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Digest of Education Statistics
2021 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 2018-19
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 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
  Number
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   320,739   323,072   325,122   326,838  
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   53,729   53,763   53,737   53,607  
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   16.8   16.6   16.5   16.4  

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   50,438   50,615   50,686   50,694  
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   35,388   35,477   35,496   35,498  
Grades 9 through 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   15,050   15,138   15,190   15,196  

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   15.7   15.7   15.6   15.5  
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   93.9   94.1   94.3   94.6  

Percent of total enrollment in grades 9 through 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   29.8   29.9   30.0   30.0  
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   47,248   47,287   47,230   47,167  
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   8,467   8,474   8,463   8,450  
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   ---   93.5   ---   93.2   ---  
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   179.2   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   ---   167.6   ---   166.9   ---  

Total full-time-equivalent (FTE) school administra-
tive and instructional staff (in thousands)
---   --- --- --- --- 693 885 907 957 1,449   2,256   2,720   2,986   3,819   4,279   4,250   4,294   4,340   4,349  
Principals (in thousands) ---   --- --- --- --- 14 31 32 43 64   91   106   126   137   168   182   184   189   194  
Teacher aides, librarians, and
guidance counselors (in thousands)5 
---   --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 32   149   429   504   771   901   916   941   981   985  
Teachers (in thousands) 201   287 364 423 523 680 854 875 914 1,353   2,016   2,185   2,357   2,911   3,210   3,151   3,169   3,170   3,170  
Males (in thousands) 78   123 126 127 110 96 142 195 195 392 4  653 4  743 4  ---   731 4  ---   730 4  ---   745 4  ---  
Females (in thousands) 123   164 238 296 413 584 712 681 719 961 4  1,363 4  1,442 4  ---   2,180 4  ---   2,421 4  ---   2,425 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  ---   25.1 4  ---   23.2 4  ---   23.5 4  ---  
  Amounts in unadjusted dollars6 
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   $677,219   $704,840   $734,244   $764,716  
Federal government ---   --- --- --- --- 2 7 40 156 652   3,220   9,504   12,701   27,098   75,998   55,975   57,309   57,345   60,339  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 160 354 684 2,166 5,768   16,063   45,349   98,239   184,613   258,864   317,660   331,319   343,952   356,997  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 808 1,728 1,536 3,116 8,327   20,985   42,029   97,608   161,233   261,529   303,583   316,212   332,947   347,380  
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   8.3   8.1   7.8   7.9  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 16.5 16.9 30.3 39.8 39.1   39.9   46.8   47.1   49.5   43.4   46.9   47.0   46.8   46.7  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 83.2 82.7 68.0 57.3 56.5   52.1   43.4   46.8   43.2   43.9   44.8   44.9   45.3   45.4  

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   $677,605   $706,823   $734,876   $769,039  
Current expenditures7  ---   --- 114 180 356 861 1,844 1,942 4,687 12,329 8  34,218 8  86,984 8  188,229 8  323,889 8  524,715 8  596,202 8  619,291 8  639,952 8  666,865 8 
Capital outlay9  ---   --- 26 35 70 154 371 258 1,014 2,662   4,659   6,506   17,781   43,357   56,715   55,989   61,298   67,346   73,131  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 18 93 131 101 490   1,171   1,874   3,776   9,135   17,232   17,501   18,338   19,356   20,443  
Other current expenditures10  ---   --- --- --- --- 3 10 13 36 133   636   598 11  2,983   5,457   8,356   7,914   7,895   8,222   8,600  
Percentage distribution of total expenditures                                                            
Current expenditures7  ---   --- 81.3 83.5 83.6 83.1 79.6 82.8 80.3 79.0 8  84.1 8  90.6 8  88.5 8  84.8 8  86.4 8  88.0 8  87.6 8  87.1 8  86.7 8 
Capital outlay9  ---   --- 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   8.3   8.7   9.2   9.5  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 1.8 4.0 5.6 1.7 3.1   2.9   2.0   1.8   2.4   2.8   2.6   2.6   2.6   2.7  
Other current expenditures10  ---   --- --- --- --- 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.6 0.8   1.6   0.6 11  1.4   1.4   1.4   1.2   1.1   1.1   1.1  

Teacher salaries; income and expenditures
per pupil and per capita
                                                           
Annual salary of classroom teachers12  $189   $195 $252 $325 $485 $871 $1,420 $1,441 $3,010 $4,995   $8,626   $15,970   $31,367   $41,807   $55,370   $58,506   $59,772   $60,785   $62,355  
Personal income per member of labor force1  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 1,734 1,333 3,445 5,893   9,913   19,842   37,343   57,451   78,372   99,823   101,119   105,104   109,246  
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   2,113   2,188   2,260   2,353  
National income per capita1  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 773 629 1,607 2,580   4,455   9,954   19,286   29,714   39,296   49,104   49,628   51,596   54,074  
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA7,13,14  ---   --- 14 17 28 53 87 88 210 375   816   2,272   4,980   7,394   11,427   12,619   13,096   13,550   14,138  
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA14,15  16   13 17 20 33 64 108 106 260 471   955   2,491   5,547   8,589   13,035   14,171   14,780   15,385   16,122  
National income per pupil in ADA14  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 4,430 3,738 10,757 14,127   21,396   58,510   125,931   189,275   262,522   333,336   339,063   355,176   374,694  
Current expenditure per day per pupil in
ADA7,14,16 
---   --- 0.10 0.12 0.18 0.33 0.50 0.50 1.17 2.11   4.56   12.73   ---   41.22   64.00   70.42   73.09   75.61   78.92  
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA14  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   79.10   82.48   85.86   89.99  
Total expenditure per pupil2,15  8.38   7.91 11.04 13.87 23.93 47.87 89.84 91.64 231.05 428.98   879.20   2,289.60   5,174.47   8,032.52   12,128.25   13,277.50   13,808.65   14,336.51   15,000.55  
  Amounts in constant 2020-21 dollars17 
Total revenues and expenditures                                                            
Total revenue receipts (in millions) ---   --- --- --- --- $13,395 $32,109 $42,566 $60,413 $132,069   $280,510   $328,396   $432,207   $579,712   $724,114   $747,927   $764,372   $778,706   $794,557  
Federal government ---   --- --- --- --- 34 113 750 1,732 5,836   22,428   32,214   26,322   42,121   92,274   61,819   62,149   60,817   62,693  
State governments ---   --- --- --- --- 2,210 5,437 12,886 24,064 51,658   111,898   153,718   203,596   286,967   314,302   350,827   359,303   364,780   370,928  
Local sources, including intermediate ---   --- --- --- --- 11,151 26,559 28,930 34,618 74,575   146,184   142,464   202,289   250,623   317,538   335,280   342,920   353,108   360,935  

