Percentage of public K–12 school teachers that are considered early career teachers, percentage of early career public K–12 school teachers that began teaching on or after March 1, 2020, and among those teachers, the percentage that were assigned a master or mentor teacher in their first year of teaching, and among those teachers, the percentage of frequency of working with the assigned master or mentor teacher, percentage of the extent to which the assigned master or mentor teacher improved the first year of teaching, and percentage that received various types of support, by selected school and teacher characteristics: 2020–21

		Percent of early career teachers that began teaching on or after March 1, 2020 who were assigned a master or mentor teacher in first year of teaching	Among early career teachers starting on or after March 1, 2020 that had a master or mentor teacher assigned
			Frequency of working with assigned master or mentor teacher during first year of teaching								Extent to which master or mentor teacher improved first year of teaching								Had assigned master or mentor teacher that
Selected school and teacher characteristic	Percent of teachers that are considered early career teachers¹		At least once a week		Once or twice a month		A few times a year		Never		To a great extent		To a moderate extent		To a small extent		Not at all		Instructed students in same subject area		Helped with paperwork or record keeping	Demonstrated lessons		Helped prepare lessons that address learning standards		Helped develop student assessment tools
All public school teachers	17.9	80.6	56.8		28.7		12.1		2.4		41.4		31.1		21.3		6.2		75.5		65.6	55.4		62.8		65.3

School classification
Traditional public school	17.0	82.1	58.0		28.1		11.5		2.5		41.9		30.8		21.4		5.9		76.0		66.8	55.2		63.8		65.7
Charter school	30.1	70.1	46.3		33.7		17.8		‡		37.2		33.6		21.0		8.2	!	71.3		54.9	57.5		53.9		61.3

Community type
City	20.0	81.7	55.9		28.1		13.4		2.7	!	39.6		32.4		21.0		7.1		71.6		59.4	53.4		62.1		66.0
Suburban	15.6	84.1	56.2		30.6		12.5		‡		38.8		32.1		25.7		3.4	!	83.5		70.5	55.0		61.7		64.6
Town	18.2	85.5	60.0		30.7		6.7	!	2.5	!	47.0		29.5		20.1		‡		76.4		73.0	58.9		67.1		68.8
Rural	18.9	73.2	56.6		25.8		13.3		4.3	!	43.4		29.4		17.1		10.2		69.6		62.5	56.3		62.5		63.2

School level, based on CCD definition²
Elementary	18.2	82.6	61.2		23.8		13.2		1.8	!	43.2		27.1		24.1		5.5		82.6		69.8	58.1		64.8		63.8
Middle	17.9	87.7	58.1		30.3		10.4		‡		45.7		31.3		17.6		5.5	!	68.8		61.2	57.1		64.9		68.1
Secondary/high	16.5	75.7	44.6		38.0		13.6		3.8	!	34.1		38.2		20.4		7.3		68.3		63.8	50.7		57.9		66.0
Combined/other	20.8	68.7	64.1		25.8		‡		‡		40.6		34.0		16.2		9.3	!	70.4		55.2	48.5		59.6		64.6

School level, based on low and high grades³
Primary	18.0	82.8	61.5		23.7		13.1		1.8	!	43.9		26.8		23.8		5.4		82.5		70.2	58.6		65.2		64.3
Middle	18.0	87.5	59.5		29.3		10.0		‡		44.8		31.1		18.5		5.6	!	69.8		60.4	57.3		64.4		67.5
High	16.3	79.4	47.5		33.0		15.8		3.8	!	35.6		36.5		19.8		8.1		64.4		61.3	50.3		59.9		66.9
Combined	22.7	64.9	47.6		42.6		4.5	!	‡		34.2		40.7		17.9		7.2	!	74.8		61.9	46.9		54.1		62.5

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	17.6	87.3	30.5	!	59.6	!	‡		‡		59.2	!	‡		‡		‡		90.3		85.5	57.4	!	63.0		78.0
100–199	20.4	67.2	57.9		31.2		9.1	!	‡		51.3		35.3		10.2	!	‡		57.3		65.3	43.9		55.9		74.6
200–499	18.6	79.6	56.5		27.6		12.8		3.1	!	38.6		30.7		25.2		5.5		80.0		66.9	55.9		62.8		61.3
500–749	18.2	81.8	63.0		24.4		10.7		1.9	!	41.9		31.4		20.5		6.2	!	74.6		65.5	59.0		62.2		65.0
750–999	17.1	81.8	54.2		34.0		9.9	!	‡		48.9		26.9		19.9		‡		72.7		61.9	56.9		73.1		76.3
1,000 or more students	16.6	83.0	56.0		25.9		16.2		‡		35.0		34.0		21.7		9.3	!	70.8		62.1	51.2		59.2		61.2

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for reduced–price lunches⁴
0–34	14.8	79.8	59.3		26.9		12.3		1.5	!	40.4		34.1		21.6		3.9	!	79.0		68.0	52.6		65.2		68.9
35–49	16.0	71.3	42.7		35.8		19.6		‡		31.2		33.5		28.2		7.1	!	73.8		67.2	54.3		57.8		61.7
50–74	18.6	84.4	57.3		30.7		10.1		‡		36.8		35.6		19.8		7.8	!	71.6		62.7	51.0		58.8		60.6
75 or more	21.1	82.5	58.9		26.8		10.8		3.4	!	47.1		26.4		19.9		6.6		75.5		64.8	59.7		64.6		66.1

Teacher age
Less than 30 years	75.6	83.6	56.5		29.6		10.8		3.0		40.5		31.8		21.4		6.4		76.4		65.6	55.4		63.3		66.3
30–49	10.9	74.3	58.9		24.1		16.0		‡		43.3		28.9		21.2		6.5		73.2		64.5	56.5		60.9		62.9
50–54	4.2	69.3	70.7		‡		‡		‡		61.7		‡		‡		‡		74.5		72.1	51.9	!	88.8		79.2
55 or more years	3.1	77.3	14.7	!	68.0		‡		‡		24.0	!	53.6		‡		‡		69.4		74.3	43.2	!	41.1	!	38.6	!

Teacher sex⁵
Female	17.8	80.1	57.7		28.6		11.3		2.3		42.1		29.8		22.7		5.4		76.1		66.5	54.1		61.4		63.5
Male	18.0	82.1	53.9		28.9		14.5		2.7	!	39.2		35.1		17.2		8.6		73.6		62.8	59.5		67.0		70.6

Teacher race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	18.1	92.1	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		79.8	!	‡		88.9		‡	‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	26.3	80.3	73.1		‡		‡		‡		60.0		23.3	!	‡		‡		73.6		85.0	64.8		75.1		84.9
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	20.4	85.1	50.4		23.4		24.5		‡		45.8		14.9	!	26.8		12.5	!	67.4		52.9	51.2		50.8		48.1
Hispanic, regardless of race	22.7	77.5	62.2		30.0		7.8	!	‡		44.8		34.0		17.1		‡		80.3		63.3	57.1		66.2		70.9
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	16.6	‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	16.7	80.7	56.1		29.6		11.2		3.1		40.0		32.2		21.5		6.2		76.0		66.6	55.5		63.5		65.5
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	24.5	79.3	50.7		32.6	!	‡		‡		30.7	!	51.0		18.4	!	‡		46.0	!	61.1	‡		42.9	!	68.9

Teacher highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	28.6	82.1	57.6		28.4		10.9		3.1		41.4		31.9		20.2		6.5		73.6		66.2	55.9		64.3		67.1
Master's degree	11.8	76.5	56.0		28.5		15.0		‡		41.5		29.8		22.9		5.8	!	80.2		62.8	53.8		58.5		61.1
Higher than a master's degree⁶	6.5	79.9	33.1	!	42.3	!	‡		‡		37.5	!	‡		45.7	!	‡		89.7		76.9	57.1		59.5		45.8	!

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate, or the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate).

¹Early career teachers are defined as those starting teaching no earlier than the 2016–17 school year.

²School level based on the definitions set by Common Core of Data (CCD). Elementary schools offer at least one grade of K through 4, and the number of elementary grades is at least as high as the number of middle grades. Middle schools offer at least one of grades 5 through 8, and the number of middle grades is greater than the number of elementary or secondary grades. Secondary/high schools are defined as schools that offer at least as many of grades 9 through 12 as in lower grades. Combined/other schools include all other combinations of grades, including K–12 schools. School level categories in the 2020–21 NTPS differ from those in previous survey administrations; caution should be exercised when comparing estimates by level over time.

³School level based on low and high grades offered by the school. Primary schools offer at least one grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. Middle schools offer no grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. High schools offer no grade lower than 7 and at least one grade higher than 8. Combined schools offer at least one grade lower than 7 and at least one grade higher than 8. Schools with only ungraded classes were included with combined schools. These categories are provided because they are comparable to those used in previous NTPS publications.

⁴Schools that don’t participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program are included with the "0–34" percent category.

⁵Teachers were asked whether they were male or female. Although this variable is labeled “sex,” the questionnaire did not use the terms either “gender” or “sex.”

⁶Higher than a master’s degree is defined as a teacher who completed any of the following: an educational specialist or professional diploma, a certificate of advanced graduate studies, or a doctorate or first professional degree.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Hispanic includes Latino. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Teacher Data File," 2020–21.