![]() |
2006 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Issue of the Digest |
![]() |
Download Excel ![]() |
Table 32. | Historical summary of public elementary and secondary school statistics: Selected years, 1869–70 through 2003–04 |
Selected characteristic | 1869–70 | 1879–80 | 1889–90 | 1899–1900 | 1909–10 | 1919–20 | 1929–30 | 1939–40 | 1949–50 | 1959–60 | 1969–70 | 1979–80 | 1989–90 | 1999–2000 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |||||||||
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | |||||||||
Population, pupils, and instructional staff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total population (in thousands)1 | 38,558 | 50,156 | 62,622 | 75,995 | 90,490 | 104,514 | 121,878 | 131,028 | 149,188 | 177,830 | 201,385 | 224,567 | 246,819 | 279,040 | 285,108 | 287,985 | 290,850 | |||||||||
5- to 17-year-olds (in thousands)1 | 11,683 | 15,066 | 18,473 | 21,573 | 24,011 | 27,571 | 31,414 | 30,151 | 30,223 | 43,881 | 52,386 | 48,041 | 44,947 | 52,811 | 53,260 | 53,325 | 53,269 | |||||||||
5- to 17-year-olds as a percent of total population | 30.3 | 30.0 | 29.5 | 28.4 | 26.5 | 26.4 | 25.8 | 23.0 | 20.3 | 24.7 | 26.0 | 21.4 | 18.2 | 18.9 | 18.7 | 18.5 | 18.3 | |||||||||
Total enrollment in elementary and secondary schools (in thousands)2 | 7,562 | 3 | 9,867 | 12,723 | 15,503 | 17,814 | 21,578 | 25,678 | 25,434 | 25,112 | 36,087 | 45,550 | 41,651 | 40,543 | 46,857 | 47,672 | 48,183 | 48,540 | ||||||||
Prekindergarten and grades 1–8 (in thousands) | 7,481 | 3 | 9,757 | 12,520 | 14,984 | 16,899 | 19,378 | 21,279 | 18,833 | 19,387 | 27,602 | 32,513 | 28,034 | 29,152 | 33,488 | 33,938 | 34,116 | 34,202 | ||||||||
Grades 9–12 (in thousands) | 80 | 3 | 110 | 203 | 519 | 915 | 2,200 | 4,399 | 6,601 | 5,725 | 8,485 | 13,037 | 13,616 | 11,390 | 13,369 | 13,734 | 14,067 | 14,338 | ||||||||
Enrollment as a percent of total population | 19.6 | 3 | 19.7 | 20.3 | 20.4 | 19.7 | 20.6 | 21.1 | 19.4 | 16.8 | 20.3 | 22.6 | 18.5 | 16.4 | 16.8 | 16.7 | 16.7 | 16.7 | ||||||||
Enrollment as a percent of 5- to 17-year-olds | 64.7 | 3 | 65.5 | 68.9 | 71.9 | 74.2 | 78.3 | 81.7 | 84.4 | 83.1 | 82.2 | 87.0 | 86.7 | 90.2 | 88.7 | 89.5 | 90.4 | 91.1 | ||||||||
Percent of total enrollment in high schools (grades 9–12 and postgraduate) | 1.1 | 3 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 10.2 | 17.1 | 26.0 | 22.8 | 23.5 | 28.6 | 32.7 | 28.1 | 28.5 | 28.8 | 29.2 | 29.5 | ||||||||
High school graduates (in thousands) | — | — | 22 | 62 | 111 | 231 | 592 | 1,143 | 1,063 | 1,627 | 2,589 | 2,748 | 2,320 | 2,554 | 2,622 | 2,720 | 2,753 | |||||||||
Average daily attendance (in thousands) | 4,077 | 6,144 | 8,154 | 10,633 | 12,827 | 16,150 | 21,265 | 22,042 | 22,284 | 32,477 | 41,934 | 38,289 | 37,799 | 43,807 | 44,605 | 45,017 | 45,326 | |||||||||
Total number of days attended by pupils enrolled (in millions) | 539 | 801 | 1,098 | 1,535 | 2,011 | 2,615 | 3,673 | 3,858 | 3,964 | 5,782 | 7,501 | 6,835 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Percent of enrolled pupils attending daily | 59.3 | 62.3 | 64.1 | 68.6 | 72.1 | 74.8 | 82.8 | 86.7 | 88.7 | 90.0 | 90.4 | 90.1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Average length of school term, in days | 132.2 | 130.3 | 134.7 | 144.3 | 157.5 | 161.9 | 172.7 | 175.0 | 177.9 | 178.0 | 178.9 | 178.5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Average number of days attended per pupil | 78.4 | 81.1 | 86.3 | 99.0 | 113.0 | 121.2 | 143.0 | 151.7 | 157.9 | 160.2 | 161.7 | 160.8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Total instructional staff (in thousands) | — | — | — | — | — | 678 | 880 | 912 | 963 | 1,457 | 2,286 | 2,406 | 2,986 | 3,819 | 3,989 | 4,017 | 4,053 | |||||||||
Supervisors (in thousands) | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
Principals (in thousands) | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 31 | 32 | 43 | 64 | 91 | 106 | 126 | 137 | 161 | 164 | 165 | |||||||||
Teachers, librarians, and other nonsupervisory instructional staff (in thousands)5 | 201 | 287 | 364 | 423 | 523 | 657 | 843 | 875 | 920 | 1,393 | 2,195 | 2,300 | 2,860 | 3,682 | 3,829 | 3,853 | 3,888 | |||||||||
