Fast Facts

The primary purpose of the Fast Facts website is to 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. Additional references on each of these topics are highlighted within each fact.

Assessments

Adult literacy

Advanced mathematics and science courses

Arts

International comparisons of achievement

Long-term trends in reading and mathematics achievement

State-by-state rankings

Early Childhood

Child care

Early literacy activities

Knowledge and skills of young children

Preprimary education enrollment

Elementary and Secondary

Bullying

Career and technical education

Charter schools

Closed schools

Computer and internet use

Condition of public school facilities

Distance learning

Dropout rates

Educational attainment

Educational institutions

English language learners

Enrollment trends

Expenditures

High school graduation rates

Homeschooling

Knowledge and skills at kindergarten

NCES surveys on students and teachers

Public and private school comparison

Public school choice programs

School crime

School ID codes and searches

School safety and security measures

School uniforms

State-level statistics

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities, inclusion of

Teacher qualifications

Teacher trends

Title I

Transportation

Violence prevention

Library

Libraries

Postsecondary and Beyond

Resources

Back to school statistics New!

Educational associations

Glossary

Ordering NCES publications and products

Over 50 million students are heading off to approximately 98,300 public elementary and secondary schools for the fall 2016 term, and before the school year is out, an estimated $584 billion will be spent related to their education. These are just a few of the statistics contained in Back to School Stats, which offers data about American elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools, students, and the educational process. (more info)

Fast Facts Highlights

How do the skills of adult Americans compare with those of adults around the world?
(more info)

Did You Know?

Public school students in 28 states scored higher than their peers in the nation; students in 15 states and the District of Columbia scored lower than their peers nationally. The interactive map provides details. (NCES Reference)

Recent Video (Archive)

The U.S. average score on PISA 2012 Problem Solving was 508, which was higher than the OECD-PS average of 500. <small>SOURCE: Key findings from PISA 2012 Problem Solving: United States</small>

The U.S. average score on PISA 2012 Problem Solving was 508, which was higher than the OECD-PS average of 500. SOURCE: Key findings from PISA 2012 Problem Solving: United States (more info)