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Digest of Education Statistics
2017 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 214.40. Public elementary and secondary school enrollment, number of schools, and other selected characteristics, by locale: Fall 2012 through fall 2015
Enrollment, number of schools, and other characteristics Total City Suburban Town Rural Locale unknown
Total Large1 Mid-size2 Small3 Total Large4 Mid-size5 Small6 Total Fringe7 Dis- tant8 Re- mote9 Total Fringe10 Distant11 Remote12
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Fall 2012                                    
Enrollment (in thousands) 49,520 15,026 7,977 3,371 3,678 19,661 16,868 1,810 983 5,681 1,436 2,504 1,741 9,152 5,193 2,920 1,039
Percentage distribution of enrollment,                                    
by race/ethnicity 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
White 51.1 30.4 20.9 33.6 48.1 52.4 50.6 62.3 65.7 65.4 69.2 66.4 61.0 73.1 68.7 80.5 73.9
Black 15.6 24.1 26.8 24.8 17.9 13.6 14.3 10.3 8.4 10.2 7.2 11.8 10.5 9.4 10.8 7.6 7.1
Hispanic 24.3 34.6 41.1 31.8 23.3 24.2 25.0 19.6 19.0 17.8 17.8 16.4 19.9 11.6 14.5 7.4 9.0
Asian 4.8 6.7 7.5 5.4 5.9 5.9 6.4 3.0 3.2 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.5 1.4 2.1 0.5 0.5
Pacific Islander 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.1 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.9 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.7 2.2 1.2 1.7 3.7 2.2 1.1 2.1 7.4
Two or more races 2.8 3.0 2.5 3.5 3.6 3.0 2.9 3.6 2.8 2.6 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.2 2.5 1.9 1.8
                                     
Students participating in English language
      learner (ELL) programs (in thousands)13
4,494 2,132 1,346 440 345 1,777 1,603 109 64 336 76 148 113 250 155 59 36
ELL program participants as a percent of
      enrollment13
9.0 13.6 16.1 12.2 9.3 8.5 8.8 5.8 6.8 5.9 5.9 5.8 6.1 3.4 4.3 2.1 3.6
                                     
Schools 98,454 26,545 13,873 5,916 6,756 30,922 25,780 3,226 1,916 13,530 2,973 5,916 4,641 27,457 10,368 10,545 6,544
Average school size14 522 587 589 601 571 655 674 579 534 444 500 447 404 346 522 285 165
Pupil/teacher ratio15 16.4 16.9 17.2 17.0 16.3 16.8 16.8 16.6 16.9 15.9 16.6 15.7 15.5 14.9 15.9 14.3 12.6
                                     
Enrollment (percentage distribution) 100.0 30.3 16.1 6.8 7.4 39.7 34.1 3.7 2.0 11.5 2.9 5.1 3.5 18.5 10.5 5.9 2.1
Schools (percentage distribution) 100.0 27.0 14.1 6.0 6.9 31.4 26.2 3.3 1.9 13.7 3.0 6.0 4.7 27.9 10.5 10.7 6.6
                                     
Fall 2013                                    
Enrollment (in thousands) 49,777 15,136 8,039 3,397 3,699 19,794 16,986 1,823 985 5,691 1,438 2,509 1,744 9,156 5,225 2,899 1,032
Percentage distribution of enrollment,                                    
by race/ethnicity 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
White 50.3 30.0 20.7 33.1 47.3 51.5 49.7 61.4 65.1 64.7 68.6 65.6 60.4 72.4 67.8 80.1 73.7
Black 15.6 23.9 26.5 24.6 17.7 13.6 14.3 10.3 8.3 10.1 7.0 11.7 10.4 9.3 10.9 7.5 6.9
Hispanic 24.9 35.1 41.5 32.3 23.9 24.8 25.6 20.3 19.5 18.4 18.3 17.1 20.4 12.2 15.2 7.7 9.3
Asian 4.8 6.7 7.6 5.4 6.0 6.0 6.5 3.0 3.2 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.5 1.4 2.1 0.5 0.5
Pacific Islander 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.7 2.2 1.2 1.7 3.8 2.1 1.1 2.0 7.4
Two or more races 3.0 3.2 2.7 3.7 3.8 3.2 3.1 3.9 3.1 2.8 3.0 2.8 2.7 2.4 2.7 2.1 2.0
                                     
