2022 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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Table 208.20. | Public and private elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, pupil/teacher ratios, and new teacher hires: Selected years, fall 1955 through fall 2031 |
Year | Teachers (in thousands) |
Enrollment (in thousands) |
Pupil/teacher ratio | Number of new teacher hires (in thousands)1 |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Public | Private | Total | Public | Private | Total | Public | Private | Total | Public | Private | |||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||||||||
1955 | 1,286 | 1,141 | 145 | 2 | 35,280 | 30,680 | 4,600 | 2 | 27.4 | 26.9 | 31.7 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1960 | 1,600 | 1,408 | 192 | 2 | 42,181 | 36,281 | 5,900 | 2 | 26.4 | 25.8 | 30.7 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1965 | 1,933 | 1,710 | 223 | 48,473 | 42,173 | 6,300 | 25.1 | 24.7 | 28.3 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1970 | 2,292 | 2,059 | 233 | 51,257 | 45,894 | 5,363 | 22.4 | 22.3 | 23.0 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1975 | 2,453 | 2,198 | 255 | 2 | 49,819 | 44,819 | 5,000 | 2 | 20.3 | 20.4 | 19.6 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1976 |
2,457 | 2,189 | 268 | 49,478 | 44,311 | 5,167 | 20.1 | 20.2 | 19.3 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1977 | 2,488 | 2,209 | 279 | 48,717 | 43,577 | 5,140 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 18.4 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1978 | 2,479 | 2,207 | 272 | 47,637 | 42,551 | 5,086 | 19.2 | 19.3 | 18.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1979 | 2,461 | 2,185 | 276 | 2 | 46,651 | 41,651 | 5,000 | 2 | 19.0 | 19.1 | 18.1 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1980 | 2,485 | 2,184 | 301 | 46,208 | 40,877 | 5,331 | 18.6 | 18.7 | 17.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1981 |
2,440 | 2,127 | 313 | 2 | 45,544 | 40,044 | 5,500 | 2 | 18.7 | 18.8 | 17.6 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1982 | 2,458 | 2,133 | 325 | 2 | 45,166 | 39,566 | 5,600 | 2 | 18.4 | 18.6 | 17.2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1983 | 2,476 | 2,139 | 337 | 44,967 | 39,252 | 5,715 | 18.2 | 18.4 | 17.0 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1984 | 2,508 | 2,168 | 340 | 2 | 44,908 | 39,208 | 5,700 | 2 | 17.9 | 18.1 | 16.8 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1985 | 2,549 | 2,206 | 343 | 44,979 | 39,422 | 5,557 | 17.6 | 17.9 | 16.2 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1986 |
2,592 | 2,244 | 348 | 2 | 45,205 | 39,753 | 5,452 | 2 | 17.4 | 17.7 | 15.7 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1987 | 2,631 | 2,279 | 352 | 45,488 | 40,008 | 5,479 | 17.3 | 17.6 | 15.6 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1988 | 2,668 | 2,323 | 345 | 2 | 45,430 | 40,189 | 5,242 | 2 | 17.0 | 17.3 | 15.2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1989 | 2,713 | 2,357 | 356 | 46,141 | 40,543 | 5,599 | 17.0 | 17.2 | 15.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1990 | 2,759 | 2,398 | 361 | 2 | 46,864 | 41,217 | 5,648 | 2 | 17.0 | 17.2 | 15.6 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1991 |
2,797 | 2,432 | 365 | 47,728 | 42,047 | 5,681 | 17.1 | 17.3 | 15.6 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1992 | 2,823 | 2,459 | 364 | 2 | 48,694 | 42,823 | 5,870 | 2 | 17.2 | 17.4 | 16.1 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1993 | 2,868 | 2,504 | 364 | 49,532 | 43,465 | 6,067 | 17.3 | 17.4 | 16.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1994 | 2,922 | 2,552 | 370 | 2 | 50,106 | 44,111 | 5,994 | 2 | 17.1 | 17.3 | 16.2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1995 | 2,974 | 2,598 | 376 | 50,759 | 44,840 | 5,918 | 17.1 | 17.3 | 15.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1996 |
3,051 | 2,667 | 384 | 2 | 51,544 | 45,611 | 5,933 | 2 | 16.9 | 17.1 | 15.5 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1997 | 3,138 | 2,746 | 391 | 52,071 | 46,127 | 5,944 | 16.6 | 16.8 | 15.2 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
1998 | 3,230 | 2,830 | 400 | 2 | 52,526 | 46,539 | 5,988 | 2 | 16.3 | 16.4 | 15.0 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
1999 | 3,319 | 2,911 | 408 | 52,875 | 46,857 | 6,018 | 15.9 | 16.1 | 14.7 | 305 | 222 | 83 | ||||||||
2000 | 3,366 | 2,941 | 424 | 2 | 53,373 | 47,204 | 6,169 | 2 | 15.9 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2001 |
3,440 | 3,000 | 441 | 53,992 | 47,672 | 6,320 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 14.3 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
2002 | 3,476 | 3,034 | 442 | 2 | 54,403 | 48,183 | 6,220 | 2 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 14.1 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2003 | 3,490 | 3,049 | 441 | 54,639 | 48,540 | 6,099 | 15.7 | 15.9 | 13.8 | 311 | 236 | 74 | ||||||||
2004 | 3,536 | 3,091 | 445 | 2 | 54,882 | 48,795 | 6,087 | 2 | 15.5 | 15.8 | 13.7 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2005 | 3,593 | 3,143 | 450 | 55,187 | 49,113 | 6,073 | 15.4 | 15.6 | 13.5 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
2006 |
3,619 | 3,166 | 453 | 2 | 55,307 | 49,316 | 5,991 | 2 | 15.3 | 15.6 | 13.2 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2007 | 3,656 | 3,200 | 456 | 55,201 | 49,291 | 5,910 | 15.1 | 15.4 | 13.0 | 327 | 246 | 80 | ||||||||
2008 | 3,670 | 3,222 | 448 | 2 | 54,973 | 49,266 | 5,707 | 2 | 15.0 | 15.3 | 12.8 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2009 | 3,647 | 3,210 | 437 | 54,849 | 49,361 | 5,488 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 12.5 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
2010 | 3,529 | 3,099 | 429 | 2 | 54,867 | 49,484 | 5,382 | 2 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 12.5 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2011 |
3,524 | 3,103 | 421 | 54,790 | 49,522 | 5,268 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 12.5 | 241 | 173 | 68 | ||||||||
2012 | 3,540 | 3,109 | 431 | 2 | 55,104 | 49,771 | 5,333 | 2 | 15.6 | 16.0 | 12.4 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2013 | 3,555 | 3,114 | 441 | 55,440 | 50,045 | 5,396 | 15.6 | 16.1 | 12.2 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
2014 | 3,594 | 3,132 | 461 | 2 | 55,888 | 50,313 | 5,575 | 2 | 15.6 | 16.1 | 12.1 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2015 | 3,633 | 3,151 | 482 | 56,189 | 50,438 | 5,751 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 11.9 | 299 | 192 | 107 | ||||||||
2016 |
3,653 | 3,169 | 483 | 2 | 56,369 | 50,615 | 5,754 | 2 | 15.4 | 16.0 | 11.9 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2017 | 3,652 | 3,170 | 482 | 56,406 | 50,686 | 5,720 | 15.4 | 16.0 | 11.9 | 296 | 229 | 66 | ||||||||
2018 | 3,652 | 3,170 | 482 | 2 | 56,304 | 50,694 | 5,610 | 2 | 15.4 | 16.0 | 11.6 | 2 | --- | --- | --- | |||||
2019 | 3,679 | 3,198 | 481 | 56,282 | 50,796 | 5,486 | 15.3 | 15.9 | 11.4 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
2020 | 3,677 | 3,196 | 3 | 481 | 5 | 55,377 | 49,375 | 6,002 | 5 | 15.1 | 15.4 | 3 | 12.5 | 5 | 205 | 163 | 41 | |||
2021 |
3,698 | 3,214 | 4 | 483 | 5 | 55,493 | 49,433 | 6,060 | 5 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 4 | 12.5 | 5 | --- | --- | --- | |||
20225 | 3,656 | 3,176 | 480 | 55,201 | 49,262 | 5,939 | 15.1 | 15.5 | 12.4 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20235 | 3,662 | 3,181 | 481 | 54,834 | 49,012 | 5,822 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 12.1 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20245 | 3,684 | 3,200 | 484 | 54,344 | 48,707 | 5,636 | 14.8 | 15.2 | 11.6 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20255 | 3,688 | 3,203 | 485 | 53,737 | 48,228 | 5,510 | 14.6 | 15.1 | 11.4 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20265 |
3,674 | 3,191 | 484 | 52,994 | 47,644 | 5,350 | 14.4 | 14.9 | 11.1 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20275 | 3,674 | 3,189 | 485 | 52,647 | 47,370 | 5,277 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 10.9 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20285 | 3,671 | 3,186 | 485 | 52,365 | 47,184 | 5,181 | 14.3 | 14.8 | 10.7 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20295 | 3,673 | 3,187 | 486 | 52,124 | 47,028 | 5,096 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 10.5 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20305 | 3,672 | 3,186 | 486 | 51,930 | 46,940 | 4,990 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 10.3 | --- | --- | --- | ||||||||
20315 | 3,676 | 3,188 | 487 | 51,792 | 46,890 | 4,902 | 14.1 | 14.7 | 10.1 | --- | --- | --- |
---Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||
1A teacher is considered to be a new hire for a public or private school if the teacher had not taught in that control of school in the previous year. A teacher who moves from a public to private or a private to public school is considered a new teacher hire, but a teacher who moves from one public school to another public school or one private school to another private school is not considered a new teacher hire. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Estimated. | ||||||||||||||||||||
3Includes imputations for all levels of teachers in Illinois and Utah. | ||||||||||||||||||||
4Includes imputations for all levels of teachers in Nevada and prekindergarten teachers in California. | ||||||||||||||||||||
5Projected. | ||||||||||||||||||||
NOTE: Data in this table represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data for teachers are expressed in full-time equivalents (FTE). Counts of private school enrollment include prekindergarten through grade 12 in schools offering kindergarten or higher grades. Counts of private school teachers exclude teachers who teach only prekindergarten students. Counts of public school teachers and enrollment include prekindergarten through grade 12. The pupil/teacher ratio includes teachers for students with disabilities and other special teachers, while these teachers are generally excluded from class size calculations. Ratios for public schools reflect totals reported by states and differ from totals reported for schools or school districts. Projections in this table were calculated after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and take into account the expected impacts of the pandemic. 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, Statistics of Public Elementary and Secondary Day Schools, 1955-56 through 1980-81; Statistics of Nonpublic Elementary and Secondary Schools, 1955 through 1980; 1983-84, 1985-86, and 1987-88 Private School Survey; Common Core of Data (CCD), "State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education," 1981-82 through 2021-22; Private School Universe Survey (PSS), 1989-90 through 2019-20; Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), "Public School Teacher Data File" and "Private School Teacher Data File," 1999-2000 through 2011-12; National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Teacher Data File," 2015-16, 2017-18, and 2020-21, "Private School Teacher Data File," 2017-18 and 2020-21; Elementary and Secondary Teacher Projection Model, through 2031. (This table was prepared March 2023.) |