Projections of Education Statistics to 2008 / Highlights
Total public and private elementary and secondary
enrollment is projected to increase 6 percent over the projection
period.
Total public and private elementary and secondary enrollment is
projected to increase from 51.4 million in 1996 to 54.5 million
in 2006. Then total enrollment is projected to decrease to 54.3
million by the year 2008, an increase of 6 percent from 1996
(table 1).
Enrollment in institutions of higher education is
projected to increase 12 percent over the projection period.
Higher education enrollment is projected to increase
from an estimated 14.3 million in 1996 to 16.1 million by the
year 2008, an increase of 12 percent. An 11-percent increase is
projected under the low alternative and a 13-per-cent increase is
projected under the high alternative (table 3).
The number of high school graduates is projected to
increase 20 percent over the projection period.
High school graduates from public and private high schools are
projected to increase from 2.6 million in 1995–96 to 3.1
million by 2007–08, an increase of 20 percent (table 26).
Over the projection period, the number of bachelor's
degrees is projected to increase 9 percent.
The number of bachelor's degrees is expected to increase from
1,167,000 in 1995–96 to 1,270,000 by 2007–08, an
increase of 9 percent (table 28).
The number of doctor's degrees awarded to women is
projected to increase 34 percent over the projection period.
Doctor's degrees awarded to women are expected to increase from
17,100 in 1995–96 to 22,900 by 2007–08, an increase of
34 percent (table 30).
The number of classroom teachers is projected to increase
14 percent over the projection period.
Under the middle alternative, the number of classroom teachers is
expected to increase from 3.03 million in 1996 to 3.46 million by
the year 2008, an increase of 14 percent. An 11-percent increase
is projected under the low alternative and a 16-percent increase
is projected under the high alternative (table 32).
Current expenditures for public elementary and secondary
schools are forecast to increase 36 percent from 1994–95 to
2007–08 in constant dollars.
Under the middle alternative, a 36-percent increase in current
expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools is
projected for the period from 1994–95 to 2007–08. Under
the low alternative, current expenditures are projected to
increase by 31 percent; under the high alternative, current
expenditures are projected to increase by 41 percent (table 34).
Current expenditures per pupil are also forecast to
continue increasing in constant dollars for the period
1994–95 to 2007–08.
Under the middle alternative, current expenditures per pupil in
average daily attendance are forecast to increase 24 percent in
constant dollars from 1994–95 to 2007–08. Under the low
alternative, current expenditures per pupil are projected to
increase 19 percent and under the high alternative, current
expenditures per pupil are projected to increase 28 percent
(table 34).
Teacher salaries are projected to increase 3 percent in
constant dollars between 1996–97 and 2007–08.
Under the middle alternative, teacher salaries are projected to
increase 3 percent in constant dollars between 1996–97 and
2007–08. A 1-percent increase is projected under the low
alternative and a 5-percent increase is projected under the high
alternative (table 36).
Current-fund expenditures are projected to increase in
constant dollars in both public and private institutions.
Total current-fund expenditures of institutions of higher
education are projected to increase 40 percent in constant
dollars under the middle alternative from 1994–95 to
2007–08. Total current-fund expenditures are projected to
increase at almost the same rate in public institutions and
private institutions. A 40-percent increase is projected for
public institutions and a 41-percent increase is projected for
private institutions (table 37).
Public elementary and secondary school enrollment
(kindergarten through grade 12) is expected to increase between
1996 and the year 2008, but these increases will vary by region.
Enrollment will increase most rapidly in the West, where total
enrollment is expected to rise 16 percent. Enrollment in the
South is projected to increase by 7 percent. The Northeast is
expected to rise by less than 1 percent, while the Midwest is
projected to decrease by 2 percent (table 46).
Changes in public school enrollment are projected to
range from large increases of 20 percent or more in some states
to decreases in other states between 1996 and 2008.
Public school enrollment is projected to increase 6 percent
between 1996 and the year 2008. The most sizable increases are
expected in Arizona (21 per-cent), California (20 percent),
Hawaii (18 percent), and New Mexico (16 per-cent). The largest
decreases are expected in the District of Columbia (9 per-cent),
Iowa (8 percent), Maine (9 percent), and West Virginia (8
percent) (table 46).
Growth in the number of graduates from public schools
will vary by region.
The number of public high school graduates is projected to
increase 20 percent between 1995–96 and 2007–08.
Across regions, the West is expected to rise by 26 percent. The
Northeast is projected to grow by 23 percent. The South and
Midwest are expected to increase by 20 percent and 13 percent,
respectively, over the projection period (table 52).
Increases in the number of public high school graduates
are projected for most states.
Between 1995–96 and 2007–08, sizable increases are
expected in Arizona (35 percent), Florida (45 percent), Hawaii
(34 percent), and Nevada (97 percent). Decreases are projected
for the District of Columbia (6 percent), West Virginia (13
percent), and Wyoming (7 percent) (table 52).
