Percentage distribution of mathematics and science teachers in public middle and high schools, by subject matter of degree(s) or certificate(s) earned, school level, main teaching assignment, and selected school characteristics: 2017

Were you contacted about the 2023–24 NTPS? Please contact ntps@census.gov or 1-888-595-1338 for more information. Questions about the survey? Click here for NTPS participant information!

National Teacher and Principal Survey

List of Tables

Download Excel

(19 KB)

Download SE Excel

(19 KB)

Percentage distribution of mathematics and science teachers in public middle and high schools, by subject matter of degree(s) or certificate(s) earned, school level, main teaching assignment, and selected school characteristics: 2017–18


School level, main teaching assignment, and selected school characteristics	In field¹	Related field²		General education³		Other⁴
Middle school

Mathematics	69.3	1.9		24.0		4.8
Percent of students who were non-White
0–24	75.4	2.5	!	19.8		2.3	!
25–49	75.1	‡		19.8		3.5	!
50–74	62.9	‡		29.7		6.0	!
75 or more	61.3	2.1	!	28.6		7.9
Data not available	76.2	#		‡		‡

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced‑price lunches
0–34	75.9	1.5	!	20.0		2.6	!
35–49	72.5	‡		18.5		6.6	!
50–74	67.4	2.3	!	26.9		3.4	!
75 or more	62.4	1.8	!	28.4		7.4

Community type
City	66.6	1.4	!	26.4		5.6	!
Suburban	70.5	2.4	!	21.7		5.4
Town	67.6	1.7	!	25.9		4.8	!
Rural	71.7	‡		25.0		‡

Region
Northeast	75.4	3.0	!	14.5		7.1
Midwest	72.4	2.9	!	22.3		‡
South	64.7	‡		28.8		5.2
West	70.9	1.6	!	23.2		4.3	!

Natural sciences	76.1	†		20.1		3.8
Percent of students who were non-White
0–24	77.4	†		19.0		3.6	!
25–49	74.2	†		22.2		3.6	!
50–74	78.8	†		18.8		‡
75 or more	75.5	†		18.9		5.5	!
Data not available	56.7	†		42.1	!	‡

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced‑price lunches
0–34	80.2	†		16.9		2.9	!
35–49	78.4	†		17.9		‡
50–74	76.8	†		20.4		2.8	!
75 or more	68.2	†		25.8		6.0	!

Community type
City	72.1	†		24.0		3.9	!
Suburban	79.5	†		17.0		3.4	!
Town	70.4	†		21.4		8.1	!
Rural	78.3	†		20.2		‡

Region
Northeast	82.1	†		13.0		‡
Midwest	78.8	†		20.4		‡
South	72.4	†		23.3		4.3
West	77.2	†		17.8		5.0	!

High school

Mathematics	87.4	2.7		4.2		5.7
Percent of students who were non-White
0–24	88.0	2.3	!	4.4		5.3
25–49	91.1	2.4	!	2.7	!	3.8
50–74	86.7	2.2	!	5.9	!	5.3
75 or more	83.3	3.5		4.4		8.8
Data not available	89.8	‡		‡		‡

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced‑price lunches
0–34	88.1	3.1	!	4.5		4.2
35–49	86.7	2.5		4.4	!	6.4
50–74	90.9	1.7	!	3.0		4.5
75 or more	83.3	3.1	!	4.9		8.7

Community type
City	86.0	2.6	!	3.7		7.7
Suburban	87.8	2.6		4.9		4.7
Town	89.2	‡		4.5	!	5.2
Rural	87.8	4.1	!	2.9	!	5.3

Region
Northeast	85.3	3.7	!	4.5	!	6.6
Midwest	91.4	‡		3.3	!	4.1
South	87.4	2.6		4.6		5.4
West	85.7	3.3	!	4.1		6.9

Biology/life sciences	89.6	6.3		1.6		2.5	!
Percent of students who were non-White
0–24	92.3	3.4	!	2.6	!	‡
25–49	87.4	6.7	!	2.5	!	‡
50–74	92.9	4.8	!	‡		‡
75 or more	84.7	11.3	!	‡		3.5	!
Data not available	100.0	#		#		#

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced‑price lunches
0–34	91.6	3.9		‡		‡
35–49	92.6	4.6	!	‡		‡
50–74	86.6	9.8	!	‡		2.8	!
75 or more	87.3	7.8	!	‡		2.5	!

Community type
City	88.2	7.9	!	2.7	!	‡
Suburban	91.8	4.2	!	‡		3.7	!
Town	89.8	7.6		‡		‡
Rural	86.6	7.9	!	‡		‡

Region
Northeast	95.5	‡		‡		‡
Midwest	94.1	3.7	!	‡		‡
South	80.8	12.2		2.2	!	4.8	!
West	94.9	3.8	!	‡		‡

Physical sciences	75.8	20.5		0.9	!	2.8
Percent of students who were non-White
0–24	80.2	17.1		1.8	!	‡
25–49	78.0	20.4		‡		‡
50–74	68.9	27.9		#		3.3	!
75 or more	72.5	19.0		‡		7.9	!
Data not available	82.8	‡		‡		#

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced‑price lunches
0–34	83.9	14.0		1.2	!	‡
35–49	70.3	27.0		‡		‡
50–74	71.4	25.0		‡		‡
75 or more	70.5	21.2		#		8.3	!

Community type
City	71.6	22.5		‡		4.8	!
Suburban	82.6	15.0		‡		1.3	!
Town	71.6	26.0		#		‡
Rural	67.4	27.7		‡		4.3	!

Region
Northeast	91.0	5.7		‡		‡
Midwest	79.2	17.8		‡		1.9	!
South	60.4	36.4		‡		2.6	!
West	79.5	14.2		‡		‡
† Not applicable
# Rounds to zero.
! 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).
¹ Mathematics teachers with a degree and/or full certification in mathematics or mathematics education. Natural sciences teachers with a degree and/or full certification in science or science education.
² Mathematics teachers with a degree and/or full certification in a field related to mathematics (e.g., science, science education, computer sciences, engineering). Natural sciences teachers with a degree and/or full certification in a field related to their teaching field (e.g., high school biology teachers with a degree and/or full certification in chemistry). This category is omitted for middle school natural sciences teachers because natural sciences teachers at this level are usually not distinguished by specific science fields such as physics, chemistry, or biology.
³ Mathematics and natural sciences teachers with a degree and/or full certification in general elementary, middle, or secondary education.
⁴ Mathematics and natural sciences teachers who did not have a degree or certification in their teaching field, a related field, or general elementary, middle or secondary education.
NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because some data are not shown.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Teacher Data File," 2017–18.

List of Tables

Download Excel

(19 KB)

Download SE Excel

(19 KB)