Fast Facts: Women's History Month (1137)

Women's History Month

Question:
For Women's History Month 2024, 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:

Early Childhood

In 2022, some 59 percent of female 3- to 5-year-olds were enrolled in school (source).

Elementary/Secondary Education

Students

At private schools in school year 2021–22, some 48 percent of students were female (source).
As a percentage of all K–12 public school students in school year 2022–23, some 10 percent of female students received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Some 42 percent of female students served under IDEA received services for specific learning disabilities (source).
The average NAEP mathematics assessment score for female eighth-graders was 11 points higher in 2022 (273 points) than in 1990 (source).

Teachers and Principals¹

In school year 2020–21, some 77 percent of all public school teachers and 75 percent of all private school teachers were female (source).
In school year 2020–21, a higher percentage of public elementary school teachers were female (89 percent) than were teachers in middle schools, secondary/high schools, or schools with combined/other grade levels (72, 60, and 74 percent, respectively) (source).
In school year 2020–21, a higher percentage of private elementary/middle school teachers were female (90 percent) than were teachers in secondary/high schools or schools with combined/other grade levels (56 and 77 percent, respectively) (source).
In school year 2020–21, some 56 percent of all public school principals and 63 percent of all private school principals were female (source).
In school year 2020–21, a higher percentage of public elementary school principals were female (69 percent) than were principals in middle schools, secondary/high schools, or schools with combined/other grade levels (44, 36, and 52 percent, respectively) (source).
In school year 2020–21, a higher percentage of private elementary/middle school principals were female (75 percent) than were principals in secondary/high schools or schools with combined/other grade levels (45 and 62 percent, respectively) (source).

Postsecondary Education

Students

In fall 2022, there were 10.8 million female students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, representing 58 percent of total enrollment in these institutions (source).
Some 68 percent of female students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree full time at a 4-year institution in fall 2016 completed that degree at the same institution within 6 years (i.e., by 2022) (source).
In academic year 2021–22, female students earned the majority of degrees at the associate’s (63 percent), bachelor’s (59 percent), master’s (63 percent), and doctor’s (57 percent) degree levels (source).

Infocard with text “In 2021–22, female students earned the majority of degrees at the associate’s (63 percent), bachelor’s (59 percent), master’s (63 percent), and doctor’s (57 percent) degree levels.” Next to the text is a graphic of a female student wearing cap and gown. At the bottom of the image is the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) logo.

In academic year 2021–22, postsecondary institutions awarded 280,200 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees/certificates to female students (source).
In academic year 2021–22, some 39 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees/certificates conferred were awarded to female students (source).
Female enrollment at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) has been higher than male enrollment in every year since 1976 (source).

Faculty

In fall 2022, there were 408,000 full-time female faculty members at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, representing 48 percent of all full-time faculty (source).
Of the 408,000 full-time female faculty members at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in fall 2022, the most commonly held position was assistant professor (97,000) (source).

Adult Outcomes

In 2023, some 95 percent of female 25- to 29-year-olds had completed at least high school (source).

¹ Data in this section come from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), which excludes teachers who teach only prekindergarten.

Related Tables and Figures: (Listed by Release Date)

Other Resources: (Listed by Release Date)