Education articles
What percentage of students in the US are proficient in math?
About 39% of 4th graders, 28% of 8th graders, and 22% of 12th graders were considered proficient or advanced in math in 2024, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, assesses 4th and 8th graders’ progress in reading and math approximately every two years. It assesses 12th graders every four years.
How many Americans are using AI — and how?
35% of American households are using AI to find information. 14% of people trust that information.
How are public schools in the US funded?
Public schools are funded primarily from state and local governments. In the 2022–2023 school year, the most recent year of available data, about 45.1% of public school funding came from state sources like income and retail taxes, and another 42% came from local sources like property taxes. The federal government provided the remaining 12.9%, often through programs like Title I or IDEA that are aimed at supporting specific student needs. Altogether, public schools received $981.8 billion in funding, or $19,900 per student.
What percentage of public school funding in the US comes from the federal government?
About 12.9% or one in every eight dollars of public school funding came from the federal government during the 2022–23 school year. Local and state governments typically provide most school district funding, with the federal government providing in the rest. Federal sources provide as little as 0% and as much as 88.2% of funding, depending on the district. Federal funding depends on factors such as poverty levels and other student demographics, availability of state and local revenues, and whether a district is urban, suburban, or rural. During 2022–23, which is the latest year of data available, public schools received $126.4 billion, or $2,558 in federal funds per student.
What does the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) do?
The Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for promoting and ensuring access to quality postsecondary education. The agency administers programs that support higher education institutions, provide financial assistance to students, and promote innovation and improvement in postsecondary education. It also works to ensure equal access to education and to foster educational excellence throughout the nation. It was established in 1980.
What does the Department of Education (ED) do?
The Department of Education (Education Department, ED) is a cabinet-level executive branch agency responsible for overseeing education policy and administering funding for programs and individuals. The department's functions include supporting state and local education systems, promoting educational equity for all students, and providing grants and loans to higher education institutions and students. It was established in 1980 after the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare was reorganized into separate entities.
What does the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) do?
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for providing rigorous and relevant evidence on which to ground education practice and policy and sharing this information broadly. The agency conducts research, evaluates programs, and collects and analyzes education statistics to improve the quality of education in the United States. It was established in 2002.
What does the National Science Foundation (NSF) do?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent executive branch agency responsible for supporting science and engineering nationwide for the purpose of scientific progress, advancement of national health and welfare, and national security. The agency fulfills this objective primarily through making grants, funding approximately 25% of all federally supported research conducted by US colleges and universities. It was established in 1950.
What does the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) do?
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for administering and overseeing programs that prepare individuals for postsecondary education and the workforce. OCTAE focuses on improving career and technical education, adult education, and literacy, ensuring that all students and adults have the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a global economy. It was established in 1966.
What does the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) do?
The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for promoting academic excellence and ensuring equal access to education for all students in elementary and secondary schools. The office administers programs that support state and local education agencies, focusing on improving student achievement, providing resources for disadvantaged students, and enhancing teacher quality. It also oversees initiatives aimed at closing achievement gaps and fostering safe and supportive learning environments. It was established in 1980.
What does the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) do?
The Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for providing national leadership to help ensure that English learners and immigrant students attain English proficiency and achieve academic success. The agency administers grant programs, conducts research, and provides resources and technical assistance to support high-quality education for English learners. It was established in 1974.
What does the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) do?
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) is a subdivision of the US Department of Education responsible for improving results and outcomes for people with disabilities of all ages. OSERS provides a wide array of supports to parents and individuals, school districts, and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation, and research. It was established in 1979.
What does the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) do?
The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is a subdivision of the Department of Education responsible for providing financial assistance to students pursuing postsecondary education. The agency administers federal grants, loans, and work-study funds to help students cover the cost of college or career school. It also offers resources and guidance to help students and families navigate the financial aid process. It was established in 1965.
How much do teachers get paid in the US?
Teachers made about $63,100 per year in 2024. That’s the annual median wage for pre-K-12 teachers across the United States, based on estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median marks the middle point—half of teachers earn more and half earn less. The lowest-paid 10% earned $46,900 or less, while the highest-paid 10% earned $102,300 or more.
Where do foreign students attend school?
As of June 2025, 151,015 international students were studying in California, most of any state. This number reflects those who hold F-1 or M-1 student visas and maintain active student status.
Back to school data
Before the opening bell rings, dig into the latest reports on American schools.
What percentage of students in the US are proficient in reading?
About 31% of 4th graders, 30% of 8th graders, and 35% of 12th graders were considered proficient or advanced in reading in 2024, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP, also known as the Nation’s Report Card, assesses 4th and 8th graders’ progress in reading and math approximately every two years. It assesses 12th graders every four years.
What are the average salaries for four-year college graduates?
In 2024, full‑time workers with bachelor’s degrees earned about $105K a year or $1,543 weekly—more than those without post‑secondary education.
How many children attend preschool?
Preschool enrollment has returned to near pre-pandemic levels, with almost half of three- and four-year-olds in school.
How many US children receive free or reduced-price school lunch?
Nearly three-quarters of all school lunches are served free or at a reduced price.
How many students are enrolled in charter schools?
The share of public school students enrolled in charter schools varies by state, ranging from 0% to 45.3%.
Which states have the highest and lowest adult literacy rates?
The average literacy score for US adults dropped 13 points between 2017 and 2023.
Where are students moving to attend college?
California has the largest number of residents leaving the state to attend college elsewhere.
Which states are the most educated?
Of the top 10 most educated states, nine are located on the east coast.
How universities spend billions in government funds
In FY 2023, the federal government provided nearly $60 billion to support research and development efforts at universities.
How did the US reach $1.6 trillion in student debt?
Forty-two million people, or one in six American adults, currently carry a federal student loan. The nation’s overall student debt reached $1.6 trillion in June 2019. What’s behind this large number?
What matters most to parents when choosing a school?
When choosing a school for their children, parents consider teachers and staff, student safety and discipline, curriculum, academic performance, and class sizes.
How often do teacher strikes happen?
In the past five years, public school employees have carried out 27 large-scale walkouts across the country.
What role do schools play in addressing youth mental health?
Public schools have expanded their mental health services since the pandemic, but school staff still report barriers to progress.
How many student immigrants come to the US and what countries do they come from?
In 2022, over 700,000 student immigrants came to the US to study. India sent the most students, followed by China, South Korea, Germany, and Mexico.
What are schools doing to support teacher and staff mental health?
Teachers and staff are most likely to report receiving mental health support at larger schools, in urban and suburban areas, and at schools with higher percentages of students of color.
Men far outnumber women on coaching staffs in college sports
More than half of women’s teams at the college level have male head coaches, but almost no men’s teams have female head coaches.
How much does the government spend on getting kids to school?
States with more rural students tend to spend less on school transportation than states with more suburban students.
How much money do states spend on education?
New York State spent the most money per student on public education in 2022. Idaho spent the least.
How many Black male teachers are there in the US?
Nationally, 1.3% of US public school teachers in 2020–2021 were Black men — a decline from 6.5% just three years before.
How many students are harassed or bullied?
29,092 K-12 students reported harassment or bullying based on their sex, race, or disability in 2020–2021, an 84% decrease from 2011–2012.
The price of college is rising faster than wages for people with degrees
Between 2000 and 2019, the price the average college student paid for tuition, fees, and room and board increased 59%.
The latest government data on school shootings
The 2021–22 school year had the highest number of school shootings since records began in 2000.
Are fewer students taking the SAT?
Hundreds of colleges, including the University of California, stopped requiring admission tests during the pandemic.
What are the most common civil rights violations in education?
The most common civil rights cases in education are related to free appropriate public education, and different treatment or denial of benefits based on disability, or race.
How many women graduate with STEM degrees?
While the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees earned by women increased in recent years, there’s still a gender gap.
How much student debt do Americans owe?
Student debt data highlights racial disparities for Black Americans.
Who are the nation's teachers? Key insights in five charts
The average US teacher is a white woman in her 40s.
What is IES and what does it do?
The Institute of Education Sciences funds education research, and disseminates findings and statistics about education in the US.
Teachers in the US face low pay relative to their level of education
Most public K-12 teachers hold a master’s degree, but their median pay is nearly $20,000 lower than the median worker with an advanced degree.
Is there a national teacher shortage?
Nationwide enrollment in teacher preparation programs has steadily declined since 2008.
Who are school resource officers, and what do they do for school safety?
As of the 2019–2020 school year, there were 23,426 SROs in the United States. SROs perform various duties that can be categorized into investigative, enforcement, patrol and response, security, mentoring, and teaching activities.
How does the federal government support education?
Multiple federal agencies provide funding to support students of all ages.
Three charts on education levels by race and ethnicity
Black and Hispanic students had the lowest rates of enrolling in college and graduating four-year college within six years.
How do college and career courses vary across public schools?
Public schools in the Northeast have the highest rate of advanced courses offered at 89%; the South and West regions of the US have the highest rate of career and technical education classes at 88%.
What can McKinney-Vento Act data reveal about youth homelessness?
Over a million students experiencing homelessness rely on McKinney-Vento to access school – but many slip through the cracks.
65% of households with children report the use of online learning during pandemic
Eleven percent of households with children reported having no live contact with a teacher in the past week.
How has COVID-19 impacted Gen Z’s education?
School enrollment of Gen Z students decreased across all age groups from 2019 to 2022.
How are public schools funded?
Public school funding comes primarily from local and state governments, while the federal government provides about 8% of local school funding.