Between 1970 and 2007, children ages 3-4 saw the largest increase in enrollment rates. There was also growth in enrollment rates for those ages 18-19 and 20-24, the periods when individuals are typically enrolled in postsecondary education.

Changes in enrollment patterns may reflect changes in attendance requirements, the perceived value or cost of education, as well as the time taken to complete degrees. Changes in the total enrollment rates varied by age group between 1970 and 2007: these rates increased for those ages 3-4, 5-6, 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, and 30-34, remained around 100 percent for those ages 7-13, and fluctuated between 93 and 96 percent for those ages 14-17.

Between 1970 and 2007, the enrollment rate for children ages 3-4 (the ages at which children are typically enrolled in nursery school) increased from 20 to 55 percent. Some of the increase between 1970 and 2007 may reflect changes to the data collection method in 1994; however, by 1994, the rate of nursery school attendance had already doubled from the 1970 rate. As of September 2008, of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, there were 33 states that did not require kindergarten attendance (see table A-1-2). The enrollment rate for children ages 5-6 (the ages at which children are typically enrolled in kindergarten or 1st grade) increased from 90 percent in 1970 to 96 percent in 1976 and has since remained roughly stable (see table A-1-1). For youth ages 7-13, the enrollment rate has remained at nearly 100 percent over the past 37 years, reflecting states' minimum compulsory age requirements for school attendance (see table A-1-2). The enrollment rate for 14- to 17-year olds has been slightly lower during this period (between 93 and 96 percent), with no measurable differences during the past 5 years (see table A-1-1). The maximum compulsory age of school attendance varies between the ages of 16 and 18 (see table A-1-2).

Young adults ages 18-19 are typically transitioning into postsecondary education or the workforce. Between 1970 and 2007, the overall enrollment rate for young adults ages 18-19 increased from 48 to 67 percent (see table A-1-1). During this time period, the enrollment rate for 18- to 19-year-olds at the elementary/secondary level increased from 10 to 18 percent, while enrollment for 18- to 19-year-olds at the postsecondary level rose from 37 to 49 percent. There were no measurable differences in these rates at either level during the past 5 years, although in 2007 the postsecondary enrollment rate for young adults ages 18-19 was among the highest recorded.

Adults ages 20-34 who are enrolled in school are usually enrolled in postsecondary education. Between 1970 and 2007, the enrollment rate for young adults ages 20-21 increased from 32 to 48 percent, and the rate for those ages 22-24 increased from 15 to 27 percent. Despite these increases in enrollment rates for young adults over time, during the past 5 years, there were few measurable differences in enrollment for these age groups. The enrollment rate for adults ages 25-29 increased from 8 percent in 1970 to 12 percent in 2007, while enrollment for adults ages 30-34 increased from 4 percent in 1970 to 6 percent in 1974 and has remained relatively stable (between 6 and 7 percent) from 1975 to 2007.

Technical Notes

For this indicator, estimates include enrollment in any type of graded public, parochial, or other private school. These include enrollment in 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. Beginning in 1994, new procedures were used to collect preprimary enrollment data. As a result, pre-1994 data may not be comparable to data from 1994 or later. Excluded are enrollments in less-than-2-year postsecondary institutions and enrollments in "special" schools, such as trade schools, business colleges, or correspondence schools. The age groupings used in this indicator reflect the different schooling stages that are typical for students given their age. For example, students at ages 18-19 are typically transitioning from elementary/secondary education into postsecondary education or the workforce. For more information on the Current Population Survey (CPS), see supplemental note 2.