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Digest of Education Statistics
2019 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 201.10. Historical summary of public elementary and secondary school statistics: Selected years, 1869-70 through 2016-17
Selected characteristic 1869-70 1879-80 1889-90 1899-1900 1909-10 1919-20 1929-30 1939-40 1949-50 1959-60 1969-70 1979-80 1989-90 1999-2000 2009-10 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Population, pupils, and instructional staff                                                            
Total population (in thousands)1 38,558   50,156 62,622 75,995 90,490 104,514 121,878 131,028 149,188 177,830   201,385   225,055   246,819   279,040   306,772   316,058   318,386   320,743   323,071  
5- to 17-year-olds (in thousands)1 11,683   15,066 18,473 21,573 24,011 27,571 31,414 30,151 30,223 43,881   52,386   48,043   44,947   52,811   53,890   53,721   53,693   53,702   53,727  
5- to 17-year-olds as a percent of total
    population
30.3   30.0 29.5 28.4 26.5 26.4 25.8 23.0 20.3 24.7   26.0   21.3   18.2   18.9   17.6   17.0   16.9   16.7   16.6  

Total enrollment in elementary and secondary
      schools (in thousands)2
7,562 3 9,867 12,723 15,503 17,814 21,578 25,678 25,434 25,112 36,087   45,550   41,651   40,543   46,857   49,361   50,045   50,313   50,438   50,615  
Prekindergarten through grade 8 (in thousands) 7,481 3 9,757 12,520 14,984 16,899 19,378 21,279 18,833 19,387 27,602   32,513   28,034   29,152   33,486   34,409   35,251   35,370   35,388   35,477  
Grades 9-12 (in thousands) 80 3 110 203 519 915 2,200 4,399 6,601 5,725 8,485   13,037   13,616   11,390   13,371   14,952   14,794   14,943   15,050   15,138  

Enrollment as a percent of total population
19.6 3 19.7 20.3 20.4 19.7 20.6 21.1 19.4 16.8 20.3   22.6   18.5   16.4   16.8   16.1   15.8   15.8   15.7   15.7  
Enrollment as a percent of 5- to 17-year-olds 64.7 3 65.5 68.9 71.9 74.2 78.3 81.7 84.4 83.1 82.2   87.0   86.7   90.2   88.7   91.6   93.2   93.7   93.9   94.2  

Percent of total enrollment in grades 9-12
1.1 3 1.1 1.6 3.3 5.1 10.2 17.1 26.0 22.8 23.5   28.6   32.7   28.1   28.5   30.3   29.6   29.7   29.8   29.9  
High school graduates (in thousands) ---   --- 22 62 111 231 592 1,143 1,063 1,627   2,589   2,748   2,320   2,554   3,128   ---   ---   ---   ---  

Average daily attendance (in thousands)
4,077   6,144 8,154 10,633 12,827 16,150 21,265 22,042 22,284 32,477   41,934   38,289   37,799   43,807   45,919   46,830   47,064   47,248   47,286  
Total number of days attended by pupils
      enrolled (in millions)
539   801 1,098 1,535 2,011 2,615 3,673 3,858 3,964 5,782   7,501   6,835 4 ---   7,858   8,199   8,404   8,434   8,467   8,474  
Percent of enrolled pupils attending daily 59.3   62.3 64.1 68.6 72.1 74.8 82.8 86.7 88.7 90.0   90.4   90.1 4 ---   94.3   ---   ---   ---   93.0   ---  
Average length of school term, in days 132.2   130.3 134.7 144.3 157.5 161.9 172.7 175.0 177.9 178.0   178.9   178.5 4 ---   179.4   178.6   179.5   179.2   179.2   179.2  
Average number of days attended per pupil 78.4   81.1 86.3 99.0 113.0 121.2 143.0 151.7 157.9 160.2   161.7   160.8 4 ---   169.2   ---   ---   ---   166.6   ---  

