Teachers’ highest degree earned: Percentage distribution of K–12 school teachers, by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2020–21

School type and selected school characteristic	Less than a bachelor's degree		Bachelor's degree	Master's degree	Higher than a master's degree¹
All teachers	1.3		38.9	50.1	9.7

All public school teachers	0.8		38.2	51.2	9.8

School classification
Traditional public	0.8		37.5	51.9	9.8
Charter school	1.5		47.6	41.3	9.6

Community type
City	0.7		37.0	51.9	10.4
Suburban	0.6		33.8	54.9	10.7
Town	1.1		44.0	46.5	8.4
Rural	1.3		44.3	46.4	8.1

School level²
Elementary	0.3		41.7	48.8	9.3
Middle	0.2		38.2	52.2	9.4
Secondary/high	2.0		33.8	53.3	10.8
Combined/other	1.0		33.1	55.9	10.0

Student enrollment
Less than 100	1.1	!	50.3	37.9	10.7
100–199	1.1		48.3	42.7	8.0
200–499	0.8		39.5	50.7	9.0
500–749	0.7		38.5	51.4	9.3
750–999	0.6		38.3	51.6	9.5
1,000 or more	0.9		33.2	54.1	11.7

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced-price lunches
0–34	1.1		33.1	55.6	10.2
35–49	0.8		37.8	52.4	9.0
50–74	0.6		40.4	49.5	9.5
75 or more	0.7		41.6	47.7	10.0

All private school teachers	5.0		45.2	40.7	9.1

School classification
Catholic	1.8		47.7	40.7	9.7
Other religious	8.9		50.8	34.1	6.1
Nonsectarian	3.1		34.5	49.8	12.6

Community type
City	4.1		41.9	44.1	9.9
Suburban	4.8		46.0	39.6	9.6
Town	5.7	!	52.8	37.4	4.1	!
Rural	8.1		48.9	35.1	7.9

School level²
Elementary/middle	10.1		46.1	36.0	7.7
Secondary/high	1.9		32.2	53.5	12.5
Combined/other	4.9		47.7	38.8	8.6

Student enrollment
Less than 100	13.2		48.6	29.7	8.4
100–199	4.6		52.0	35.8	7.6
200–499	3.1		45.6	42.4	8.9
500–749	‡		38.0	50.8	10.1
750 or more	‡		32.7	53.5	12.7

! 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 analysis, 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).

¹Higher 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.

²Elementary 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.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. 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 and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2020–21.