The Condition of Education 2024 At a Glance

More information is available at nces.ed.gov/programs/coe.

Expand all | Collapse all

Family Characteristics

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of children under age 18 living with related female householders (no spouse present)	26%	26%
Percentage of children under age 18 in families living in poverty	17%	16%

Blank = not measurably different

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of 3- to 5-year-olds enrolled in school
3- to 4-year-olds	53%	59%
5-year-olds	79%	84%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of students enrolled in public schools	49.4 million	49.6 million
Prekindergarten through grade 8	34.0 million	34.1 million
Grades 9 through 12	15.4 million	15.5 million

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of public school students who were English learners

10.1%

10.6%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of public school students
American Indian/Alaska Native	0.92%	0.91%
Asian	5.39%	5.47%
Black	14.94%	14.91%
Hispanic	28.43%	28.94%
Pacific Islander¹	0.37%	0.37%
White	45.22%	44.46%
Two or more races	4.72%	4.94%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of K–12 students enrolled in private schools	4.7 million	4.7 million
Percentage of K–12 students enrolled in private schools²	8.6%	9.0%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of students ages 3–21 receiving special education services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (in thousands)	7,259	7,526
Students ages 3–21 receiving special education services, as a percentage of public school students³	14.7%	15.2%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of 3- to 18-year-olds who had home internet access	95%	97%
Percentage of 3- to 18-year-olds who had home internet access through a computer	88%	93%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of public school teachers
Who are female	76.5%	76.8%
Who are male	23.5%	23.2%

Who held a postbaccalaureate degree	58.0%	61.0%
Who held a regular teaching certificate	90.4%	89.8%
Annual base salary of public school teachers⁴	$65,900	$66,000

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient⁵
4th-grade students	35%	33%
8th-grade students	34%	31%
12th-grade students	37% 2015	37% 2019

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient⁵
4th-grade students	41%	36%
8th-grade students	34%	26%
12th-grade students	25%2015	24%2019

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of students who scored at or above NAEP Proficient⁵
4th-grade students	38%	36%
8th-grade students	34%	35%
12th-grade students	22%	22%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of high school graduates who had completed a course
Algebra II⁶	80%	85%
Males	77%	83%
Females	82%	87%
Calculus	18%	16%
Males	19%	16%
Females	18%	16%
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics⁷	30%	35%
Males	31%	36%
Females	28%	33%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds not enrolled in school who have not completed high school	5.2%	5.3%
Male	6.1%	6.3%
Female	4.2%	4.3%

American Indian/ Alaska Native	10.2%	9.9%
Asian	2.1%	1.9%
Black	5.9%	5.7%
Hispanic	7.8%	7.9%
Pacific Islander	7.6%	9.1%
White	4.1%	4.3%
Some other race	7.1%	5.8%
Two or more races	4.9%	4.5%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR)⁸

86%

87%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Total	$925.59 billion	$953.59 billion
Federal	$70.33 billion	$100.69 billion
State	$439.51 billion	$437.09 billion
Local	$415.75 billion	$415.81 billion

Explore these findings

Change between years

Total expenditures	$925 billion	$927 billion
Total expenditures per pupil (in fall enrollment)	$18,086	$18,614

Postsecondary Education

Explore these findings

Change between years

Immediate college enrollment rate of high school completers	62%	62%
2-year institutions	19%	17%
4-year institutions	43%	45%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of full-time instructional faculty	837,000	842,400
Number of part-time instructional faculty	662,200	665,200

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of degrees/certificates conferred by postsecondary institutions
Certificates¹⁰	991,800	1,042,400
Associate’s degrees	1,037,300	1,008,300
Bachelor’s degrees	2,066,500	2,015,000
Master’s degrees	866,900	880,200
Doctor’s degrees¹¹	194,100	203,900

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of bachelor’s degrees conferred (top three bachelor’s programs)
Business¹²	391,400	375,400
Health professions and related programs	268,000	263,800
Social sciences and history	160,900	151,100

