Fast Facts

Fast Facts

Fast Facts provide users with concise information on a range of educational issues, from early childhood to adult learning. Fast Facts draw from various published sources and are updated as new data become available.

Browse our most recent and popular facts, or explore all available Fast Facts by topic.

Back-to-School Fast Facts

Back to School illustration of students and teachers climbing on books

In fall 2021, there were 49.4 million students and 3.2 million full-time equivalent teachers in public elementary and secondary schools.

Average of $14,295 per student for current expenditures in public PK–12 schools in 2020–21

19.0 million students attended postsecondary institutions in fall 2021

More Back-to-School Facts

Fast Facts by Topic

Additional references on each of these topics are highlighted within each fact.

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Assessments

Advanced mathematics and science courses

International comparisons of achievement

Long-term trends in reading and mathematics achievement New!

State-by-state rankings

U.S. History and Civics New!

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Early Childhood

Early Childhood

Early literacy activities

Knowledge and skills of young children

Preprimary education enrollment

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Elementary and Secondary

Elementary and Secondary

Access to the internet

Career and technical education

Charter schools

Closed schools New!

Condition of public school facilities

Distance learning

Educational institutions

English learners

Enrollment trends New!

High school graduation rates

Knowledge and skills at kindergarten

Mental health services in public schools New!

NCES surveys on students and teachers

Public and private school comparison

Public school choice programs

Public school students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch

School ID codes and searches

School safety and security measures

School uniforms

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, by gender

State-level statistics New!

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities, inclusion of

Sustainable Development Goals

Teacher characteristics and trends

Teacher qualifications

Violence prevention

Written plans for emergency scenarios

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Postsecondary and Beyond

Postsecondary and Beyond

Adult skills in an international context New!

Degrees conferred by race/ethnicity and sex New!

Distance learning

Educational attainment

Educational institutions

Employment after degree

Employment rates of young adults

Endowments New!

Highest enrollment New!

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Immediate transition to college

Income of young adults

International educational attainment New!

Most popular majors

NCES surveys on students and teachers

Race/ethnicity of college faculty

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, by gender

Students with disabilities

Tuition costs of colleges and universities

Undergraduate graduation rates

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Resources

Resources

Coronavirus pandemic resources New!

Educational associations

Historical reports

Ordering NCES publications and products

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Special Topics

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Back-to-school statistics

Black History Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Native American Heritage Month New!

Women’s History Month

Infographics and Visualizations

Additional references on each of these topics are highlighted within each fact.

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Visualizations/Infographics

Visualizations/Infographics

Average number of hours per week that regular full-time public K–12 school teachers spent on all teaching and other school-related activities during a typical full week, by state: 2020–21

Change in public school enrollment between Fall 2019 and Fall 2021, by state or jurisdiction

In 2019-20, 72 percent of all undergraduates received some type of financial aid.

In 2019-20, Average Amounts of Federal Student Aid Received by Undergraduates

Of public K–12 schools that had teaching vacancies in special education for the current school year, percentage that found it very difficult or were not able to fill the vacancies, by state: 2020–21

Percent of public schools with instruction beyond the normal school day for students who need academic assistance in any K–12 grades, by state: 2020–21

Percentage of Undergraduates Receiving Federal Student Aid in 2019-20

STEM degrees/certificates awarded to Asian and Pacific Islander students: 2020–21

STEM degrees/certificates awarded to Black students: 2020–21

STEM degrees/certificates awarded to women: 2020–21

Undergraduate and graduate student enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by level of institution: Fall 2010 through fall 2021

Most Recent Fast Facts

Read our most recent released Fast Facts.

How are American students performing in US history and civics?
(November 24, 2023)

What is Title IX?
(November 24, 2023)

What information do you have on mental health services in public schools?
(November 24, 2023)

What are the long-term trends in student achievement in reading and mathematics?
(November 24, 2023)

Most Recent Infographics and Visualizations

View our most recent released infographics

Percentage of Undergraduates Receiving Federal Student Aid in 2019-20 (September 11, 2023)

In 2019-20, Average Amounts of Federal Student Aid Received by Undergraduates (September 11, 2023)