Average age of teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, school type, and main teaching assignment: 2017

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National Teacher and Principal Survey

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Average age of teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, school type, and main teaching assignment: 2017–18


		Age category
School type and main teaching assignment	Average age of teachers	Less than 30 years		30-49 years	50-54 years		55-64 years	65 years or more
All schools	42.6	15.1		55.7	11.6		14.9	2.7

All public schools	42.4	15.0		56.9	11.6		14.5	2.0

Main teaching assignment
Early childhood or general elementary	41.7	16.2		58.0	11.5		12.6	1.6
Special education	42.5	15.2		56.0	11.4		15.4	2.0
Arts or music	42.2	18.5		51.7	10.5		16.4	2.8
English and language arts	42.6	14.5		57.1	11.1		15.1	2.2
ESL or bilingual education	43.9	12.4		55.1	12.6		16.9	3.0
Foreign languages	42.6	12.5		58.4	12.5		14.9	1.7
Health education	42.8	12.5		58.8	12.5		15.0	1.1
Mathematics	41.9	16.8		55.9	12.0		13.6	1.7
Natural sciences	42.7	13.5		58.3	11.6		14.6	2.0
Social sciences	41.9	14.6		61.0	10.6		11.6	2.1
Career or technical education	45.8	10.2		48.6	14.6		23.5	3.2
All other	45.5	5.2		59.9	12.6		18.8	3.3

All private schools	44.3	16.2		47.1	11.3		18.2	7.2

Main teaching assignment
Early childhood or general elementary	43.4	18.4		45.7	12.6		17.8	5.5
Special education	40.9	26.0		46.8	8.6		13.9	4.6
Arts or music	45.9	13.3		43.5	11.8		22.7	8.6
English and language arts	44.3	15.8		49.1	10.2		17.4	7.6
ESL or bilingual education	50.8	‡		38.4	‡		‡	31.8	!
Foreign languages	45.9	9.9		51.8	13.0		17.0	8.2
Health education	42.7	14.3		53.1	13.7		15.6	3.3	!
Mathematics	45.5	14.7		45.6	11.7		19.3	8.8
Natural sciences	44.1	18.5		45.1	11.4		17.0	7.9
Social sciences	44.2	15.6		49.9	7.5		18.4	8.7
Career or technical education	48.5	4.3	!	48.1	10.4	!	30.9	6.3	!
All other	45.3	13.5		48.1	7.0		19.6	11.8
! 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. 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).
NOTE: 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, " 2017–18.

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