Total full-time-equivalent (FTE) instructional
      staff (in thousands)
---   --- --- --- --- 678 880 912 963 1,457   2,286   2,406   2,986   3,819   4,279   4,167   4,205   4,250   4,294  
Supervisors (in thousands) ---   --- --- --- --- 7 7 5 --- ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---  
Principals (in thousands) ---   --- --- --- --- 14 31 32 43 64   91   106   126   137   168   168   175   182   184  
Teachers, teacher aides, librarians, and
      guidance counselors (in thousands)5
201   287 364 423 523 657 843 875 920 1,393   2,195   2,300   2,860   3,682   4,111   3,999   4,030   4,068   4,111  
Males (in thousands) 78   123 126 127 110 93 140 195 196 404 4 711 4 782 4 ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---  
Females (in thousands) 123   164 238 296 413 585 703 681 724 989 4 1,484 4 1,518 4 ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---  
Percent male 38.7   42.8 34.5 29.9 21.1 14.1 16.6 22.2 21.3 29.0 4 32.4 4 34.0 4 ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---   ---  
  Amounts in current dollars
Total revenues and expenditures                                                            
Total revenue receipts (in millions) ---   --- $143 $220 $433 $970 $2,089 $2,261 $5,437 $14,747   $40,267   $96,881   $208,548   $372,944   $596,391   $623,650   $647,679   $677,219   $705,267  
Federal government ---   --- --- --- --- 2 7 40 156 652   3,220   9,504   12,701   27,098   75,998   54,506   55,003   55,975   57,311  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 160 354 684 2,166 5,768   16,063   45,349   98,239   184,613   258,864   288,637   301,530   317,660   331,322  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 808 1,728 1,536 3,116 8,327   20,985   42,029   97,608   161,233   261,529   280,507   291,147   303,583   316,635  
Percentage distribution of revenue receipts                                                            
Federal government ---   --- --- --- --- 0.3 0.4 1.8 2.9 4.4   8.0   9.8   6.1   7.3   12.7   8.7   8.5   8.3   8.1  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 16.5 16.9 30.3 39.8 39.1   39.9   46.8   47.1   49.5   43.4   46.3   46.6   46.9   47.0  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 83.2 82.7 68.0 57.3 56.5   52.1   43.4   46.8   43.2   43.9   45.0   45.0   44.8   44.9  

Total expenditures for public schools
    (in millions)
$63   $78 $141 $215 $426 $1,036 $2,317 $2,344 $5,838 $15,613   $40,683   $95,962   $212,770   $381,838   $607,018   $625,018   $651,135   $677,605   $707,601  
Current expenditures6 ---   --- 114 180 356 861 1,844 1,942 4,687 12,329 7 34,218 7 86,984 7 188,229 7 323,889 7 524,715 7 553,501 7 575,332 7 596,202 7 619,165 7
Capital outlay8 ---   --- 26 35 70 154 371 258 1,014 2,662   4,659   6,506   17,781   43,357   56,715   46,438   50,610   55,989   61,442  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 18 93 131 101 490   1,171   1,874   3,776   9,135   17,232   17,152   17,479   17,501   18,334  
Other current expenditures9 ---   --- --- --- --- 3 10 13 36 133   636   598 10 2,983   5,457   8,356   7,926   7,714   7,914   8,661  
Percentage distribution of total expenditures                                                            
Current expenditures6 ---   --- 81.3 83.5 83.6 83.1 79.6 82.8 80.3 79.0 7 84.1 7 90.6 7 88.5 7 84.8 7 86.4 7 88.6 7 88.4 7 88.0 7 87.5 7
Capital outlay8 ---   --- 18.7 16.5 16.4 14.8 16.0 11.0 17.4 17.0   11.5   6.8   8.4   11.4   9.3   7.4   7.8   8.3   8.7  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 1.8 4.0 5.6 1.7 3.1   2.9   2.0   1.8   2.4   2.8   2.7   2.7   2.6   2.6  
Other current expenditures9 ---   --- --- --- --- 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8   1.6   0.6 10 1.4   1.4   1.4   1.3   1.2   1.2   1.2  

Teacher salaries; income and expenditures
    per pupil and per capita
                                                           
Annual salary of classroom teachers11 $189   $195 $252 $325 $485 $871 $1,420 $1,441 $3,010 $4,995   $8,626   $15,970   $31,367   $41,807   $55,370   $56,826   $57,626   $58,316   $59,539  
Personal income per member of labor force1 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 1,734 1,333 3,445 5,893   9,913   19,842   37,343   57,416   78,234   91,262   96,149   100,031   101,272  
Total school expenditures per capita of total
      population
2   2 2 3 5 10 19 18 39 88   202   426   862   1,368   1,979   1,978   2,045   2,113   2,190  
National income per capita1 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 773 629 1,607 2,580   4,455   9,954   19,286   29,710   39,206   45,861   47,874   49,223   49,691  
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA6,12,13 ---   --- 14 17 28 53 87 88 210 375   816   2,272   4,980   7,394   11,427   11,819   12,224   12,619   13,094  
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA13,14 16   13 17 20 33 64 108 106 260 471   955   2,491   5,547   8,589   13,035   13,174   13,668   14,171   14,778  
National income per pupil in ADA13 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 4,430 3,738 10,757 14,127   21,396   58,510   125,931   189,249   261,921   309,519   323,865   334,149   339,501  
Current expenditure per day per pupil in
      ADA6,13,15
---   --- 0.10 0.12 0.18 0.33 0.50 0.50 1.17 2.11   4.56   12.73   ---   41.22   64.00   65.86   68.22   70.42   73.07  
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA13 0.12   0.10 0.13 0.14 0.21 0.40 0.63 0.60 1.46 2.65   5.34   13.95   ---   47.90   73.02   73.43   76.29   79.10   82.49  
  Amounts in constant 2018-19 dollars16
Total revenues and expenditures                                                            
Total revenue receipts (in millions) ---   --- --- --- --- $12,892 $30,903 $40,967 $58,144 $127,109   $269,975   $316,063   $415,975   $557,940   $696,919   $672,227   $693,081   $719,837   $736,111  
Federal government ---   --- --- --- --- 33 109 721 1,667 5,617   21,586   31,004   25,333   40,540   88,808   58,752   58,859   59,498   59,817  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 2,127 5,233 12,403 23,160 49,718   107,695   147,945   195,950   276,189   302,498   311,120   322,667   337,651   345,812  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 10,732 25,561 27,843 33,317 71,774   140,694   137,114   194,692   241,211   305,612   302,356   311,556   322,688   330,482  

Total expenditures for public schools
      (in millions)
---   --- --- --- --- $13,770 $34,280 $42,481 $62,428 $134,579   $272,768   $313,063   $424,396   $571,246   $709,338   $673,702   $696,780   $720,248   $738,547  
Current expenditures6 ---   --- --- --- --- 11,444 27,278 35,191 50,126 106,274 7 229,418 7 283,775 7 375,448 7 484,551 7 613,162 7 596,615 7 615,662 7 633,722 7 646,242 7
Capital outlay8 ---   --- --- --- --- 2,040 5,488 4,675 10,846 22,943   31,237   21,226   35,467   64,864   66,275   50,056   54,158   59,513   64,129  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 242 1,369 2,372 1,076 4,219   7,850   6,113   7,532   13,667   20,137   18,489   18,705   18,602   19,136  
Other current expenditures9 ---   --- --- --- --- 44 145 242 381 1,143   4,263   1,950 10 5,949   8,164   9,764   8,544   8,255   8,412   9,040  

Teacher salaries; income and expenditures
      per pupil and per capita
                                                           
Annual salary of classroom teachers11 ---   --- --- --- --- $11,575 $21,011 $26,115 $32,189 $43,055   $57,834   $52,100   $62,566   $62,545   $64,703   $61,252   $61,666   $61,986   $62,143  
Personal income per member of labor force1 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 25,663 24,151 36,836 50,795   66,462   64,733   74,485   85,896   91,421   98,371   102,889   106,326   105,701  
Total school expenditures per capita of total
    population
---   --- --- --- --- 132 281 324 418 757   1,354   1,391   1,719   2,047   2,312   2,132   2,188   2,246   2,286  
National income per capita1 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 11,436 11,397 17,182 22,238   29,870   32,475   38,468   44,448   45,814   49,433   51,230   52,321   51,864  
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA6,12,13 ---   --- --- --- --- 709 1,283 1,597 2,249 3,234   5,471   7,411   9,933   11,061   13,353   12,740   13,081   13,413   13,667  
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA13,14 ---   --- --- --- --- 850 1,605 1,916 2,784 4,060   6,403   8,125   11,064   12,849   15,232   14,201   14,626   15,063   15,424  
National income per pupil in ADA13 ---   --- --- --- --- --- 65,545 67,749 115,032 121,768   143,449   190,883   251,185   283,125   306,070   333,628   346,568   355,178   354,348  
Current expenditure per day per pupil in
      ADA6,13,15
---   --- --- --- --- 4.4 7.4 9.1 12.5 18.2   30.6   41.5   ---   61.7   74.8   71.0   73.0   74.8   76.3  
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA13 ---   --- --- --- --- 5.3 9.3 10.9 15.6 22.8   35.8   45.5   ---   71.7   85.3   79.1   81.6   84.1   86.1  
---Not available.
1 Data on population and labor force are from the Census Bureau, and data on personal income and national income are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce. Population data through 1900 are based on total population from the decennial census. From 1909-10 to 1959-60, population data are total population, including armed forces overseas, as of July 1. Data for later years are for resident population that excludes armed forces overseas.
2 Data for 1869-70 through 1959-60 are school year enrollment. Data for later years are fall enrollment. Total counts of ungraded students were prorated to prekindergarten through grade 8 and grades 9 through 12 based on prior reports.
3 Data for 1870-71.
4 Estimated by the National Center for Education Statistics.
5 Prior to 1919-20, data are for the number of different persons employed rather than number of positions.
6 Prior to 1919-20, includes interest on school debt.
7 Because of the modification of the scope of "current expenditures for elementary and secondary schools," data for 1959-60 and later years are not entirely comparable with prior years.
8 Beginning in 1969-70, includes capital outlay by state and local school building authorities.
9 Includes summer schools, community colleges, and adult education. Beginning in 1959-60, also includes community services, formerly classified with "current expenditures for elementary and secondary schools."
10 Excludes community colleges and adult education.
11 Prior to 1959-60, average includes supervisors, principals, teachers, and other nonsupervisory instructional staff. Data for 1959-60 and later years are estimated by the National Education Association.
12 Excludes current expenditures not allocable to pupil costs.
13 "ADA" means average daily attendance in elementary and secondary schools.
14 Expenditure figure is the sum of current expenditures allocable to pupil costs, capital outlay, and interest on school debt.
15 Per-day rates derived by dividing annual rates by average length of term.
16 Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. No Consumer Price Index data available for years prior to 1919-20.
NOTE: Some data have been revised from previously published figures. Beginning in 1959-60, data include Alaska and Hawaii. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Annual Report of the United States Commissioner of Education, 1869-70 through 1909-10; Biennial Survey of Education in the United States, 1919-20 through 1949-50; Statistics of State School Systems, 1959-60 and 1969-70; Statistics of Public Elementary and Secondary School Systems, 1979-80; Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, FY 1980; Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Public School Questionnaire," 1999-2000, 2007-08, and 2011-12; and Common Core of Data (CCD), "State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education," 1989-90 through 2017-18; "National Public Education Financial Survey," 1989-90 through 2016-17; and "State Dropout and Completion Data File," 2012-13. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, retrieved November 29, 2019, from https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-national-detail.html#par_textimage_57373479. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, retrieved January 1, 2020, from https://www.bea.gov/itable/. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, retrieved January 1, 2020, from https://stats.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#empstat. (This table was prepared January 2020.)

2019 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest