Average number of FTE nurses in schools and number of students per FTE nurse in schools with at least one nurse, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2020–21

School type and selected school characteristics	All schools	Schools with at least one nurse¹
School type and selected school characteristics	Average number of FTE nurses	Number of students per FTE nurse
All schools	0.73	550

All public schools	0.83	580
School classification
Traditional public	0.86	580
Charter school	0.56	540

Community type
City	0.81	630
Suburban	0.88	650
Town	0.83	530
Rural	0.78	450

School level, based on CCD definition²
Elementary	0.80	470
Middle	0.89	640
Secondary/high	0.82	840
Combined/other	0.92	450

School level, based on low and high grades³
Primary	0.80	470
Middle	0.90	650
High	0.85	890
Combined	0.84	430

Student enrollment
Less than 100	0.48	60
100–199	0.56	180
200–499	0.77	390
500–749	0.90	590
750–999	0.95	780
1,000 or more	1.27	1,200

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced–price lunches⁴
0–34	0.81	620
35–49	0.85	610
50–74	0.82	610
75 or more	0.83	530
		.
Percent students of color⁵
0–24	0.83	480
25–49	0.84	630
50–74	0.84	640
75 or more	0.84	610
Data not available	0.56	430

All private schools	0.34	270
School classification
Catholic	0.42	370
Other religious	0.22	290
Nonsectarian	0.51	170

Community type
City	0.35	330
Suburban	0.48	270
Town	0.15	180
Rural	0.21	140

School level, based on CCD definition²
Elementary/middle	0.15	280
Secondary/high	0.66	250
Combined/other	0.35	280

School level, based on low and high grades⁶
Elementary	0.26	280
Secondary	0.67	260
Combined	0.39	260

Student enrollment
Less than 100	0.14	60
100–199	0.34	170
200–499	0.58	310
500–749	0.96	460
750 or more	1.34	580

Percent students of color⁵
0–24	0.38	300
25–49	0.38	260
50–74	0.29	220
75 or more	0.21	270
Data not available	#	#

# Rounds to zero.

¹Includes both part-time and full-time nurses. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 10.

²School level based on the definitions set by Common Core of Data (CCD). Elementary schools offer at least one grade of K to 4, and the number of elementary grades is higher than the number of middle grades. Middle schools offer at least one of grades 5 to 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 enroll students in more of grades 9 through 12 than 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 are those with at least one grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8, middle schools have no grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8, high schools have no grade lower than 7 and at least one grade higher than 8, and all other schools are classified as combined.

⁴Schools that did not participate in the National School Lunch Program were categorized as having no approved students.

⁵The term "students of color" is being used synonymously with "minority students." Students of color include those who are Black, Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native, and of Two or more races.

⁶Elementary schools are those with any of grades K–6 and none of grades 9–12. Secondary schools have any of grades 7–12 and none of grades K–6. Combined schools are those schools with grade levels in both elementary and secondary grade levels, or with all students in ungraded classrooms.

NOTE: FTE is full-time equivalent. The number of FTE nurses is calculated by summing the number of full-time nurses and half the number of part-time nurses. This may be an overestimate of the number of FTEs and an underestimate of the number of students per FTE nurse if part-time school nurses typically work less than half time. Data are weighted estimates of the population.

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