| 1976 | 53.1 | (0.21) | 31.3 | (0.90) | 95.5 | (0.38) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 93.7 | (0.27) | 46.2 | (0.79) | 10.2 | (0.48) | 36.0 | (0.76) | 23.3 | (0.44) | 32.0 | (0.75) | 17.1 | (0.51) | 10.0 | (0.33) | 6.0 | (0.28) | |
| 1977 | 52.5 | (0.21) | 32.0 | (0.93) | 95.8 | (0.38) | 99.4 | (0.07) | 93.7 | (0.27) | 46.2 | (0.80) | 10.4 | (0.49) | 35.7 | (0.77) | 22.9 | (0.44) | 31.8 | (0.75) | 16.5 | (0.51) | 10.8 | (0.34) | 6.9 | (0.30) | |
| 1978 | 51.2 | (0.21) | 34.2 | (0.94) | 95.3 | (0.41) | 99.1 | (0.09) | 93.7 | (0.27) | 45.4 | (0.80) | 9.8 | (0.48) | 35.6 | (0.77) | 21.8 | (0.43) | 29.5 | (0.73) | 16.3 | (0.50) | 9.4 | (0.31) | 6.4 | (0.28) | |
| 1979 | 50.3 | (0.21) | 35.1 | (0.95) | 95.8 | (0.40) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 93.6 | (0.28) | 45.0 | (0.79) | 10.3 | (0.48) | 34.6 | (0.76) | 21.7 | (0.42) | 30.2 | (0.74) | 15.8 | (0.49) | 9.6 | (0.31) | 6.4 | (0.28) | |
| 1980 | 49.7 | (0.21) | 36.7 | (0.95) | 95.7 | (0.40) | 99.3 | (0.09) | 93.4 | (0.29) | 46.4 | (0.80) | 10.5 | (0.49) | 35.9 | (0.77) | 22.3 | (0.43) | 31.0 | (0.74) | 16.3 | (0.49) | 9.3 | (0.30) | 6.4 | (0.27) | |
| 1981 | 48.9 | (0.21) | 36.0 | (0.92) | 94.0 | (0.46) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 94.1 | (0.27) | 49.0 | (0.80) | 11.5 | (0.51) | 37.5 | (0.78) | 22.5 | (0.42) | 31.6 | (0.73) | 16.5 | (0.48) | 9.0 | (0.29) | 6.9 | (0.27) | |
| 1982 | 48.6 | (0.22) | 36.4 | (0.96) | 95.0 | (0.44) | 99.2 | (0.10) | 94.4 | (0.29) | 47.8 | (0.85) | 11.3 | (0.54) | 36.5 | (0.81) | 23.5 | (0.45) | 34.0 | (0.79) | 16.8 | (0.50) | 9.6 | (0.31) | 6.3 | (0.27) | |
| 1983 | 48.4 | (0.22) | 37.5 | (0.94) | 95.4 | (0.42) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 95.0 | (0.27) | 50.4 | (0.86) | 12.8 | (0.57) | 37.6 | (0.83) | 22.7 | (0.44) | 32.5 | (0.79) | 16.6 | (0.50) | 9.6 | (0.31) | 6.4 | (0.27) | |
| 1984 | 47.9 | (0.22) | 36.3 | (0.92) | 94.5 | (0.45) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 94.7 | (0.28) | 50.1 | (0.88) | 11.5 | (0.56) | 38.6 | (0.86) | 23.7 | (0.45) | 33.9 | (0.80) | 17.3 | (0.51) | 9.1 | (0.30) | 6.3 | (0.27) | |
| 1985 | 48.3 | (0.22) | 38.9 | (0.94) | 96.1 | (0.38) | 99.2 | (0.09) | 94.9 | (0.27) | 51.6 | (0.89) | 11.2 | (0.56) | 40.4 | (0.88) | 24.0 | (0.46) | 35.3 | (0.83) | 16.9 | (0.51) | 9.2 | (0.30) | 6.1 | (0.26) | |
| 1986 | 48.2 | (0.22) | 38.9 | (0.93) | 95.3 | (0.40) | 99.2 | (0.10) | 94.9 | (0.28) | 54.6 | (0.90) | 13.1 | (0.61) | 41.5 | (0.89) | 23.6 | (0.46) | 33.0 | (0.83) | 17.9 | (0.53) | 8.8 | (0.29) | 6.0 | (0.25) | |
| 1987 | 48.6 | (0.22) | 38.3 | (0.93) | 95.1 | (0.41) | 99.5 | (0.07) | 95.0 | (0.28) | 55.6 | (0.89) | 13.1 | (0.60) | 42.5 | (0.89) | 25.5 | (0.48) | 38.7 | (0.88) | 17.5 | (0.53) | 9.0 | (0.30) | 5.8 | (0.25) | |