Total expenditures for public schools
(in millions)
---   --- --- --- --- $14,307 $35,618 $44,139 $64,864 $139,831   $283,412   $325,279   $440,957   $593,537   $737,017   $748,354   $766,522   $779,376   $799,048  
Current expenditures7  ---   --- --- --- --- 11,890 28,342 36,564 52,082 110,421 8  238,370 8  294,848 8  390,098 8  503,459 8  637,088 8  658,451 8  671,597 8  678,704 8  692,888 8 
Capital outlay9  ---   --- --- --- --- 2,120 5,702 4,858 11,269 23,839   32,456   22,054   36,851   67,395   68,861   61,835   66,476   71,424   75,985  
Interest on school debt ---   --- --- --- --- 251 1,423 2,465 1,118 4,384   8,156   6,351   7,826   14,200   20,923   19,328   19,887   20,528   21,240  
Other current expenditures10  ---   --- --- --- --- 45 151 252 396 1,187   4,429   2,026 11  6,181   8,482   10,145   8,740   8,562   8,720   8,936  

Teacher salaries; income and expenditures
per pupil and per capita
                                                           
Annual salary of classroom teachers12  ---   --- --- --- --- $12,027 $21,831 $27,134 $33,445 $44,735   $60,091   $54,133   $65,007   $64,986   $67,228   $64,615   $64,820   $64,466   $64,788  
Personal income per member of labor force1  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 26,665 25,093 38,273 52,777   69,055   67,259   77,391   89,303   95,156   110,246   109,660   111,468   113,509  
Total school expenditures per capita of total
population
---   --- --- --- --- 137 292 337 435 786   1,407   1,445   1,787   2,127   2,402   2,333   2,373   2,397   2,445  
National income per capita1  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 11,882 11,842 17,853 23,106   31,036   33,742   39,969   46,189   47,711   54,231   53,820   54,720   56,184  
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA7,13,14  ---   --- --- --- --- 736 1,333 1,659 2,337 3,360   5,684   7,701   10,320   11,493   13,874   13,936   14,202   14,370   14,690  
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA14,15  ---   --- --- --- --- 883 1,668 1,991 2,893 4,218   6,653   8,442   11,496   13,351   15,827   15,650   16,029   16,317   16,751  
National income per pupil in ADA14  ---   --- --- --- --- --- 68,102 70,393 119,521 126,519   149,047   198,332   260,987   294,212   318,744   368,140   367,700   376,683   389,315  
Current expenditure per day per pupil in
ADA7,14,16 
---   --- --- --- --- 4.6 7.7 9.4 13.0 18.9   31.8   43.1   ---   64.1   77.7   77.8   79.3   80.2   82.0  
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA14  ---   --- --- --- --- 5.5 9.7 11.3 16.2 23.7   37.2   47.3   ---   74.4   88.7   87.4   89.5   91.1   93.5  
Total expenditure per pupil2,15  ---   --- --- --- --- 660.9 1,381.2 1,725.5 2,567.2 3,841.9   6,124.8   7,761.0   8,043.3   12,485.9   14,725.6   14,663.8   14,974.9   15,204.6   15,585.9  
---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. The total counts of ungraded students and those whose grade was not specified were prorated into either the prekindergarten through grade 8 level or the grades 9 through 12 level based on the known grade-level distribution of a state.
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. Prior to 1959-60, a small number of other instructional staff are included with teachers.
6 Unadjusted (or "current") dollars have not been adjusted to compensate for inflation.
7 Prior to 1919-20, includes interest on school debt.
8 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.
9 Beginning in 1969-70, includes capital outlay by state and local school building authorities.
10 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."
11 Excludes community colleges and adult education.
12 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.
13 Excludes current expenditures not allocable to pupil costs.
14 "ADA" means average daily attendance in elementary and secondary schools.
15 Expenditure figure is the sum of current expenditures allocable to pupil costs, capital outlay, and interest on school debt.
16 Per-day rates derived by dividing annual rates by average length of term.
17 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: Data in this table represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Beginning in 1959-60, data include Alaska and Hawaii. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. 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; Common Core of Data (CCD), "State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education," 1989-90 through 2018-19; "National Public Education Financial Survey," 1989-90 through 2018-19; "State Dropout and Completion Data File," 2012-13; and National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Data File," 2015-16 and 2017-18. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, retrieved October 11, 2021, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-national-detail.html; Bureau of Economic Analysis, retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://www.bea.gov/itable/. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, retrieved April 21, 2022, from https://stats.bls.gov/cps/tables.htm#empstat. National Education Association, Estimates of School Statistics, 1960 through 2021; and unpublished tabulations. (This table was prepared April 2022.)

2021 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest