A larger percentage of full-time teachers held a postbaccalaureate degree in 2007–08 than in 2003–04. Forty-nine percent of elementary school teachers and 54 percent of secondary school teachers held a postbaccalaureate degree in 2007–08, compared with 45 and 50 percent, respectively, in 2003–04.
In the 2007–08 school year, there were 3.5 million full-time teachers, up from 3.3 million in 2003–04. From 2003–04 to 2007–08, there were no measurable changes in the number of full-time elementary school teachers; however, the number of secondary school teachers grew from 1.0 million in 2003–04 to 1.1 million in 2007–08 (see table A-17-1). The number of public secondary school teachers increased from 0.9 million in 2003–04 to 1.0 million in 2007–08. The number of private school teachers was not measurably different between 2003–04 and 2007–08 at either level.
Approximately 75 percent of full-time teachers were women in 2007–08. At the elementary level, 84 percent of public school and 87 percent of private school teachers were female. At the secondary level, 59 percent of public school teachers were female, up from 57 percent in 2003–04. Females represented 53 percent of private secondary school teachers in 2007–08. Eighty-three percent of full-time teachers were White, 7 percent were Black, 7 percent were Hispanic, and 1 percent were Asian in 2007–08. The racial/ethnic distribution of full-time teachers was similar at both the elementary and secondary level.
A larger percentage of full-time teachers held a postbaccalaureate degree (master’s degree, education specialist or professional diploma, first-professional degree, or doctoral degree) in 2007–08 than in 2003–04. Forty-nine percent of elementary school teachers and 54 percent of secondary school teachers held a postbaccalaureate degree in 2007–08, compared with 45 and 50 percent, respectively, in 2003–04. In 2007–08, a higher percentage of public elementary school teachers held such degrees than did private elementary school teachers (50 vs. 30 percent). No measurable difference was found between public and private school teachers at the secondary level.
In 2007–08 teachers averaged 14 years of experience, about the same as in 2003–04 (see table A-17-2). Nationally, about 17 percent of teachers had 3 or fewer years of experience, 28 percent had 4–9 years of experience, 27 percent had 10–19 years of experience, and 27 percent had 20 or more years of experience. For the most part, this distribution did not change between 2003–04 and 2007–08; however, the percentage of teachers with 20 or more years of experience was lower in 2007–08 than it was in 2003–04 (30 percent). In public schools, the percentage of teachers with 20 or more years of experience was also lower in 2007–08 than in 2003–04 at both the elementary (27 vs. 30 percent) and secondary (28 vs. 32 percent) levels. This change was not observed for private schools. Examined by school type, a lower percentage of public school teachers had 3 or fewer years of experience, compared to their private school counterparts, in 2007–08 (17 vs. 20 percent). This difference between public and private school teachers was echoed at the elementary level in 2007–08 (17 vs. 20 percent), but was not observed at the secondary level.
In 2007–08, some 28 percent of full-time teachers taught in city schools, 35 percent taught in suburban schools, 13 percent taught in town schools, and 24 percent taught in rural schools (see table A-17-1). The distribution of elementary and secondary school teachers by locale varied between public and private school teachers. For example, 27 percent of public elementary school teachers taught in city schools, compared with 42 percent of private elementary school teachers, and 26 percent of public secondary school teachers taught in city schools, compared with 49 percent of private secondary school teachers.
Technical Notes
Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. For more information on race/ethnicity see Appendix C – Commonly Used Measures. Regular certification includes regular or standard state certificates and advanced professional certificates for both public and private school teachers. Full certificates granted by an accrediting or certifying body other than the state are not included. Probationary certificates are for those who have satisfied all requirements except the completion of a probationary period. For more information on the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), see Appendix B – Guide to Sources.
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