| 1988 | 48.7 | (0.24) | 38.2 | (1.01) | 96.0 | (0.41) | 99.7 | (0.07) | 95.1 | (0.30) | 55.6 | (0.96) | 13.9 | (0.67) | 41.8 | (0.95) | 26.1 | (0.53) | 39.1 | (0.96) | 18.2 | (0.60) | 8.3 | (0.31) | 5.9 | (0.27) | |
| 1989 | 49.0 | (0.22) | 39.1 | (1.00) | 95.2 | (0.44) | 99.3 | (0.09) | 95.7 | (0.29) | 56.0 | (0.95) | 14.4 | (0.68) | 41.6 | (0.95) | 27.0 | (0.55) | 38.5 | (0.97) | 19.9 | (0.63) | 9.3 | (0.33) | 5.7 | (0.26) | |
| 1990 | 50.2 | (0.23) | 44.4 | (0.99) | 96.5 | (0.37) | 99.6 | (0.06) | 95.8 | (0.28) | 57.2 | (0.94) | 14.5 | (0.67) | 42.7 | (0.94) | 28.6 | (0.54) | 39.7 | (0.92) | 21.0 | (0.63) | 9.7 | (0.33) | 5.8 | (0.25) | |
| 1991 | 50.7 | (0.22) | 40.5 | (0.96) | 95.4 | (0.41) | 99.6 | (0.06) | 96.0 | (0.27) | 59.6 | (0.96) | 15.6 | (0.71) | 44.0 | (0.97) | 30.2 | (0.55) | 42.0 | (0.92) | 22.2 | (0.64) | 10.2 | (0.34) | 6.2 | (0.26) | |
| 1992 | 51.4 | (0.22) | 39.7 | (0.95) | 95.5 | (0.41) | 99.4 | (0.08) | 96.7 | (0.25) | 61.4 | (0.96) | 17.1 | (0.74) | 44.3 | (0.98) | 31.6 | (0.56) | 44.0 | (0.95) | 23.7 | (0.65) | 9.8 | (0.34) | 6.1 | (0.26) | |
| 1993 | 51.8 | (0.22) | 40.4 | (0.93) | 95.4 | (0.41) | 99.5 | (0.07) | 96.5 | (0.25) | 61.6 | (0.95) | 17.2 | (0.74) | 44.4 | (0.97) | 30.8 | (0.56) | 42.7 | (0.97) | 23.6 | (0.65) | 10.2 | (0.35) | 5.9 | (0.25) | |
| 1994 | 53.3 | (0.21) | 47.3 | 1 | (0.87) | 96.7 | (0.32) | 99.4 | (0.08) | 96.6 | (0.22) | 60.2 | (0.87) | 16.2 | (0.65) | 43.9 | (0.88) | 32.0 | (0.51) | 44.9 | (0.88) | 24.0 | (0.59) | 10.8 | (0.33) | 6.7 | (0.25) |
| 1995 | 53.7 | (0.21) | 48.7 | 1 | (0.87) | 96.0 | (0.34) | 98.9 | (0.10) | 96.3 | (0.23) | 59.4 | (0.85) | 16.3 | (0.64) | 43.1 | (0.86) | 31.5 | (0.52) | 44.9 | (0.89) | 23.2 | (0.60) | 11.6 | (0.34) | 5.9 | (0.24) |
| 1996 | 54.1 | (0.22) | 48.3 | 1 | (0.91) | 94.0 | (0.43) | 97.7 | (0.15) | 95.4 | (0.26) | 61.5 | (0.87) | 16.7 | (0.67) | 44.9 | (0.89) | 32.5 | (0.55) | 44.4 | (0.93) | 24.8 | (0.65) | 11.9 | (0.36) | 6.1 | (0.25) |
| 1997 | 55.6 | (0.22) | 52.6 | 1 | (0.92) | 96.5 | (0.33) | 99.1 | (0.09) | 96.6 | (0.22) | 61.5 | (0.86) | 16.7 | (0.66) | 44.7 | (0.88) | 34.3 | (0.55) | 45.9 | (0.91) | 26.4 | (0.66) | 11.8 | (0.36) | 5.7 | (0.25) |
| 1998 | 55.8 | (0.22) | 52.1 | 1 | (0.92) | 95.6 | (0.37) | 98.9 | (0.10) | 96.1 | (0.24) | 62.2 | (0.84) | 15.7 | (0.63) | 46.4 | (0.86) | 33.0 | (0.55) | 44.8 | (0.91) | 24.9 | (0.65) | 11.9 | (0.37) | 6.6 | (0.27) |
| 1999 | 56.0 | (0.22) | 54.2 | 1 | (0.93) | 96.0 | (0.36) | 98.7 | (0.11) | 95.8 | (0.24) | 60.6 | (0.84) | 16.5 | (0.64) | 44.1 | (0.85) | 32.8 | (0.54) | 45.3 | (0.90) | 24.5 | (0.64) | 11.1 | (0.36) | 6.2 | (0.27) |
| 2000 | 55.9 | (0.22) | 52.1 | 1 | (0.93) | 95.6 | (0.38) | 98.2 | (0.13) | 95.7 | (0.25) | 61.2 | (0.84) | 16.5 | (0.64) | 44.7 | (0.85) | 32.5 | (0.53) | 44.1 | (0.88) | 24.6 | (0.63) | 11.4 | (0.37) | 6.7 | (0.28) |
| 2001 | 56.4 | (0.22) | 52.4 | 1 | (0.88) | 95.3 | (0.37) | 98.3 | (0.12) | 95.8 | (0.24) | 61.1 | (0.83) | 17.1 | (0.64) | 44.0 | (0.84) | 34.1 | (0.53) | 46.1 | (0.87) | 25.5 | (0.64) | 11.8 | (0.38) | 6.9 | (0.28) |
| 2002 | 56.2 | (0.21) | 56.3 | 1 | (0.89) | 95.5 | (0.37) | 98.3 | (0.12) | 96.4 | (0.22) | 63.3 | (0.83) | 18.0 | (0.67) | 45.3 | (0.86) | 34.4 | (0.52) | 47.8 | (0.87) | 25.6 | (0.62) | 12.1 | (0.37) | 6.6 | (0.27) |
| 2003 | 56.2 | (0.20) | 55.1 | 1 | (0.85) | 94.5 | (0.40) | 98.3 | (0.12) | 96.2 | (0.21) | 64.5 | (0.80) | 17.9 | (0.64) | 46.6 | (0.84) | 35.6 | (0.50) | 48.3 | (0.83) | 27.8 | (0.59) | 11.8 | (0.34) | 6.8 | (0.26) |
| 2004 | 56.2 | (0.20) | 54.0 | 1 | (0.85) | 95.4 | (0.37) | 98.4 | (0.12) | 96.5 | (0.21) | 64.4 | (0.80) | 16.6 | (0.62) | 47.8 | (0.83) | 35.2 | (0.49) | 48.9 | (0.82) | 26.3 | (0.58) | 13.0 | (0.35) | 6.6 | (0.26) |
| 2005 | 56.5 | (0.20) | 53.6 | 1 | (0.86) | 95.4 | (0.37) | 98.6 | (0.11) | 96.5 | (0.20) | 67.6 | (0.79) | 18.3 | (0.65) | 49.3 | (0.84) | 36.1 | (0.49) | 48.7 | (0.80) | 27.3 | (0.59) | 11.9 | (0.34) | 6.9 | (0.27) |
| 2006 | 56.0 | (0.20) | 55.7 | 1 | (0.86) | 94.6 | (0.39) | 98.3 | (0.12) | 96.4 | (0.21) | 65.5 | (0.77) | 19.3 | (0.64) | 46.2 | (0.81) | 35.0 | (0.49) | 47.5 | (0.81) | 26.7 | (0.58) | 11.7 | (0.33) | 7.2 | (0.27) |
| 2007 | 56.1 | (0.20) | 54.5 | 1 | (0.86) | 94.7 | (0.39) | 98.4 | (0.11) | 96.4 | (0.21) | 66.8 | (0.75) | 17.9 | (0.61) | 48.9 | (0.80) | 35.7 | (0.49) | 48.4 | (0.81) | 27.3 | (0.59) | 12.4 | (0.33) | 7.2 | (0.27) |
|
— Not available. † Not applicable. 1 Preprimary enrollment collected using new procedures. Data may not be comparable to figures for earlier years. NOTE: Data for 1940 are for April. Data for all other years are as of October. Includes enrollment in any type of graded public, parochial, or other private schools. Includes nursery schools, kindergartens, elementary schools, high schools, colleges, universities, and professional schools. Attendance may be on either a full-time or part-time basis and during the day or night. Enrollments in "special" schools, such as trade schools, business colleges, or correspondence schools, are not included. Standard errors appear in parentheses. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970; Current Population Reports, Series P-20, various years; and Current Population Survey, October, 1970 through 2007. (This table was prepared July 2008.) |
