Table 67.

Public elementary and secondary pupil/teacher ratios, by school size, type, percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, locale, and level of school: Fall 1988 through fall 2008

Selected school characteristic	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22
All schools	17.9	17.9	17.4	17.6	17.7	17.8	17.7	17.8	17.6	17.2	16.9	16.6	16.4	16.3	16.2	16.4	16.2	16.0	15.8	15.7	15.7
Enrollment size of school
Under 300	14.8	14.6	14.0	14.1	14.1	14.3	14.1	14.1	14.0	13.7	13.6	13.3	13.1	12.9	12.8	13.0	12.8	12.7	12.7	12.7	12.5
300 to 499	17.7	17.6	17.0	17.1	17.0	17.3	17.2	17.1	16.9	16.5	16.2	15.8	15.5	15.4	15.3	15.5	15.2	15.0	14.9	15.0	14.8
500 to 999	18.4	18.5	18.0	18.1	18.1	18.2	18.1	18.2	17.9	17.5	17.1	16.8	16.7	16.5	16.5	16.6	16.4	16.2	15.9	15.9	15.9
1,000 to 1,499	18.3	18.5	17.9	18.2	18.6	18.5	18.6	18.7	18.5	18.1	17.7	17.6	17.4	17.4	17.4	17.6	17.3	16.9	16.7	16.5	16.5
1,500 or more	20.1	19.4	19.2	19.6	20.0	19.7	19.9	20.0	20.0	19.7	19.3	19.3	19.1	19.0	18.9	19.2	19.1	18.8	18.6	18.1	18.3
Type
Regular schools	18.0	18.1	17.6	17.7	17.8	17.9	17.8	17.9	17.7	17.3	17.0	16.7	16.5	16.4	16.3	16.5	16.3	16.1	15.9	15.8	15.8
Alternative	14.8	16.0	14.2	15.8	16.5	17.4	18.0	16.6	16.6	16.5	16.4	15.8	15.2	14.9	14.9	15.0	14.4	14.0	14.7	13.5	14.2
Special education	6.9	6.2	6.5	6.8	7.0	7.4	6.9	7.2	7.4	7.6	7.3	7.2	7.0	6.4	7.0	7.3	7.4	6.2	6.6	7.1	6.8
Vocational	—	13.0	13.0	12.3	13.0	13.1	12.9	12.7	12.9	12.9	13.1	13.0	12.7	12.7	9.9	10.3	11.5	12.0	13.3	11.3	10.7
Percent of students eligible for    free or reduced-price lunch
25 percent or less	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.8	16.4	16.4	16.3	16.1
26 percent to 50 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.2	16.1	15.8	15.7	15.7
51 percent to 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	15.9	15.6	15.3	15.2	15.4
More than 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	15.9	15.5	15.4	15.0	15.1
Type of locale
City, large1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	17.1	16.6	16.0	16.2
City, midsize2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.2	16.2	15.9	15.9
City, small3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.2	16.0	15.7	15.8
Suburban, large4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.3	16.2	16.2	15.9
Suburban, midsize5	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.5	16.3	16.0	16.0
Suburban, small6	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.5	16.3	16.3	16.4
Town, fringe7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.2	16.0	15.9	15.9
Town, distant8	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	15.4	15.0	15.2	15.2
Town, remote9	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	15.2	15.1	15.0	15.0
Rural, fringe10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.1	15.8	16.0	15.9
Rural, distant11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	14.7	14.3	14.5	14.4
Rural, remote12	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	12.8	12.6	12.5	12.4
Level and size
Elementary schools	18.6	18.6	18.1	18.2	18.1	18.2	18.0	18.1	17.8	17.4	17.0	16.7	16.5	16.3	16.2	16.3	16.0	15.8	15.6	15.6	15.5
Regular	18.7	18.7	18.2	18.2	18.1	18.3	18.0	18.1	17.9	17.4	17.0	16.7	16.5	16.3	16.2	16.3	16.0	15.8	15.6	15.6	15.5
Under 300	16.7	16.6	16.0	16.1	15.9	16.0	15.7	15.7	15.6	15.3	15.1	14.6	14.4	14.1	13.9	14.0	13.7	13.6	13.5	13.7	13.5
300 to 499	18.3	18.3	17.6	17.6	17.5	17.7	17.5	17.5	17.2	16.8	16.4	16.1	15.8	15.6	15.5	15.6	15.3	15.2	15.1	15.2	15.0
500 to 999	19.4	19.4	18.8	18.8	18.7	18.8	18.5	18.6	18.3	17.8	17.4	17.1	16.9	16.8	16.7	16.8	16.5	16.3	16.0	16.0	16.0
1,000 to 1,499	20.0	20.1	19.5	19.6	19.7	19.7	19.6	19.7	19.4	18.8	18.4	18.3	18.1	18.0	18.0	18.1	17.7	17.2	17.0	16.7	16.8
1,500 or more	18.9	19.5	19.9	20.9	20.3	21.2	20.4	20.9	21.2	20.7	19.9	20.0	20.5	20.2	20.3	20.8	20.5	19.6	19.4	18.0	18.1
Secondary schools	17.2	17.2	16.6	16.9	17.3	17.3	17.5	17.6	17.5	17.3	17.0	16.8	16.6	16.6	16.7	16.9	16.8	16.6	16.4	16.3	16.2
Regular	17.1	17.3	16.7	17.0	17.4	17.4	17.6	17.7	17.6	17.4	17.1	16.9	16.7	16.7	16.8	17.0	16.9	16.8	16.6	16.4	16.3
Under 300	12.7	12.4	12.3	12.3	12.3	12.6	12.7	12.8	12.7	12.5	12.5	12.0	12.0	11.9	12.0	12.3	12.0	12.2	12.0	12.1	11.9
300 to 499	15.4	15.5	14.9	15.1	15.3	15.5	15.7	15.7	15.5	15.3	15.1	14.6	14.5	14.4	14.4	14.7	14.7	14.6	14.4	14.4	14.3
500 to 999	16.6	16.8	16.1	16.4	16.7	16.7	16.8	16.9	16.7	16.4	16.2	16.0	15.8	15.7	15.8	16.0	15.9	15.8	15.6	15.4	15.4
1,000 to 1,499	17.7	17.9	17.2	17.5	17.9	17.8	17.9	18.0	17.9	17.5	17.2	17.1	16.8	16.8	16.9	17.2	17.0	16.8	16.5	16.5	16.3
1,500 or more	19.5	19.5	19.3	19.6	20.0	19.6	19.9	20.0	20.0	19.7	19.3	19.2	18.9	18.8	18.8	19.0	19.0	18.8	18.5	18.2	18.2
Combined schools	15.9	15.5	14.5	15.0	14.8	15.3	15.1	15.0	14.7	14.4	13.4	13.4	13.7	13.4	13.5	13.8	13.9	14.1	14.7	13.4	13.9
Under 300	9.8	9.5	8.9	9.3	9.3	9.6	9.3	9.0	8.7	8.6	8.9	9.1	9.2	9.1	9.1	9.5	9.2	9.5	10.1	9.2	8.9
300 to 499	15.3	14.4	14.2	14.3	14.4	14.8	14.4	14.7	14.3	14.0	13.6	13.8	13.5	13.1	13.1	14.4	13.4	13.9	14.3	13.7	13.9
500 to 999	17.1	17.6	16.3	16.7	15.6	16.5	16.6	16.6	16.6	16.2	15.5	14.9	15.8	15.6	16.0	15.4	15.8	15.9	16.0	15.2	15.6
1,000 to 1,499	18.5	19.0	17.8	17.9	18.6	18.6	18.3	18.2	18.4	18.0	16.9	16.9	17.5	18.1	17.7	17.5	17.4	16.4	17.3	15.9	16.7
1,500 or more	18.8	18.8	17.7	18.6	18.9	18.8	19.5	19.6	19.3	19.3	18.7	19.2	18.6	18.9	19.1	19.2	18.7	20.0	20.3	18.0	21.7
Ungraded	6.8	5.9	6.4	6.5	6.9	7.1	6.7	6.9	5.9	6.2	5.9	5.3	7.0	6.3	6.8	9.6	8.0	7.7	7.2	7.3	5.5
Level, type, and percent of    students eligible for    free or reduced-price lunch
Elementary, regular
25 percent or less	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.6	16.4	16.2	16.2	16.0
26 to 50 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.0	15.8	15.5	15.6	15.6
51 to 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	15.7	15.5	15.1	15.2	15.2
More than 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.0	15.6	15.4	15.1	15.2
Secondary, regular
25 percent or less	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	17.5	17.0	16.9	16.8	16.6
26 to 50 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.9	16.8	16.4	16.4	16.2
51 to 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.9	16.7	16.3	16.1	16.4
More than 75 percent	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	16.2	16.7	16.2	15.7	15.9

—Not available.

1 Located inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population of at least 250,000.

2 Located inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population of at least 100,000, but less than 250,000.

3 Located inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population less than 100,000.

4 Located inside an urbanized area and outside a principal city with a population of 250,000 or more.

5 Located inside an urbanized area and outside a principal city with a population of at least 100,000, but less than 250,000.

6 Located inside an urbanized area and outside a principal city with a population less than 100,000.

7 Located inside an urban cluster that is 10 miles or less from an urbanized area.

8 Located inside an urban cluster that is more than 10 but less than or equal to 35 miles from an urbanized area.

9 Located inside an urban cluster that is more than 35 miles from an urbanized area.

10 Located outside any urbanized area or urban cluster, but 5 miles or less from an urbanized area or 2.5 miles or less from an urban cluster.

11 Located outside any urbanized area or urban cluster and more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area, or more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster.

12 Located outside any urbanized area or urban cluster, more than 25 miles from an urbanized area, and more than 10 miles from an urban cluster.

NOTE: Pupil/teacher ratios are based on data reported by types of schools rather than by instructional programs within schools. Only includes schools that reported both enrollment and teacher data. Ratios are based on data reported by schools and may differ from data reported in other tables that reflect aggregate totals reported by states.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," 1988-89 through 2008-09. (This table was prepared November 2010.)