Explore these findings

Change between years

Number of master’s degrees conferred (top three master’s programs)
Business¹³	202,400	205,800
Education	153,700	151,700
Health professions and related programs	142,000	147,000

Explore these findings

Change between years

8-year completion rate¹⁴ for 4-year institutions by entry cohort Entering and attendance status
First-time, full-time students	60%	61%
First-time, part-time students	20%	22%
Non-first-time, full-time students	60%	61%
Non-first-time, part-time students	35%	38%
8-year completion rate¹⁴ for 2-year institutions by entry cohort Entering and attendance status
First-time, full-time students	37%	39%
First-time, part-time students	19%	20%
Non-first-time, full-time students	45%	43%
Non-first-time, part-time students	24%	23%

Explore these findings

Change between years

Average net price at 4-year institutions for first-time, full-time undergraduate students
Public, in-state or in-district¹⁵	$15,500	$15,200
Private nonprofit	$30,200	$29,700
Private for-profit	$25,700	$24,400

Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with selected levels of educational attainment
At least high school completion¹⁶	94%	95%
Associate's or higher degree	49%	49%
Bachelor's or higher degree	39%	40%
Master's or higher degree	9%	10%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Employment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	80%	80%
Who had not completed high school	61%	60%
Who completed high school¹⁶	73%	74%
Some college, no bachelor's degree	79%	80%
Who attained a bachelor's or higher degree	87%	88%
Unemployment rates of 25- to 34-year-olds
Total	4%	4%
Who had not completed high school	10%	9%
Who completed high school¹⁶	7%	7%
Some college, no bachelor's degree	5%	4%
Who attained a bachelor’s or higher degree	2%	3%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

Change between years

Median annual earnings for 25- to 34-year-olds¹⁸
Total	$55,400	$54,200
Who completed less than high school	$35,300	$35,500
Who completed high school¹⁶	$44,000	$41,800
Who completed some college, but did not attain a degree	$45,000	$45,200
Who attained an associate’s degree	$49,400	$49,500
Who attained a bachelor’s or higher degree	$71,700	$71,100
Who attained a bachelor’s degree	$67,300	$66,600
Who attained a master’s or higher degree	$81,500	$80,200

Blank = not measurably different

International Comparisons

Explore these findings

Change between years

Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who had completed high school as of the reporting year
United States	93.7%	94.0%
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries	85.8%	86.1%
Percentage of the population 25 to 34 years old who had attained a postsecondary degree as of the reporting year
United States	51.2%	51.3%
OECD countries	47.1%	47.4%

Blank = not measurably different

Explore these findings

U.S. average score in comparison with OECD average

Program for International Student Assessment (2022)
Reading literacy of 15-year-olds	476	504
Mathematics literacy of 15-year-olds	472	465
Science literacy of 15-year-olds	485	499

