Women’s History Month

Question:
What data do you have on the learning experiences of female students throughout their education careers and the characteristics of female teachers and faculty?

Response:

K–12 Education

Students

• In 2019, a larger percentage of U.S. female 12th graders (51 percent) than male 12th graders (42 percent) reported that they were somewhat or more likely to pursue a career in science (source).

Teachers

• In 2017–18, women made up 89 percent of public school teachers at the elementary level, 72 percent at the middle school level, and 60 percent at the high school level (source).

Postsecondary Education

Students

• In 2018–19, female students earned 82 percent of master’s degrees conferred in health professions and related programs (source).

Faculty and Institutions

• In fall 2019, women made up half (50 percent) of all faculty members at degree-granting postsecondary institutions (source and source).

SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Research Roundup: NCES Celebrates Women’s History Month. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 9, 2022, from https://nces.ed.gov/blogs/nces/post/research-roundup-nces-celebrates-women-s-history-month.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2022, Condition of Education 2022, Undergraduate Enrollment
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2020, Table 316.20. Average salary of full-time instructional faculty on 9-month contracts in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by academic rank, sex, and control and level of institution: Selected years, 1999–2000 through 2020–21
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, Table 204.50. Children 3 to 21 years old served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B, by age group and sex, race/ethnicity, and type of disability: 2020–21
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, Table 219.73. Percentage of high school dropouts among persons 16 to 24 years old (status dropout rate) and number and percentage distribution of 16- to 24-year-olds, by selected characteristics: Selected years, 2010 through 2020
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, Table 303.30. Total fall enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by level and control of institution, attendance status, and sex of student: Selected years, 1970 through 2030
  
• 2021, Digest of Education Statistics 2020, Table 209.23. Number and percentage distribution of teachers in public elementary and secondary schools, by race/ethnicity and selected teacher and school characteristics: 2017–18
  
• 2021, Digest of Education Statistics 2020, Table 211.10. Average total income, base salary, and other sources of school and nonschool income for full-time teachers in public and private elementary and secondary schools, by selected characteristics: 2017–18
  
• 2021, Digest of Education Statistics 2020, Table 318.10. Degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by level of degree and sex of student: Selected years, 1869–70 through 2029–30
  

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2022, International Activities Program (IAP): This page provides information about the education of women and girls across the world.
  
• 2022, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): This site provides access to publications and data on the reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and arts achievement of U.S. 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade students.