Women’s History Month

Question:
For Women’s History Month 2023, 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 2021, some 62 percent of female 3- to 5-year-olds were enrolled in school (source).

K–12 Education

Students

• At private schools in 2019–20, some 48 percent of students were female (source).
• In 2020–21, some 10 percent of female school-age¹ students enrolled in public schools² 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 13-year-olds was 14 points higher in 2020 (278 points) than in 1978 (source). The average NAEP reading assessment score for female 13-year-olds was 4 points higher in 2020 (265 points) than in 1971 (source).

Teachers and Principals

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

Postsecondary Education

Students

• In fall 2021, there were 10.9 million female students enrolled in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, representing 58 percent of total enrollment in these institutions (source).
• Some 67 percent of female students who began seeking a bachelor’s degree full time at a 4-year institution in fall 2014 completed that degree at the same institution within 6 years (i.e., by 2020) (source).
• In 2020–21, postsecondary institutions awarded 276,429 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees/certificates to female students (source).



• In 2020–21, some 39 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees/certificates conferred to U.S. citizens and permanent residents 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 2020, there were 397,780 full-time female faculty members at degree-granting postsecondary institutions, representing 48 percent of all full-time faculty (source).
• Of the 397,780 full-time female faculty members at degree-granting postsecondary institutions in fall 2020, the most commonly held position was assistant professor (95,726) (source).

Adult Outcomes

• In 2022, some 95 percent of female 25- to 29-year-olds had completed at least high school (source).

¹ School-age students include 6- to 21-year-olds and 5-year-olds enrolled in kindergarten.
² Not all students served under IDEA receive services in public school settings.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2022, Condition of Education 2022, Undergraduate Enrollment
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, 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
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, 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
  
• 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
  
• 2022, Digest of Education Statistics 2021, 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 318.10. Degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by level of degree and sex of student: Selected years, 1869–70 through 2030–31
  

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2023, International Activities Program (IAP): This page provides information about the education of women and girls across the world.
  
• 2023, 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.
  
• 2022, NCES Blog: Women’s Equality Day: The Gender Wage Gap Continues