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, about 49.5 million students were enrolled in public schools in prekindergarten through grade 12, compared to 49.4 million in fall 2020.

Estimated $682 billion in current expenditures for public PK–12 schools in 2019–20

19.4 million students attended postsecondary institutions in fall 2020

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

SAT scores New!

State-by-state rankings

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Early Childhood

Early Childhood

Early literacy activities

Knowledge and skills of young children

Preprimary education enrollment New!

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Elementary and Secondary

Elementary and Secondary

Access to the internet

Career and technical education

Charter schools New!

Condition of public school facilities

Distance learning

Dropout rates New!

Educational institutions

English learners New!

Enrollment trends

Expenditures New!

High school graduation rates New!

Homeschooling New!

Knowledge and skills at kindergarten

Mental health services in public schools

NCES surveys on students and teachers

Public and private school comparison New!

Public school choice programs

Public school students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch New!

School ID codes and searches

School safety and security measures

School uniforms

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

State-level statistics

Students with disabilities New!

Students with disabilities, inclusion of New!

Sustainable Development Goals

Teacher characteristics and trends

Teacher qualifications New!

Violence prevention

Written plans for emergency scenarios

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Postsecondary and Beyond

Postsecondary and Beyond

Adult skills in an international context

Degrees conferred by race/ethnicity and sex

Distance learning

Educational attainment New!

Educational institutions

Employment after degree New!

Employment rates of young adults New!

Enrollment New!

Highest enrollment

Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Immediate transition to college New!

Income of young adults New!

International educational attainment

Most popular majors New!

NCES surveys on students and teachers

Race/ethnicity of college faculty

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

Student debt New!

Students with disabilities

Tuition costs of colleges and universities

Undergraduate graduation rates

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Resources

Resources

Coronavirus pandemic resources

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

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 New!

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

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 New!

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 New!

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

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 New!

Most Recent Fast Facts

Read our most recent released Fast Facts.

What are charter schools? How common are they and whom do they serve?
(July 17, 2023)

How many students with disabilities receive services?
(July 17, 2023)

Do you have information on postsecondary enrollment trends?
(July 17, 2023)

What are the trends in the educational attainment of the United States population?
(July 17, 2023)

Most Recent Infographics and Visualizations

View our most recent released infographics

Change in public school enrollment between Fall 2019 and Fall 2021, by state or jurisdiction (July 17, 2023)

Undergraduate and graduate student enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, by level of institution: Fall 2010 through fall 2021 (July 17, 2023)