The Condition of Education At a Glance

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education
Characteristics of Children’s Families	*2015*	*2016*	Change between years
Highest level of education attained by parents of children under age 18
Percentage whose parents' highest level of education was less than high school	10.5%	10.4%
Percentage whose parents' highest level of education was a bachelor's or higher degree	39.0%	39.7%	▲
Percentage of children under age 18 living in mother-only households	27.0%	26.7%	▼
Percentage of children under age 18 in families living in poverty	20.3%	19.1%	▼
Children's Access to and Use of the Internet	2013	2015
Percentage of children ages 3 to 18 who use the Internet from home
3- and 4-year-olds	31%	39%	▲
5- to 10-year-olds	50%	54%	▲
11- to 14-year-olds	65%	65%
15- to 18-year-olds	77%	76%
Preschool and Kindergarten Enrollment	*2015*	*2016*
Percentage of children enrolled in preprimary education
3-year-olds	38%	42%
4-year-olds	67%	66%
5-year-olds	87%	86%
Elementary and Secondary Enrollment	*Fall 2014*	*Fall 2015*
Number of students enrolled in public schools	50.31 million	50.44 million	▲
Prekindergarten through 8th grade	35.37 million	35.39 million	▲
9th through 12th grade	14.94 million	15.05 million	▲
Public Charter School Enrollment	*Fall 2014*	*Fall 2015*
Number of students enrolled in public charter schools	2.7 million	2.8 million	▲
Percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools	5.4%	5.7%	▲
Number of public charter schools	6,750	6,860	▲
Percentage of public schools that are charter schools	6.9%	7.0%	▲
Private School Enrollment	*Fall 2013*	*Fall 2015*
Total number of students enrolled in private schools (prekindergarten through 12th grade)	5.4 million	5.8 million	▲
Prekindergarten through 8th grade	4.1 million	4.3 million	▲
9th through 12th grade	1.3 million	1.4 million	▲
Percentage of all students enrolled in private schools (prekindergarten through 12th grade)	9.7%	10.2%	▲
English Language Learners in Public Schools	*Fall 2014*	*Fall 2015*
Percentage of public school students who are English language learners	9.3%	9.5%	▲
Children and Youth With Disabilities	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Number of public school students ages 3–21 receiving special education services	6.6 million	6.7 million	▲
Percentage of public school students ages 3–21 receiving special education services	13.0%	13.2%	▲
Characteristics of Traditional Public Schools and Public Charter Schools	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Traditional public schools
Total number of traditional public schools	91,430	91,420	▼
Percentage of traditional public schools
With more than 50% White enrollment	59.0%	58.2%	▼
With more than 50% Black enrollment	9.0%	8.9%	▼
With more than 50% Hispanic enrollment	15.7%	16.0%	▲
Public charter schools
Total number of public charter schools	6,750	6,860	▲
Percentage of public charter schools
With more than 50% White enrollment	35.7%	34.4%	▼
With more than 50% Black enrollment	23.6%	23.4%	▼
With more than 50% Hispanic enrollment	23.9%	25.2%	▲
Concentration of Public School Students Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Percentage of students attending public low-poverty schools¹	20.4%	19.7%	▼
Percentage of students attending public high-poverty schools¹	24.3%	24.4%	▲
School Crime and Safety	*2015*	*2016*
Nonfatal victimization rate per 1,000 students
Victimization occurred at school	33	29
Victimization occurred away from school	21	24
Characteristics of Public School Teachers	1999–2000	2015–16
Total number of public school teachers	3.0 million	3.8 million	▲
In elementary schools	1.6 million	1.9 million	▲
In secondary schools	1.4 million	1.9 million	▲

Percentage of public school teachers
Who are female	75%	77%	▲
Who are male	25%	23%	▼

Who held a postbaccalaureate degree	47%	57%	▲
Who held a regular teaching certificate	87%	90%	▲
	*2011–12*	*2015–16*
Annual base salary of public school teachers²	$56,590	$56,140
Reading Performance	2015	2017
Percentage of students who scored at or above Proficient³
4th-grade students	36%	37%
8th-grade students	34%	36%	▲
	2013	2015
12th-grade students	38%	37%
Mathematics Performance	2015	2017
Percentage of students who scored at or above Proficient³
4th-grade students	40%	40%
8th-grade students	33%	34%
	*2013*	*2015*
12th-grade students	26%	25%
Science Performance	2009	2015
Percentage of students who scored at or above Proficient³
4th-grade students	34%	38%	▲
12th-grade students	21%	22%
	*2011*	*2015*
8th-grade students	32%	34%
Public High School Graduation Rates	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR)⁴	83%	84%	▲
Status Dropout Rates	*2015*	*2016*
Percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds not enrolled in school who have not completed high school	5.9%	6.1%
Public School Revenue Sources²	*2013–14*	*2014–15*
Total revenues	$644.1 billion	$664.0 billion	▲
Federal sources	$56.3 billion	$56.4 billion	▲
State sources	$298.1 billion	$309.1 billion	▲
Local sources	$289.7 billion	$298.5 billion	▲
Public School Expenditures²	*2013–14*	*2014–15*
Total expenditures	$645 billion	$668 billion	▲
Current expenditures per student	$11,429	$11,734	▲

Postsecondary Education
Immediate College Enrollment Rate	*2015*	*2016*	Change between years
Percentage of recent high school graduates enrolled in college	69%	70%
2-year institutions	25%	24%
4-year institutions	44%	46%
College Enrollment Rates	2015	2016
College participation rates for 18- to 24-year-olds
Total, all students	40%	41%
Male	38%	39%
Female	43%	44%

White	42%	42%
Black	35%	36%
Hispanic	37%	39%
Asian	63%	58%
Pacific Islander	24%	21%
American Indian/Alaska Native	23%	19%
Two or more races	38%	42%
Undergraduate Enrollment	*Fall 2015*	*Fall 2016*
Total enrollment	17.0 million	16.9 million	▼
Full-time enrollment	10.6 million	10.4 million	▼
Part-time enrollment	6.4 million	6.4 million	▼	⁵
Percentage enrolled in any distance education course	29%	31%	▲
Percentage enrolled exclusively in distance education	12%	13%	▲
Postbaccalaureate Enrollment	*Fall 2015*	*Fall 2016*
Total enrollment	2.9 million	3.0 million	▲
Full-time enrollment	1.7 million	1.7 million	▲	⁵
Part-time enrollment	1.3 million	1.3 million	▲	⁵
Percentage enrolled in any distance education course	34%	37%	▲
Percentage enrolled exclusively in distance education	26%	28%	▲
Characteristics of Postsecondary Students	*2015–16*	*2016–17*
Total enrollment	20.0 million	19.8 million	▼
Undergraduate enrollment	17.0 million	16.9 million	▼
White	9.3 million	9.1 million	▼
Black	2.3 million	2.2 million	▼
Hispanic	3.0 million	3.2 million	▲
Asian	1.0 million	1.1 million	▲
Pacific Islander	49,500	47,100	▼
American Indian/Alaska Native	132,300	128,600	▼
Two or more races	592,200	595,700	▲
Nonresident alien	565,800	570,300	▲

Postbaccalaureate enrollment	2.9 million	3.0 million	▲
White	1.6 million	1.6 million	▼
Black	364,300	362,900	▼
Hispanic	242,600	259,600	▲
Asian	194,400	200,200	▲
Pacific Islander	6,000	6,100	▲
American Indian/Alaska Native	13,900	13,700	▼
Two or more races	67,400	70,700	▲
Nonresident alien	417,300	427,800	▲
Characteristics of Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions	*2015-16*	*2016-17*
Total number of degree-granting institutions with first-year undergraduates	4,147	3,895	▼
Number of 4-year institutions with first-year undergraduates	2,584	2,395	▼
Number of 2-year institutions with first-year undergraduates	1,563	1,500	▼
Characteristics of Postsecondary Faculty	*Fall 2015*	*Fall 2016*
Number of full-time instructional faculty⁶	807,000	816,000	▲
Number of part-time instructional faculty	745,000	733,000	▼
Undergraduate Degree Fields	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Number of bachelor's degrees awarded
Business	364,000	372,000	▲
Health professions and related programs	216,000	229,000	▲
Social sciences and history	167,000	161,000	▼
Graduate Degree Fields	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Number of master's degrees awarded
Business	185,000	187,000	▲
Education	147,000	146,000	▼
Health professions and related programs	103,000	110,000	▲
Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
4-year institutions
Retention rate of first-time undergraduates	80.7%	80.8%	▲
Graduation rate (within 6 years of starting program) of first-time, full-time undergraduates	59.4%	59.8%	▲
2-year institutions
Retention rate of first-time undergraduates	61.3%	62.3%	▲
Graduation rate (within 3 years of starting program) of first-time, full-time undergraduates	29.0%	30.3%	▲
Postsecondary Certificates and Degrees Conferred	*2014–15*	*2015-16*
Number of degrees/certificates conferred by postsecondary institutions
Certificates below associate's degrees	961,000	939,000	▼
Associate's degrees	1,014,000	1,008,000	▼
Bachelor's degrees	1,895,000	1,921,000	▲
Master's degrees	759,000	786,000	▲
Doctor's degrees	179,000	178,000	▼
Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution²	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Average net price at 4-year institutions for first-time, full-time undergraduate students
Public, in-state or in-district⁷	$13,300	$13,500	▲
Private nonprofit	$25,900	$26,200	▲
Private for-profit	$21,800	$22,300	▲
Loans for Undergraduate Students²	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Average tuition and fees	$11,780	$12,080	▲
Average student loan amount	$7,100	$7,120	▲
Sources of Financial Aid	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid at 4-year institutions	86%	85%	▼
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid at 2-year institutions	79%	78%	▼
Postsecondary Institution Revenues²	*2014–15*	*2015–16*
Revenue from tuition and fees per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Public institutions	$7,091	$7,380	▲
Private nonprofit institutions	$21,125	$21,394	▲
Private for-profit institutions	$15,357	$15,806	▼
Postsecondary Institution Expenses²	*2014–15*	*2015-16*
Instruction expenses per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Public institutions	$10,156	$10,422	▲
Private nonprofit institutions	$17,690	$17,860	▲
Private for-profit institutions	$4,265	$4,378	▲

Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes
Educational Attainment of Young Adults	*2016*	*2017*	Change between years
Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with selected levels of educational attainment
High school completion or higher	92%	92%
Associate's or higher degree	46%	46%
Bachelor's or higher degree	36%	36%
Master's or higher degree	9%	9%
Youth Neither Enrolled in School nor Working	2015	2016
Percentage of 20- to 24-year-olds neither enrolled in school nor working
Total	17%	17%
With less than high school completion	41%	42%
High school completion	28%	26%
Some college, no bachelor's degree	9%	9%
Bachelor's or higher degree	8%	8%
Percentage of 16- to 65-year-olds with selected nondegree work credentials
Had a certification	—	6%
Had a license	—	18%
Completed a work experience program	—	21%
Annual Earnings of Young Adults	*2015*	*2016*
Median annual earnings for 25- to 34-year-olds²
Total	$40,400	$40,000
With less than high school completion	$25,300	$25,400
Who completed high school as highest level	$30,900	$31,800
Who completed some college but did not attain a degree	$35,100	$34,900
Who attained an associate's degree	$37,400	$38,000
Who attained a bachelor's or higher degree	$54,500	$54,800
Who attained a bachelor's degree	$50,600	$50,000	▼
Who attained a master's or higher degree	$60,800	$64,100
Employment and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment	*2016*	*2017*
Employment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	77%	78%	▲
With less than high school completion	59%	57%
Who completed high school as highest level	70%	72%
Who attained a bachelor's or higher degree	86%	86%
Unemployment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	6%	5%	▼
With less than high school completion	13%	13%
Who completed high school as highest level	9%	7%	▼
Who attained a bachelor's or higher degree	2%	3%

International Comparisons
International Comparisons: Reading Literacy at Grade 4 (2016)	*U.S. average score*	*International average score*	Difference between the U.S. average and the international average
Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
Average reading literacy scores of 4th-grade students	549	500	▲
Average online informational reading score of 4th-grade students	557	500	▲
International Comparisons: U.S. 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-Graders’ Mathematics and Science Achievement (2015)	U.S. average score	TIMSS scale centerpoint	Difference between the U.S. average and the TIMSS scale centerpoint
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
Mathematics scores of 4th-grade students	539	500	▲
Mathematics scores of 8th-grade students	518	500	▲
Science scores of 4th-grade students	546	500	▲
Science scores of 8th-grade students	530	500	▲
TIMSS Advanced
Advanced Mathematics scores of 12th-grade students	485	500	▼
Physics Scores of 12th-grade students	437	500	▼
International Comparisons: Science, Reading, and Mathematics Literacy of 15-Year-Old Students (2015)	U.S. average score	OECD average score	Difference between the U.S. average and the OECD average
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
Science literacy scores of 15-year-old students	496	493
Reading literacy scores of 15-year-old students	497	493
Mathematics literacy scores of 15-year-old students	470	490	▼
Education Expenditures by Country (2014)⁸	US	OECD	Difference between the U.S. and OECD
Expenditure per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Elementary and secondary education	$12,300	$9,600	▲
Postsecondary education	$29,700	$16,400	▲
International Educational Attainment	*2015*	*2016*	Change between years
Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who completed high school
United States	90.5%	91.5%	▲
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries	83.6%	84.1%	▲
Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who attained a postsecondary degree
United States	46.5%	47.5%
OECD countries	41.8%	43.1%	▲
LEGEND: ▲ = Higher, ▼ = Lower, Blank = Not measurably different ¹ Low-poverty schools are defined as public schools where 25 percent or less of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL). A high-poverty school is defined as a public school where more than 75 percent of the students are eligible for FRPL. ² Data are reported in constant 2016–17 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). ³ Proficient indicates demonstrated competency in challenging subject matter. ⁴ The Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR) is the number of students who graduate in 4 years with a regular high school diploma divided by the number of students who form the adjusted cohort for the graduating class. From the beginning of 9th grade (or the earliest high school grade), students who enter that grade for the first time form a cohort that is "adjusted" by adding any students who subsequently transfer into the cohort and subtracting any students who subsequently transfer out, emigrate to another country, or die. ⁵ Data are measurably different, although they round to the same number. ⁶ Data are for full-time instructional faculty on 9-month contracts at degree-granting postsecondary institutions. ⁷ The average net price at public 4-year institutions uses the lower of in-district or in-state average net price. ⁸ Data are reported in constant 2016 dollars based on the OECD's National Consumer Price Index. NOTE: All calculations within the At a Glance are based on unrounded numbers. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. SOURCE: The Condition of Education 2018.