In the fall of 2017, about 86.4 million people in the United States were either enrolled or employed in public and private schools and colleges (Digest of Education Statistics, 2017, table 105.10). Included in this total were 76.4 million students enrolled in American schools and colleges.1 About 4.6 million people were employed as elementary and secondary school teachers or as college faculty, as measured in full-time equivalents (FTE). Other professional, administrative, and support staff of educational institutions totaled 5.5 million. In a nation with a population of about 325 million in 2017, more than 1 out of every 4 people participated in the education system (Digest of Education Statistics, 2017, table 101.10).