Blank = not measurably different

Blank= Not measurably different
¹ Although the percentages for Pacific Islander students rounded to 0.37 percent for both years, the percentage was lower for fall 2022 than for fall 2021 (0.3669 vs. 0.3672 percent).
² Total excludes homeschooled children.
³ The number of students served as a percentage of total enrollment is based on total public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12. However, not all students served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) receive education services in public school environments.
⁴ Data are reported in constant 2021–22 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and adjusted to a school-year basis.
⁵ NAEP Proficient demonstrates solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter.
⁶ Includes courses that taught both algebra II and trigonometry.
⁷ Indicates graduate earned credits in all three subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics.
⁸ The adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) is the percentage of public school 9th-graders who graduate with a regular diploma or a state-defined alternate high school diploma for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities within 4 years of starting 9th grade. Students who are entering 9th grade for the first time form a cohort for the graduating class. This cohort is "adjusted" by adding any students who subsequently transfer into the cohort and subtracting any students who subsequently transfer out, emigrate to another country, or die.
⁹ Data are reported in constant 2022–23 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and adjusted to a school-year basis.
¹⁰ Data are for certificates below the baccalaureate level. Includes certificates of less than 2 years as well as those of at least 2 years but less than 4 years.
¹¹ Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level. Includes most degrees formerly classified as first-professional, such as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees.
¹² "Business" is defined as business, management, marketing, and related support services, as well as culinary, entertainment, and personal services.
¹³ In order to be consistent with the definition of "business" for bachelor's degree data, "business” is defined as business, management, marketing, and related support services, as well as culinary, entertainment, and personal services.
¹⁴ Student completion status is determined as of August 31 of the year indicated; for example, within 8 years after the student's 2014–15 entry into the reporting institution means by August 31, 2022. Includes only those awards that were conferred by the reporting institution (i.e., the institution that the student entered the year of their entry cohort); excludes awards conferred by institutions to which the student later transferred. Awards include certificates, associate's degrees, and bachelor's degrees.
¹⁵ The average net price at public 4-year institutions uses the lower of in-district or in-state average net price.
¹⁶ High school completion includes those who graduated from high school with a diploma as well as those who completed high school through equivalency programs, such as a GED program.
¹⁷ Reported levels of educational attainment for 25- to 34-year-olds in this indicator refer to a person’s highest degree earned or level of school completed.
¹⁸ Data are reported in constant 2022 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
NOTE: Includes selected indicators only. All calculations within the At a Glance are based on unrounded numbers. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
SOURCE: The Condition of Education 2024.

Annual Reports and Information Staff (Annual Reports)

COE Indicators

Family Characteristics

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Preprimary Education (4)

Elementary and Secondary Enrollment (9)

Schools and Districts (2)

School Crime and Safety

Violent Deaths (1)

Nonfatal Student and Teacher Victimization (4)

School Environment (6)

Fights, Weapons, and Illegal Substances (4)

Fear and Avoidance (2)

Discipline, Safety, and Health Practices (4)

Technology (3)

Teachers and Staff (10)

Student Learning

Assessments (8)

Courses and School Supports (4)

High School Persistence and Completion (3)

Finances and Governance (2)

Postsecondary Education

Postsecondary Students (8)

Institutions (1)

Campus Crime and Safety (2)

Faculty and Staff (1)

Completions and Graduation Rates (6)

Finances and Resources (6)

Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes

Population Characteristics (3)

Economic Outcomes (5)

International Comparisons

Assessments (3)

Enrollment and Attainment (2)

Finances (1)

School Crime and Safety

Violent Deaths (1)

Nonfatal Student and Teacher Victimization (4)

School Environment (6)

Fights, Weapons, and Illegal Substances (4)

Fear and Avoidance (2)

Discipline, Safety, and Health Practices (4)

Campus Crime and Safety (2)

Education Across America

Family Characteristics (3)

Educational Experiences (5)

School Resources and Staffing (5)

Educational Outcomes (3)

Spotlight

2023 Spotlights (2)

2024 Spotlights (1)

Related sites

Family Characteristics

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Postsecondary Education

Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes

International Comparisons

School Crime and Safety

Education Across America

Spotlight

Related sites

The Condition of Education 2024 At a Glance

Family Characteristics

Characteristics of Children’s Families

Preprimary, Elementary, and Secondary Education

Enrollment Rates of Young Children

Public School Enrollment

English Learners in Public Schools

Racial/Ethnic Enrollment in Public Schools

Private School Enrollment

Students With Disabilities

Children’s Internet Access at Home

Characteristics of Public School Teachers

Reading Performance

Mathematics Performance

Science Performance

High School Mathematics and Science Course Completion

Status Dropout Rates

Public High School Graduation Rates

Public School Revenue Sources9

Family
Characteristics

Preprimary, Elementary,
and Secondary Education

Postsecondary
Education

Population Characteristics
and Economic Outcomes

International
Comparisons

School Crime
and Safety

Education Across
America

Related
sites