The Condition of Education At a Glance

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education
Characteristics of Children’s Families	2017	2018	Change between years
Percentage of children under age 18 whose parents’ highest level of education was less than high school	9.7%	9.4%	▼
Percentage of children under age 18 whose parents’ highest level of education was a bachelor’s or higher degree	41.0%	41.8%	▲
Percentage of children under age 18 living in mother-only households	26.3%	26.4%
Percentage of children under age 18 in families living in poverty	18.0%	17.5%	▼
Children’s Internet Access at Home	2016	2018
Percentage of 3- to 18-years-olds who had home internet access	92%	94%	▲
Percentage of 3- to 18-years-olds who had home internet access only through smartphone	5%	6%	▲
Preschool and Kindergarten Enrollment	2017	2018
Percentage of 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled in preprimary education
3-year-olds	40%	40%
4-year-olds	68%	68%
5-year-olds	86%	84%
Public School Enrollment	Fall 2016	Fall 2017
Number of students enrolled in public schools	50.62 million	50.69 million	▲
Prekindergarten through 8th grade	35.48 million	35.50 million	▲
9th through 12th grade	15.14 million	15.19 million	▲
Public Charter School Enrollment	Fall 2016	Fall 2017
Number of students enrolled in public charter schools	3.0 million	3.1 million	▲
Percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools	6.0%	6.2%	▲
Number of public charter schools	7,010	7,190	▲
Percentage of public schools that are charter schools	7.1%	7.3%	▲
Private School Enrollment	Fall 2015	Fall 2017
Number of students enrolled in private schools	5.8 million	5.7 million
Percentage of all students enrolled in private schools	10.2%	10.1%	▼
Racial/Ethnic Enrollment in Public Schools	Fall 2016	Fall 2017
Percentage of public school students
White	48.23%	47.60%	▼
Black	15.34%	15.21%	▼
Hispanic	26.33%	26.77%	▲
Asian/Pacific Islander	5.44%	5.57%	▲
American Indian/Alaska Native	1.01%	0.98%	▼
Two or more races	3.64%	3.86%	▲
English Language Learners in Public Schools	Fall 2016	Fall 2017
Percentage of public school students who were English language learners	9.9%	10.1%	▲
Students With Disabilities	2017-18	2018-19
Number of public school students ages 3–21 receiving special education services	7.0 million	7.1 million	▲
Percentage of public school students ages 3–21 receiving special education services	13.7%	14.1%	▲
Characteristics of Elementary and Secondary Schools	2016-17	2017-18
Total number of traditional public schools	91,150	91,280	▲
Total number of public charter schools	7,010	7,190	▲
	Fall 2015	Fall 2017
Total number of private schools	34,580	32,460
Concentration of Public School Students Eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch	2016-17	2017-18
Percentage of students attending public low-poverty schools¹	21.2%	21.0%	▼
Percentage of students attending public high-poverty schools¹	24.2%	24.8%	▲
School Crime and Safety	2017	2018
Nonfatal victimization rate per 1,000 students
Victimization occurred at school	33	33
Victimization occurred away from school	20	16
Characteristics of Public School Teachers	1999–2000	2017–18
Total number of public school teachers	3.0 million	3.5 million	▲
In elementary schools	1.6 million	1.8 million	▲
In secondary schools	1.4 million	1.8 million	▲

Percentage of public school teachers
Who are female	75%	76%	▲
Who are male	25%	24%	▼

Who held a postbaccalaureate degree	47%	58%	▲
Who held a regular teaching certificate	87%	90%	▲
	2011–12	2017–18
Annual base salary of public school teachers²	$59,060	$59,150
Characteristics of Public School Principals	2015–16	2017–18
Total number of public school principals	90,400	90,900
In elementary schools	62,100	62,000
In secondary schools	20,300	20,200
Percentage of public school principals
Who are male	46%	46%
Who are female	54%	54%

Annual base salary of public school principals²	$101,740	$100,340	▼
Reading Performance	2017	2019
Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient³
4th-grade students	37%	35%	▼
8th-grade students	36%	34%	▼
	2013	2015
12th-grade students	38%	37%
Mathematics Performance	2017	2019
Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient³
4th-grade students	40%	41%
12th-grade students	34%	34%
	2013	2015
8th-grade students	26%	25%
Science Performance	2009	2015
Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient³
4th-grade students	34%	38%	▲
12th-grade students	21%	22%
	2011	2015
8th-grade students	32%	34%
Public High School Graduation Rates	2016-17	2017-18
Adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR)⁴	84.6%	85.3%	▲
Status Dropout Rates	2017	2018
Percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds not enrolled in school who had not completed high school	5.4%	5.3%
Male	6.4%	6.2%
Female	4.4%	4.4%

White	4.3%	4.2%
Black	6.5%	6.4%
Hispanic	8.2%	8.0%
Asian	2.1%	1.9%
Pacific Islander	3.9%	8.1%	▲
American Indian/ Alaska Native	10.1%	9.5%
Two or more races	4.5%	5.2%
Public School Revenue Sources ²	2015-16	2016-17
Total	$719.8 billion	$736.1 billion	▲
Federal	$59.5 billion	$59.8 billion	▲
State	$337.7 billion	$345.8 billion	▲
Local	$322.7 billion	$330.5 billion	▲
Public School Expenditures²	2015-16	2016-17
Total	$720.2 billion	$738.5 billion	▲
Total expenditures per pupil (in fall enrollment)	$14,136	$14,439	▲

Postsecondary Education
Immediate College Enrollment Rate	2017	2018	Change between years
Immediate college enrollment rate of high school completers	67%	69%
2-year institutions	23%	26%
4-year institutions	44%	44%
College Enrollment Rates	2017	2018
College enrollment rates of 18- to 24-year-olds
Total, all students	40%	41%
Male	37%	38%
Female	44%	44%

White	41%	42%
Black	36%	37%
Hispanic	36%	36%
Asian	65%	59%
Pacific Islander	33%	24%
American Indian/Alaska Native	20%	24%
Two or more races	41%	44%
Undergraduate Enrollment	Fall 2017	Fall 2018
Total enrollment	16.77 million	16.61 million	▼
Full-time enrollment	10.37 million	10.27 million	▼
Part-time enrollment	6.40 million	6.34 million	▼
Percentage enrolled in any distance education course	33%	34%	▲
Percentage enrolled exclusively in distance education	13%	14%	▲
Postbaccalaureate Enrollment	Fall 2017	Fall 2018
Total enrollment	3.01 million	3.04 million	▲
Full-time enrollment	1.70 million	1.72 million	▲
Part-time enrollment	1.30 million	1.31 million	▲
Percentage enrolled in any distance education course	38%	40%	▲
Percentage enrolled exclusively in distance education	29%	31%	▲
Characteristics of Postsecondary Students	Fall 2017	Fall 2018
Total enrollment	19.77 million	19.65 million	▼
Undergraduate	16.76 million	16.61 million	▼
White	8.88 million	8.66 million	▼
Black	2.18 million	2.13 million	▼
Hispanic	3.27 million	3.35 million	▲
Asian	1.07 million	1.09 million	▲
Pacific Islander	46,100	44,700	▼
American Indian/Alaska Native	124,000	120,200	▼
Two or more races	623,400	646,500	▲
Nonresident alien	575,000	566,600	▼

Postbaccalaureate enrollment	3.01 million	3.04 million	▲
White	1.63 million	1.64 million	▲
Black	365,400	365,400	▼
Hispanic	275,000	292,400	▲
Asian	208,900	215,000	▲
Pacific Islander	5,900	5,800	▼
American Indian/Alaska Native	13,600	13,600	▼
Two or more races	76,800	81,300	▲
Nonresident alien	425,700	425,400	▼
Characteristics of Degree-Granting Postsecondary Institutions	2017-18	2018-19
Total number of degree-granting institutions with first-year undergraduates	3,883	3,652	▼
Number of 4-year institutions with first-year undergraduates	2,407	2,323	▼
Number of 2-year institutions with first-year undergraduates	1,476	1,329	▼
Characteristics of Postsecondary Faculty	Fall 2017	Fall 2018
Number of full-time instructional faculty⁵	823,000	832,000	▲
Number of part-time instructional faculty	723,000	710,000	▼
Undergraduate Degree Fields	2016-17	2017-18
Number of bachelor’s degrees conferred (top three bachelor’s programs)
Business	381,100	386,200	▲
Health professions and related programs	238,000	244,900	▲
Social sciences and history	159,100	160,000	▲
Graduate Degree Fields	2016-17	2017-18
Number of master’s degrees conferred (top three master’s programs)
Business	187,400	192,200	▲
Education	145,600	146,400	▲
Health professions and related programs	119,200	125,200	▲
Undergraduate Retention and Graduation Rates	2016-17	2017-18
4-year institutions
Retention rate of first-time undergraduates	81.0%	81.0%	▲
Graduation rate (within 6 years of starting program) of first-time, full-time undergraduates	60.4%	62.4%	▲
2-year institutions
Retention rate of first-time undergraduates	62.4%	62.3%	▼
Graduation rate (within 150% of normal time for degree completion) of first-time, full-time undergraduates	31.6%	32.6%	▲
Postsecondary Certificates and Degrees Conferred	2016-17	2017-18
Number of degrees/certificates conferred by postsecondary institutions
Certificates below associate’s degrees	946,000	955,000	▲
Associate’s degrees	1,006,000	1,011,000	▲
Bachelor’s degrees	1,956,000	1,981,000	▲
Master’s degrees	805,000	820,000	▲
Doctor’s degrees	181,000	184,000	▲
Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution²	2016-17	2017-18
Average net price at 4-year institutions for first-time, full-time undergraduate students
Public, in-state or in-district⁶	$14,000	$13,700	▼
Private nonprofit	$27,300	$27,000	▼
Private for-profit	$22,300	$22,100	▼
Loans for Undergraduate Students	2016-17	2017-18
Percentage of undergraduates with student loans	46.1%	44.4%	▼
Average student loan amount²	$7,390	$7,230	▼
Sources of Financial Aid	2016-17	2017-18
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid at 4-year institutions	85.0%	85.7%	▲
Percentage of students receiving any financial aid at 2-year institutions	77.8%	78.1%	▲
Postsecondary Institution Revenues²	2016-17	2017-18
Revenue from tuition and fees per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Public institutions	$7,660	$7,690	▲
Private nonprofit institutions	$22,330	$22,350	▲
Private for-profit institutions	$16,810	$16,820	▲
Postsecondary Institution Expenses²	2016-17	2017-18
Instruction expenses per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Public institutions	$11,040	$10,870	▼
Private nonprofit institutions	$18,770	$18,710	▼
Private for-profit institutions	$4,570	$4,490	▼

Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes
Educational Attainment of Young Adults	2018	2019	Change between years
Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with selected levels of educational attainment
High school completion or higher	93%	94%
Associate’s or higher degree	47%	49%	▲
Bachelor’s or higher degree	37%	39%
Master’s or higher degree	9%	9%
Young Adults Neither Enrolled in School Nor Working	2017	2018
Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds who were neither enrolled in school nor working
Total 18- to 24-year-olds	13.9%	13.5%	▼
18- and 19-year-olds	10.8%	10.8%
20- to 24-year-olds	15.1%	14.5%	▼

White	11.3%	11.0%
Black	21.6%	21.0%
Hispanic	16.1%	15.5%	▼
Asian	7.4%	6.9%
Pacific Islander	19.8%	20.8%
American Indian/Alaska Native	29.2%	28.7%
Two or more races	14.4%	14.0%
Annual Earnings	2017	2018
Median annual earnings for 25- to 34-year-olds²
Total	$42,900	$44,900
With less than high school completion	$26,600	$27,900
Who completed high school as highest level	$32,800	$34,900	▲
Who completed some college but did not attain a degree	$35,900	$36,300
Who attained an associate’s degree	$39,800	$40,000
Who attained a bachelor’s or higher degree	$56,300	$57,900
Who attained a bachelor’s degree	$53,000	$54,700
Who attained a master’s or higher degree	$66,600	$65,000
Employment and Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment	2018	2019
Employment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	79%	79%
With less than high school completion	59%	57%
Who completed high school as highest level	72%	74%
Who attained a bachelor’s or higher degree	86%	87%
Unemployment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	4%	4%
With less than high school completion	9%	10%
Who completed high school as highest level	6%	6%
Who attained a bachelor’s or higher degree	2%	2%

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: Reading, Mathematics, and Science Literacy of 15-Year-Old Students (2018)	U.S. average score	OECD average score	Difference between the U.S. average and the OECD average
Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)
Reading literacy scores of 15-year-old students	505	487	▲
Mathematics literacy scores of 15-year-old students	478	489	▼
Science literacy scores of 15-year-old students	502	489	▲
Enrollment Rates by Country	2016	2017
Percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school at any level
United States	52.7%	53.8%	▲
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries	80.4%	82.8%	▲
Percentage of 5- to 14-year-olds enrolled in school at any level
United States	99.2%	99.8%	▲
OECD countries	97.9%	98.1%	▲
Percentage of 15- to 19-year-olds enrolled in school at any level
United States	82.5%	82.9%	▲
OECD countries	84.9%	84.5%	▼
Percentage of 20- to 29-year-olds enrolled in school at any level
United States	24.5%	24.6%	▲
OECD countries	28.6%	28.2%	▼
International Educational Attainment	2017	2018
Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who completed high school
United States	92.1%	92.4%
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries	84.4%	84.7%	▲
Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who attained a postsecondary degree
United States	47.8%	49.4%	▲
OECD countries	43.7%	44.5%	▲
Education Expenditures by Country (2016)⁷	U.S.	OECD	Difference between the U.S. and OECD
Expenditure per full-time-equivalent (FTE) student
Elementary and secondary education	$13,600	$9,800	▲
Postsecondary education	$31,600	$16,200	▲
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). High-poverty schools are defined as public schools where more than 75 percent of the students are eligible for FRPL. ² Data are reported in constant 2018–19 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). ³ NAEP Proficient demonstrates solid academic performance and competency over 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 for full-time instructional faculty on 9-month contracts at degree-granting postsecondary institutions. ⁶ The average net price at public 4-year institutions uses the lower of in-district or in-state average net price. ⁷ Data are reported in constant 2018 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 2020.