Students participating in English language
      learner (ELL) programs (in thousands)13
4,568 2,159 1,368 450 342 1,816 1,637 114 65 340 76 151 112 253 156 59 39
ELL program participants as a percent of
      enrollment13
9.2 13.7 16.1 12.4 9.5 8.5 8.9 5.9 6.8 6.0 5.9 6.0 6.1 3.5 4.4 2.2 3.9
                                     
Schools 98,271 26,581 13,910 5,916 6,755 30,941 25,795 3,224 1,922 13,485 2,962 5,893 4,630 27,264 10,333 10,442 6,489
Average school size14 525 590 592 605 574 657 676 582 536 446 501 450 403 347 527 286 164
Pupil/teacher ratio15 16.3 17.0 17.3 17.1 16.3 16.7 16.7 16.3 17.0 15.8 16.5 15.7 15.4 14.9 15.9 14.3 12.5
                                     
Enrollment (percentage distribution) 100.0 30.4 16.2 6.8 7.4 39.8 34.1 3.7 2.0 11.4 2.9 5.0 3.5 18.4 10.5 5.8 2.1
Schools (percentage distribution) 100.0 27.0 14.2 6.0 6.9 31.5 26.2 3.3 2.0 13.7 3.0 6.0 4.7 27.7 10.5 10.6 6.6
                                     
Fall 2014                                    
Enrollment (in thousands) 50,010 15,235 8,042 3,319 3,874 19,882 17,072 1,821 989 5,680 1,436 2,694 1,549 9,213 5,310 2,881 1,022
Percentage distribution of enrollment,                                    
by race/ethnicity 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
White 49.6 29.5 20.4 32.5 45.8 50.6 48.7 60.7 64.4 64.2 67.8 65.4 58.9 71.6 66.9 79.6 73.3
Black 15.5 23.7 26.1 25.0 17.5 13.7 14.4 10.1 8.4 10.0 7.0 11.6 10.1 9.4 10.9 7.5 6.8
Hispanic 25.4 35.6 42.0 32.1 25.4 25.4 26.2 21.0 19.8 18.9 19.0 17.3 21.6 12.7 15.9 8.1 9.5
Asian 4.9 6.8 7.6 5.5 6.2 6.1 6.6 3.0 3.2 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.6 1.4 2.1 0.5 0.5
Pacific Islander 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.7 2.2 1.2 1.6 4.1 2.1 1.1 2.0 7.5
Two or more races 3.2 3.4 2.9 3.9 4.0 3.4 3.3 4.1 3.4 3.0 3.1 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.9 2.2 2.1
                                     
Students participating in English language
      learner (ELL) programs (in thousands)13
4,670 2,186 1,358 441 387 1,879 1,696 116 67 352 79 160 113 255 159 61 35
ELL program participants as a percent of
      enrollment13
9.3 13.8 16.2 12.2 10.2 8.8 9.1 6.2 6.7 6.2 5.9 5.9 6.8 3.5 4.5 2.2 3.6
                                     
Schools 98,176 26,560 13,870 5,745 6,945 31,099 25,966 3,217 1,916 13,391 2,949 6,299 4,143 27,126 10,422 10,315 6,389
Average school size14 525 591 593 599 579 655 673 579 537 445 500 448 398 350 528 286 165
Pupil/teacher ratio15 16.2 16.9 17.1 17.0 16.3 16.5 16.5 16.2 16.9 15.8 16.4 15.6 15.5 14.9 15.9 14.2 12.5
                                     
Enrollment (percentage distribution) 100.0 30.5 16.1 6.6 7.7 39.8 34.1 3.6 2.0 11.4 2.9 5.4 3.1 18.4 10.6 5.8 2.0
Schools (percentage distribution) 100.0 27.1 14.1 5.9 7.1 31.7 26.4 3.3 2.0 13.6 3.0 6.4 4.2 27.6 10.6 10.5 6.5
                                     
Fall 2015                                    
Enrollment (in thousands) 50,112 15,276 8,276 3,368 3,632 19,903 17,095 1,819 989 5,630 1,422 2,670 1,538 9,303 5,434 2,855 1,014 3
Percentage distribution of enrollment,                                    
by race/ethnicity 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
White 48.9 29.1 20.2 32.6 46.0 49.7 47.8 59.9 63.6 63.6 67.1 64.8 58.3 70.8 65.9 79.3 73.1 48.7
Black 15.4 23.4 25.7 24.2 17.4 13.7 14.4 10.2 8.4 10.0 7.0 11.5 10.1 9.4 11.0 7.3 6.6 11.5
Hispanic 25.9 36.0 42.4 32.4 24.8 25.9 26.7 21.5 20.3 19.4 19.5 17.8 22.1 13.2 16.4 8.4 9.7 30.1
Asian 5.0 6.8 7.6 5.6 6.4 6.3 6.8 3.0 3.2 1.3 1.5 1.0 1.6 1.5 2.3 0.5 0.5 5.5
Pacific Islander 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.2
American Indian/Alaska Native 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.6 0.7 2.1 1.1 1.5 4.0 2.1 1.1 2.0 7.5 0.3
Two or more races 3.4 3.6 3.0 4.2 4.3 3.6 3.5 4.4 3.6 3.2 3.3 3.2 3.0 2.8 3.1 2.4 2.3 3.6
                                     
Number of English language learner (ELL)
      students (in thousands)13
4,795 2,217 1,402 452 363 1,941 1,754 119 68 365 81 164 120 272 173 64 36 #
ELL students as a percent of enrollment13 9.5 14.0 16.3 12.4 10.0 9.1 9.5 6.5 6.7 6.5 6.2 6.1 7.4 3.6 4.5 2.4 3.7 0.9
                                     
Schools 98,277 26,636 14,214 5,828 6,594 31,081 25,963 3,209 1,909 13,307 2,922 6,279 4,106 27,146 10,546 10,262 6,338 107
Average school size14 526 591 595 598 575 657 675 582 538 445 500 447 401 354 535 285 165 26
Pupil/teacher ratio15 16.2 16.8 17.1 16.8 16.3 16.5 16.5 16.4 16.8 15.8 16.3 15.7 15.4 14.9 15.9 14.3 12.5 11.8
                                     
Enrollment (percentage distribution) 100.0 30.5 16.5 6.7 7.2 39.7 34.1 3.6 2.0 11.2 2.8 5.3 3.1 18.6 10.8 5.7 2.0 #
Schools (percentage distribution) 100.0 27.1 14.5 5.9 6.7 31.6 26.4 3.3 1.9 13.5 3.0 6.4 4.2 27.6 10.7 10.4 6.4 0.1
—Not available.
†Not applicable.
#Rounds to zero.
1 Located inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population of 250,000 or more.
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.
13 Data are based on locales of school districts rather than locales of schools as in the rest of the table. Includes imputed data for Alabama in 2012 and for New York in 2012 and 2013. Data for 2014 and earlier years include only those ELL students who participated in ELL programs. Starting with 2015, data include all ELL students, regardless of program participation.
14 Average for schools reporting enrollment. Enrollment data were available for 94,859 out of 98,454 schools in 2012-13, 94,876 out of 98,271 schools in 2013-14, 95,230 out of 98,176 schools in 2014-15, and 95,240 out of 98,277 schools in 2015-16.
15 Ratio for schools reporting both full-time-equivalent teachers and fall enrollment data.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Enrollment and ratios are based on data reported by schools and may differ from data reported in other tables that reflect aggregate totals reported by states. Some data have been revised from previously published figures.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), "Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey," 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16; and "Local Education Agency Universe Survey," 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16. (This table was prepared October 2017.)

2017 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest