Percentage of regular full-time public K–12 school teachers who are considered early career teachers in 2020–21 and reported they were well or very well prepared during their first year of teaching for selected activities, by selected school and teacher characteristics in 2020–21 and teacher status in 2021–22: School years 2020–22

	Percent of teachers who reported they were well or very well prepared during their first year of teaching for selected activites
Selected school and early career teacher characteristics in 2020–21 and teacher status in 2021–22¹	Handle a range of classroom management or discipline situations		Use a variety of instructional methods		Teach their subject matter		Use computers in classroom instruction		Assess students		Differentiate instruction in the classroom		Use data from student assessments to inform instruction		Teach to state content standards		Teach students who are limited-English proficient (LEP) or English-language learners (ELLs)		Teach students with special needs
All early career public school teachers	8.8		10.9		13.3		11.9		11.2		9.9		9.6		11.9		6.3		8.0

All public school teacher leavers²	6.0		10.4		11.5		9.3		9.3		8.0		7.0		10.1		5.2	!	6.0
School classification
Traditional public school	5.5		9.9		10.7		8.5		8.6		7.6		6.5		9.4		4.8	!	5.5
Charter school	12.4		17.0		21.2		19.3		17.8		12.8		12.9		18.4		10.6		12.1

Community type
City	6.3		12.0	!	13.3	!	12.7	!	12.7	!	11.3	!	10.4	!	12.1	!	‡		9.8	!
Suburban	5.2	!	8.1	!	8.3		6.6		7.0		5.1	!	4.6	!	6.4	!	3.4	!	4.7	!
Town	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Rural	5.9		8.4	!	11.0		8.8		7.2	!	6.8	!	4.5		9.5		2.6	!	3.5

School level, based on CCD definition³
Elementary	4.7		10.8		10.8		8.3		8.7		6.7		4.7		9.1		3.4	!	4.5
Middle	‡		7.0	!	9.0	!	4.9		4.7		5.6	!	3.9		8.8	!	2.9		5.8	!
Secondary/high	7.1		8.4		10.1		10.4		9.5		8.2		8.5		9.2		6.0	!	4.2
Combined/other	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

School level, based on low and high grades⁴
Primary	4.6		10.4		10.4		8.0		8.4		6.5		4.6		8.8		3.4	!	4.4
Middle	‡		7.1	!	9.1	!	4.9		4.7		5.7	!	4.0		8.9	!	3.0		5.9	!
High	5.2		6.4		8.3		8.6		7.7		6.5		6.9		7.5		4.0		4.2
Combined	14.8	!	25.8	!	28.7	!	25.8	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
100–199	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
200–499	3.7		11.7		11.2		8.4		9.4		7.6		4.8		9.7		3.4		6.3
500–749	10.2		9.9	!	12.5		8.6		7.4		4.8		6.9	!	10.4		4.3	!	2.6	!
750–999	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
1,000 or more students	3.8		‡		12.0	!	12.4	!	12.0	!	13.2	!	‡		‡		‡		‡

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced–price lunches⁵
0–34	6.8	!	13.1	!	12.6	!	10.5	!	11.0	!	9.6	!	9.3	!	11.7	!	‡		8.3	!
35–49	4.8	!	9.4	!	11.1	!	9.0	!	‡		7.8	!	3.3	!	6.3	!	2.1	!	‡
50–74	8.9	!	15.9		17.1		11.1		13.7		11.0	!	8.4	!	16.5		6.5	!	4.8
75 or more	4.1		5.3		7.5		7.5		6.1		5.0		5.5		6.4		3.3		4.7

Teacher age
Less than 30 years	23.3		53.3		55.9		41.9		43.1		39.7		29.4	!	50.1		22.9	!	31.3
30–49	4.2		5.6		7.3		7.0		6.0		4.1		5.0		6.0		4.1	!	3.2
50–54	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
55 or more years	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher sex⁶
Female	5.7		10.6		11.8		9.2		9.2		7.9		6.6		10.2		4.9	!	6.2
Male	7.3	!	9.6		10.2		9.9		9.4		8.3	!	8.4		9.4		6.5	!	5.3

Teacher race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Hispanic, regardless of race	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	6.4		10.4		11.5		8.9		8.5		8.0		7.1		10.6		5.0	!	5.4	!
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	10.8		14.2		18.1		12.0		10.9		10.2		8.6		16.3		5.0		7.1
Master's degree	3.7		9.7		9.6		9.2		9.6		7.6	!	6.7	!	8.2		5.7	!	6.6	!
Higher than a master's degree⁷	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Total years of teaching experience
3 years or less	34.9		56.7		61.7		57.6		60.7		44.6		45.2		57.3		39.6	!	35.7	!
1 year	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
2 years	‡		75.3		84.3		80.9		76.3		69.5		69.2		79.3		63.0	!	‡
3 years	28.7	!	52.6	!	54.9	!	46.8	!	56.8	!	41.5	!	31.4	!	45.2	!	26.8	!	32.1	!
4 years	31.8		53.0		64.0		55.8		48.8		60.9		34.0		43.2		14.5		40.6	!
5 years	‡		2.9	!	3.1	!	1.5		1.3		1.3		1.1		2.9	!	0.6	!	0.9

All public school teacher movers⁸	13.4		17.9		18.9		17.9		18.1		15.5		15.3		18.2		8.3		11.9
School classification
Traditional public school	13.1		17.9		18.7		17.9		18.0		15.5		15.1		18.2		8.0		12.0
Charter school	16.6		18.2		21.0		17.6		19.4		15.6		17.6		18.0		11.1		10.6

Community type
City	13.4		15.8		14.5		17.2		16.0		14.1		11.6		16.8		9.0		13.7
Suburban	12.2		19.5		20.6		16.7		20.4		16.1		17.9		17.9		8.7		10.9
Town	13.7		17.7		19.0		19.1		15.8		12.8		14.2		17.9		7.7		11.6
Rural	15.3	!	18.6		22.8		20.2		18.5		18.1		17.2		20.8		6.8		11.0

School level, based on CCD definition³
Elementary	13.1		18.5		19.4		17.3		18.5		15.1		16.9		18.4		9.5		13.0
Middle	11.1		12.9		16.0		12.3		13.0		11.5		10.0		12.7		7.7		9.3
Secondary/high	16.4	!	18.0		17.0		20.6		19.1		17.1	!	13.1		19.2		5.4		11.7	!
Combined/other	10.3	!	30.1	!	33.4	!	30.3	!	28.1	!	27.2	!	30.0	!	30.7	!	11.7	!	11.3	!

School level, based on low and high grades⁴
Primary	12.8		18.3		19.0		17.0		18.3		14.9		16.6		18.3		9.7		13.0
Middle	10.8		12.2		15.7		12.2		12.6		11.1		9.8		12.1		7.5		8.7
High	16.9	!	18.9	!	18.2		21.2		19.9		18.1	!	13.7	!	20.7		5.8		12.9	!
Combined	12.9	!	29.0	!	31.3	!	30.3	!	27.3	!	24.8	!	28.5	!	26.4	!	8.2	!	8.0	!

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
100–199	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
200–499	13.3		18.0		19.2		18.0		17.8		14.9		15.0		18.9		8.1		12.1
500–749	12.2	!	17.3		19.4		16.7		17.0		13.4		16.2		16.5		10.4	!	11.2	!
750–999	11.6		12.6		15.3		13.7		14.3		11.2		12.6		14.0		8.8		11.2
1,000 or more students	17.2	!	23.5		21.5		23.0		24.1		23.0		17.9		22.9		6.2		13.3	!

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced–price lunches⁵
0–34	14.2		22.0		22.7		19.8		22.6		20.8		20.8		21.9		9.4		15.2
35–49	25.0	!	28.9		23.3		27.2		27.7		25.3	!	18.2	!	28.1		5.5		15.4	!
50–74	11.0		14.7		18.8		14.5		14.6		10.8		13.4		14.7		7.2		9.1
75 or more	9.5		12.5		14.5		14.7		13.2		10.7		11.5		13.6		9.2		9.7

Teacher age
Less than 30 years	42.9		58.7		57.9		56.6		59.4		50.8		49.7		57.9		23.1		37.9
30–49	4.8		5.6		7.5		6.5		5.8		5.1		5.4		6.5		4.0		4.1
50–54	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
55 or more years	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher sex⁶
Female	14.0		18.6		18.9		17.9		18.9		15.7		15.8		18.9		8.7		12.4
Male	11.1		15.4		18.9		17.6		15.4		14.8		13.8		15.5		6.5		9.9

Teacher race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Hispanic, regardless of race	15.3	!	19.9	!	24.4	!	19.6	!	21.4	!	17.5	!	19.1	!	16.4	!	19.2	!	15.3	!
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	12.9		18.1		18.5		17.4		18.1		15.9		15.5		18.9		6.9		11.8
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	22.0		29.2		29.4		28.4		28.8		25.5		24.9		29.6		11.0		17.6
Master's degree	7.0		9.6		11.3		10.2		10.8		8.6		8.7		9.8		6.6		7.9
Higher than a master's degree⁷	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Total years of teaching experience
3 years or less	50.4		65.6		67.0		69.6		65.6		57.8		56.3		70.6		28.9		47.4
1 year	41.2		77.1		72.0		77.4		69.2		62.4		69.1		74.2		27.0	!	48.5
2 years	63.9		72.7		64.0		79.5		74.4		64.6		51.4		75.4		25.3		47.2
3 years	43.3		51.5		66.9		55.1		55.0		48.3		53.1		63.8		33.4		46.9
4 years	40.0		60.4		73.1		48.8		62.9		46.5		50.8		56.0		27.0		31.3
5 years	1.9		2.5		2.5		2.2		2.5		2.4		2.1		1.9		1.6		1.3

All public school teacher stayers⁹	8.4		11.0		14.3		12.6		12.0		10.8		9.8		11.8		5.5		8.6
School classification
Traditional public school	8.0		10.2		13.6		11.7		11.4		10.3		9.3		11.5		5.1		8.1
Charter school	15.0		22.0		24.7		24.8		21.1		17.9		17.5		16.6		11.2		16.5

Community type
City	8.0		11.7		14.2		14.7		13.3		10.4		10.6		10.7		6.6		8.9
Suburban	7.9		10.1		14.0		10.7		11.2		11.4		9.1		11.4		5.7		8.6
Town	9.7		10.4		14.3		12.3		11.9		10.6		10.7		12.5		3.9	!	8.6
Rural	9.4		12.1		15.1		13.4		12.0		10.2		9.7		13.7		4.8		8.3

School level, based on CCD definition³
Elementary	9.6		11.6		14.3		12.3		12.6		12.3		11.2		13.8		6.2		9.7
Middle	7.1		10.4		12.7		12.4		10.6		10.1		8.1		11.6		5.8		7.8
Secondary/high	6.6		8.8		13.0		11.1		10.3		7.4		6.8		7.7		3.6		6.1
Combined/other	12.0		17.6		23.5		20.2		19.0		16.7		17.6		16.6		8.4	!	14.0

School level, based on low and high grades⁴
Primary	9.4		11.4		14.3		12.3		12.3		12.2		10.9		13.6		6.2		9.5
Middle	7.1		11.1		13.5		13.2		11.3		10.8		9.0		11.7		5.7		8.5
High	6.6		9.1		13.2		11.4		10.2		6.7		7.1		7.5		3.7		5.5
Combined	12.2		14.8		19.9		16.8		18.2		16.6		14.5		16.7		7.5	!	14.4

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
100–199	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
200–499	9.7		11.7		14.7		11.9		13.1		11.8		10.6		13.3		5.8		9.3
500–749	8.9		11.8		14.1		13.9		11.7		11.9		11.0		13.7		6.6		10.4
750–999	10.9		12.0		15.5		14.3		14.0		13.0		10.4		11.6		6.6		9.3
1,000 or more students	5.1		7.3		11.9		9.4		9.0		7.0		7.4		8.0		3.5		4.7

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced–price lunches⁵
0–34	6.1		9.1		11.1		9.4		8.2		8.1		7.2		8.9		3.9		7.2
35–49	8.3		8.8		14.0		12.6		13.1		10.1		9.1		11.4		6.2		6.3
50–74	8.4		10.9		14.5		12.0		11.0		11.2		9.8		12.5		6.6		8.4
75 or more	10.7		13.9		17.4		16.0		15.8		13.4		12.7		14.5		6.0		11.2

Teacher age
Less than 30 years	34.7		52.4		62.4		56.0		54.0		49.3		47.4		52.5		24.4		38.3
30–49	6.0		6.3		9.4		7.8		7.4		6.8		5.5		7.5		3.4		5.7
50–54	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
55 or more years	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher sex⁶
Female	8.7		11.2		14.4		12.1		12.3		11.2		10.1		12.5		5.6		8.9
Male	7.4		10.3		14.0		14.0		11.0		9.6		8.9		9.7		5.3		7.6

Teacher race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	12.9		9.6		13.3		15.6		12.9		8.7		10.2		9.9		6.7		9.1
Hispanic, regardless of race	11.2		12.4		18.0		18.2		18.4		17.0		10.9		14.9		9.5	!	8.8
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	7.9		10.8		14.0		11.5		11.1		10.3		9.7		11.7		4.9		8.6
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Teacher highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	13.3		17.7		22.5		20.1		18.5		16.2		14.4		18.1		7.9		12.2
Master's degree	5.7		7.1		9.8		8.3		8.3		7.8		7.4		8.6		4.2		6.7
Higher than a master's degree⁷	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡

Total years of teaching experience
3 years or less	47.9		61.6		77.0		72.0		69.9		61.4		55.3		65.4		32.8		50.1
1 year	55.5		59.8		80.4		63.5		70.1		62.8		51.3		72.5		34.9		55.1
2 years	44.9		61.0		77.8		72.2		70.3		61.7		61.1		64.7		26.4		40.7
3 years	46.4		62.9		74.7		76.2		69.5		60.5		52.6		62.4		37.0		55.3
4 years	38.2		56.3		71.7		53.1		53.0		51.2		46.3		52.2		18.7		43.2
5 years	1.5		1.7		2.7		2.3		1.9		1.7		1.7		2.4		1.1	!	1.1

! 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.

²“Leavers” are 2020–21 teachers who were no longer teachers in the 2021–22 TFS school year.

³School 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.

⁴School 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.

⁵Schools that don’t participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program are included with the "0–34" percent category.

⁶Teachers 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.”

⁷Higher 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.

⁸“Movers” are teachers who were still teachers in the 2021–22 TFS school year but had moved to a different school from their 2020–21 NTPS school.

⁹“Stayers” are teachers who were teachers in the same school in the 2021–22 TFS school year as in the 2020–21 NTPS school year.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Hispanic includes Latino.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2020–21 National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) and 2021–22 Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS), "Current and Former Teacher Data Files," 2021–22.