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Digest of Education Statistics: 2016
Digest of Education Statistics: 2016

NCES 2017-094
February 2018


Table 205.60. Private elementary and secondary school full-time-equivalent (FTE) staff and student to FTE staff ratios, by orientation of school, school level, and type of staff: 2007-08 and 2011-12
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Type of staff Total, 2007-08 2011-12
Total Catholic Other religious orientation Nonsectarian
Total Elementary1 Secondary2 Combined3 Total Elementary1 Secondary2 Combined3 Total Elementary1 Secondary2 Combined3 Total Elementary1 Secondary2 Combined3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Number of schools 28,220   (328) 26,230   (541) 15,000   (434) 2,820   (153) 8,400   (220) 6,760   (39) 5,300   (24) 1,040   (37) 410   (26) 13,040   (550) 6,860   (433) 890   (146) 5,290   (226) 6,430   (68) 2,840   (48) 890   (19) 2,700   (65)
Enrollment (in thousands) 5,165   (104) 4,480   (106) 2,134   (60) 732   (54) 1,614   (99) 1,892   (60) 1,244   (37) 512   (44) 136   (19) 1,605   (84) 610   (38) 117   (31) 878   (78) 982   (67) 279   (22) 103   (19) 600   (62)
  Number of FTE staff
Total FTE staff 786,250   (16,261) 733,560   (17,373) 296,720   (8,627) 118,740   (8,321) 318,100   (17,125) 224,790   (7,201) 138,980   (3,830) 62,650   (5,069) 23,160   (2,739) 254,000   (11,431) 92,610   (6,078) 25,040   (6,246) 136,350   (10,252) 254,770   (14,961) 65,140   (3,983) 31,050   (4,110) 158,590   (13,610)
Principals 30,550   (463) 26,290   (497) 12,670   (319) 3,040   (159) 10,580   (410) 7,070   (115) 5,240   (83) 1,250   (50) 580   (66) 11,990   (419) 4,760   (291) 840   (141) 6,390   (350) 7,230   (249) 2,670   (106) 950   (63) 3,610   (215)
Assistant principals 13,120   (487) 11,280   (418) 4,160   (274) 2,510   (253) 4,610   (326) 3,270   (208) 1,470   (147) 1,460   (138) 350   (68) 4,000   (300) 1,320   (177) 540 ! (228) 2,140   (221) 4,020   (338) 1,380   (165) 510   (108) 2,130   (278)
Other managers 26,110   (952) 25,950   (872) 9,710   (511) 5,160   (479) 11,070   (707) 6,690   (410) 3,010   (252) 2,710   (312) 970   (142) 8,790   (592) 3,230   (280) 1,120 ! (377) 4,440   (375) 10,470   (734) 3,470   (322) 1,330   (238) 5,670   (620)
Instruction coordinators 7,850   (538) 7,630   (733) 2,310   (296) 1,440 ! (443) 3,880   (572) 1,280   (176) 550   (124) 500   (107) 230   (54) 2,790   (470) 790   (135)   (†) 1,470   (236) 3,560   (529) 960   (200) 410 ! (125) 2,190   (487)
Teachers 436,910   (8,665) 413,140   (9,516) 174,930   (4,690) 64,390   (4,936) 173,810   (10,001) 130,210   (3,981) 82,300   (2,281) 36,000   (2,853) 11,900   (1,567) 154,650   (6,944) 56,490   (3,508) 13,990   (3,896) 84,170   (6,547) 128,280   (8,136) 36,140   (2,384) 14,400   (2,231) 77,740   (7,508)
Teacher aides 53,740   (2,591) 52,440   (3,563) 25,210   (1,664) 2,370   (384) 24,860   (2,940) 14,260   (1,102) 11,350   (720) 450 ! (136) 2,460 ! (763) 12,200   (1,070) 7,250   (987) 310 ! (132) 4,630   (522) 25,980   (3,077) 6,610   (809) 1,610   (354) 17,760   (2,705)
Other aides 11,350   (1,251) 11,060   (2,290) 3,480   (374) 1,250 ! (400) 6,330 ! (2,122) 2,040   (281) 1,800   (260) 70 ! (28)   (†) 2,990   (585) 780   (158) 320 ! (140) 1,900   (512) 6,020 ! (2,194) 900   (203) 870 ! (384) 4,260 ! (2,068)
Guidance counselors 11,780   (506) 11,040   (501) 2,140   (188) 3,590   (288) 5,310   (390) 4,220   (259) 1,390   (146) 2,320   (209) 500   (86) 3,080   (276) 370   (67) 600 ! (183) 2,120   (208) 3,740   (370) 380   (104) 670   (112) 2,690   (328)
Librarians/media specialists 12,190   (351) 11,190   (393) 5,230   (228) 1,610   (134) 4,350   (319) 4,300   (164) 3,080   (147) 900   (78) 320   (51) 3,630   (240) 1,290   (134) 390   (112) 1,960   (199) 3,260   (283) 870   (98) 320   (63) 2,070   (252)
Library/media center aides 4,150   (261) 2,650   (443) 1,320   (246)   (†) 900   (152) 1,210   (215) 910   (220) 200   (46) 100 ! (30) 730 ! (330) 240   (63)   (†) 320   (88) 710   (146) 170 ! (60)   (†) 470   (132)
Nurses 8,340   (399) 7,600   (372) 3,010   (203) 1,680   (246) 2,900   (279) 2,890   (180) 2,070   (158) 600   (122) 230   (51) 1,740   (182) 530   (71) 400 ! (121) 810   (115) 2,960   (310) 410   (74) 690   (190) 1,860   (258)
Student support staff4 24,920   (1,236) 23,010   (1,629) 5,510   (482) 4,190   (617) 13,300   (1,516) 4,420   (468) 2,210   (230) 1,350   (254) 860 ! (298) 4,050   (436) 1,550   (245) 810 ! (405) 1,680   (335) 14,540   (1,529) 1,750   (342) 2,030   (448) 10,760   (1,372)
Secretaries/clerical staff 50,360   (1,441) 42,730   (1,382) 15,420   (586) 8,210   (753) 19,090   (1,203) 13,460   (584) 7,080   (208) 5,160   (471) 1,220   (186) 16,000   (966) 5,510   (457) 1,610 ! (593) 8,890   (730) 13,270   (1,017) 2,830   (293) 1,450   (333) 8,980   (900)
Food service personnel 28,080   (1,019) 25,040   (1,196) 9,620   (549) 5,220   (583) 10,210   (998) 10,470   (625) 6,530   (435) 3,000   (383) 940   (142) 8,290   (813) 2,300   (238) 1,050   (264) 4,940   (718) 6,280   (886) 790   (155) 1,170 ! (392) 4,320   (756)
Custodial and maintenance 45,660   (1,469) 38,300   (1,482) 14,450   (614) 7,230   (527) 16,630   (1,369) 12,820   (576) 7,410   (325) 4,210   (393) 1,210   (185) 13,150   (904) 4,250   (358) 1,410   (323) 7,480   (804) 12,330   (1,101) 2,790   (347) 1,600   (348) 7,930   (998)
Other employees5 21,140   (2,717) 24,230   (3,023) 7,550   (1,820) 6,420   (1,602) 10,260   (1,975) 6,180   (1,381) 2,570 ! (921) 2,480   (735) 1,120 ! (508) 5,910   (1,690)   (†) 970 ! (450) 2,990   (762) 12,130   (2,194) 3,020   (831) 2,970 ! (1,293) 6,150   (1,810)
  Students per FTE staff member
Total FTE staff 7   (0.1) 6   (0.1) 7   (0.1) 6   (0.3) 5   (0.2) 8   (0.1) 9   (0.1) 8   (0.2) 6   (0.6) 6   (0.2) 7   (0.2) 5   (0.5) 6   (0.2) 4   (0.1) 4   (0.2) 3   (0.4) 4   (0.2)
Principals 169   (2.9) 170   (3.4) 168   (4.1) 241   (16.1) 153   (6.4) 268   (7.7) 237   (7.2) 409   (28.9) 235   (23.1) 134   (5.5) 128   (6.4) 140   (26.9) 137   (8.9) 136   (7.6) 105   (7.9) 108   (21.6) 166   (13.0)
Assistant principals 394   (12.3) 397   (14.5) 512   (30.9) 292   (20.2) 350   (23.5) 579   (28.4) 847   (77.4) 352   (19.1) 394   (69.0) 402   (30.3) 464   (58.8) 217   (49.8) 410   (44.2) 245   (18.1) 203   (23.1) 202   (42.8) 282   (30.8)
Other managers 198   (6.0) 173   (6.0) 220   (11.2) 142   (11.0) 146   (9.3) 283   (14.1) 413   (33.4) 189   (15.0) 140   (21.5) 183   (11.8) 189   (16.7) 104   (17.1) 198   (16.3) 94   (6.1) 80   (5.5) 78   (16.8) 106   (11.1)
Instruction coordinators 658   (43.1) 587   (54.5) 925   (125.5) 507   (128.0) 416   (64.9) 1,480   (198.3) 2,253   (653.7) 1,022   (226.7) 605 ! (223.6) 575   (88.4) 769   (136.5)   (†) 598   (107.7) 276   (40.2) 291   (64.2) 250 ! (116.8) 274   (66.3)
Teachers 12   (0.1) 11   (0.2) 12   (0.2) 11   (0.5) 9   (0.2) 15   (0.2) 15   (0.3) 14   (0.3) 11   (0.5) 10   (0.3) 11   (0.3) 8   (1.1) 10   (0.4) 8   (0.2) 8   (0.3) 7   (0.7) 8   (0.3)
Teacher aides 96   (4.8) 85   (5.9) 85   (5.0) 308   (57.9) 65   (8.9) 133   (10.6) 110   (6.3)   (†)   (†) 132   (12.6) 84   (9.7)   (†) 190   (23.3) 38   (4.8) 42   (5.9) 64   (16.6) 34   (6.1)
Other aides 455   (52.2) 405   (78.2) 614   (64.7)   (†) 255 ! (80.4) 929   (144.9) 692   (107.9)   (†)   (†) 536   (110.3) 785   (171.8)   (†) 462 ! (141.0) 163 ! (64.9) 310   (82.7)   (†)   (†)
Guidance counselors 439   (16.1) 406   (15.0) 998   (84.7) 204   (9.3) 304   (16.0) 448   (21.0) 894   (96.6) 220   (7.9) 270   (34.6) 520   (36.9) 1,653   (313.9) 195   (46.5) 415   (24.6) 263   (20.3) 743   (219.1) 154   (22.6) 223   (20.8)
Librarians/media specialists 424   (9.5) 400   (13.0) 408   (15.7) 455   (35.2) 371   (20.6) 440   (17.9) 404   (22.0) 571   (30.4) 421   (46.3) 442   (26.3) 475   (37.3) 301 ! (99.7) 448   (39.1) 301   (15.9) 322   (29.6) 319   (44.4) 290   (20.1)
Library/media center aides 1,243   (75.1) 1,692   (229.0) 1,615   (281.5) 1,696 ! (636.7) 1,803   (329.9) 1,570   (259.6) 1,374   (328.5) 2,512   (665.0) 1,416 ! (510.9) 2,196   (593.2) 2,512   (626.7)   (†) 2,711 ! (866.0) 1,381   (257.5)   (†)   (†) 1,262   (352.2)
Nurses 619   (26.1) 590   (31.8) 709   (41.8) 434   (83.1) 556   (55.8) 654   (45.4) 602   (39.8) 860 ! (269.8) 594   (152.5) 922   (107.2) 1,154   (131.9)   (†) 1,080   (160.3) 331   (34.0) 679   (160.0) 149 ! (54.5) 322   (46.9)
Student support staff4 207   (9.9) 195   (14.1) 387   (32.3) 174   (26.7) 121   (12.7) 428   (49.0) 562   (61.8) 380   (98.6)   (†) 396   (43.6) 394   (51.9) 143 ! (65.7) 521   (105.2) 68   (7.4) 160   (33.7) 51   (14.7) 56   (7.4)
Secretaries/clerical staff 103   (2.1) 105   (2.6) 138   (4.2) 89   (4.9) 85   (3.5) 141   (4.6) 176   (5.9) 99   (5.2) 112   (13.1) 100   (4.6) 111   (6.7) 73   (11.9) 99   (6.0) 74   (3.5) 99   (7.3) 71   (11.0) 67   (4.6)
Food service personnel 184   (6.2) 179   (7.8) 222   (12.1) 140   (15.9) 158   (13.9) 181   (9.1) 191   (12.0) 171   (17.8) 144   (26.5) 194   (17.2) 265   (27.7)   (†) 178   (21.3) 156   (19.4) 354   (82.1) 88 ! (32.9) 139   (24.1)
Custodial and maintenance 113   (2.8) 117   (3.8) 148   (5.0) 101   (5.4) 97   (6.2) 148   (4.5) 168   (5.8) 122   (6.2) 113   (15.5) 122   (6.7) 143   (10.7) 82   (16.4) 117   (9.1) 80   (4.6) 100   (9.0) 64   (11.3) 76   (6.7)
Other employees5 244   (29.0) 185   (24.0) 283   (62.5) 114   (32.0) 157   (37.1) 306   (71.6)   (†) 206 ! (66.7)   (†) 271   (64.9) 311 ! (131.9)   (†) 294 ! (90.0) 81   (18.5) 93 ! (36.7)   (†) 98 ! (45.5)
†Not applicable.
!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.
‡Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater.
1 Includes schools beginning with grade 6 or below and with no grade higher than 8.
2 Schools with no grade lower than 7.
3 Schools with grades lower than 7 and higher than 8, as well as schools that do not classify students by grade level.
4 Includes student support services professional staff, such as school psychologists, social workers, and speech therapists or pathologists.
5 Includes other employees not identified by function.
NOTE: FTE staff consists of the total number of full-time staff, plus 48 percent of the number of part-time staff; this percentage was estimated based on the number of hours that part-time staff reported working. Data are based on a sample survey and may not be strictly comparable with data reported elsewhere. Excludes all prekindergarten students from calculations, but includes kindergarten students attending schools that offer first or higher grade. Includes only schools that offer first or higher grade. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Private School Data File," 2007-08 and 2011-12. (This table was prepared June 2013.)