Males (in thousands) | 78 | 123 | 126 | 127 | 110 | 93 | 140 | 195 | 196 | 404 | 4 | 711 | 4 | 782 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Females (in thousands) | 123 | 164 | 238 | 296 | 413 | 585 | 703 | 681 | 724 | 989 | 4 | 1,484 | 4 | 1,518 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Percent male | 38.7 | 42.8 | 34.5 | 29.9 | 21.1 | 14.1 | 16.6 | 22.2 | 21.3 | 29.0 | 4 | 32.4 | 4 | 34.0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
Amounts in current dollars | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues and expenditures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenue receipts (in millions) | — | — | $143 | $220 | $433 | $970 | $2,089 | $2,261 | $5,437 | $14,747 | $40,267 | $96,881 | $208,548 | $372,944 | $419,502 | $440,112 | $462,016 | |||||||||
Federal government | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 7 | 40 | 156 | 652 | 3,220 | 9,504 | 12,701 | 27,098 | 33,145 | 37,516 | 41,921 | |||||||||
State governments | — | — | — | — | — | 160 | 354 | 684 | 2,166 | 5,768 | 16,063 | 45,349 | 98,239 | 184,613 | 206,542 | 214,277 | 217,383 | |||||||||
Local sources, including intermediate | — | — | — | — | — | 808 | 1,728 | 1,536 | 3,116 | 8,327 | 20,985 | 42,029 | 97,608 | 161,233 | 179,816 | 188,318 | 202,711 | |||||||||
Percentage distribution of revenue receipts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Federal government | — | — | — | — | — | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 9.8 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 9.1 | |||||||||
State governments | — | — | — | — | — | 16.5 | 16.9 | 30.3 | 39.8 | 39.1 | 39.9 | 46.8 | 47.1 | 49.5 | 49.2 | 48.7 | 47.1 | |||||||||
Local sources, including intermediate | — | — | — | — | — | 83.2 | 82.7 | 68.0 | 57.3 | 56.5 | 52.1 | 43.4 | 46.8 | 43.2 | 42.9 | 42.8 | 43.9 | |||||||||
Total expenditures for public schools (in millions) | $63 | $78 | $141 | $215 | $426 | $1,036 | $2,317 | $2,344 | $5,838 | $15,613 | $40,683 | $95,962 | $212,770 | $381,838 | $435,364 | $454,907 | $473,863 | |||||||||
Current expenditures6 | — | — | 114 | 180 | 356 | 861 | 1,844 | 1,942 | 4,687 | 12,329 | 7 | 34,218 | 7 | 86,984 | 7 | 188,229 | 7 | 323,889 | 7 | 368,378 | 7 | 387,594 | 7 | 403,376 | 7 | |
Capital outlay8 | — | — | 26 | 35 | 70 | 154 | 371 | 258 | 1,014 | 2,662 | 4,659 | 6,506 | 17,781 | 43,357 | 49,961 | 48,940 | 50,476 | |||||||||
Interest on school debt | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 93 | 131 | 101 | 490 | 1,171 | 1,874 | 3,776 | 9,135 | 10,495 | 11,499 | 13,081 | |||||||||
Other current expenditures9 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 133 | 636 | 598 | 10 | 2,983 | 5,457 | 6,531 | 6,874 | 6,930 | ||||||||
Percentage distribution of total expenditures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current expenditures6 | — | — | 81.3 | 83.5 | 83.6 | 83.1 | 79.6 | 82.8 | 80.3 | 79.0 | 7 | 84.1 | 7 | 90.6 | 7 | 88.5 | 7 | 84.8 | 7 | 84.6 | 7 | 85.2 | 7 | 85.1 | 7 | |
Capital outlay8 | — | — | 18.7 | 16.5 | 16.4 | 14.8 | 16.0 | 11.0 | 17.4 | 17.0 | 11.5 | 6.8 | 8.4 | 11.4 | 11.5 | 10.8 | 10.7 | |||||||||
Interest on school debt | — | — | — | — | — | 1.8 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.8 | |||||||||
Other current expenditures9 | — | — | — | — | — | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 10 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | ||||||||
Teacher salaries; income and expenditures per pupil and per capita | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual salary of classroom teachers11 | $189 | $195 | $252 | $325 | $485 | $871 | $1,420 | $1,441 | $3,010 | $4,995 | $8,626 | $15,970 | $31,367 | $41,807 | $44,660 | $45,776 | $46,752 | |||||||||
Personal income per member of labor force1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1,730 | 1,320 | 3,379 | 5,745 | 9,643 | 19,647 | 37,038 | 55,984 | 60,696 | 61,312 | 62,546 | |||||||||
Total school expenditures per capita of total population | 1.59 | 1.56 | 2.23 | 2.83 | 4.71 | 9.91 | 19.01 | 17.89 | 39 | 88 | 202 | 427 | 862 | 1,368 | 1,527 | 1,580 | 1,629 | |||||||||
National income per capita1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 772.90 | 627.35 | 1,595 | 2,563 | 4,418 | 10,015 | 19,555 | 29,518 | 31,496 | 32,048 | 33,118 | |||||||||
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA6,12,13 | — | — | 13.99 | 16.67 | 27.85 | 53.32 | 86.70 | 88.09 | 210 | 375 | 816 | 2,272 | 4,980 | 7,394 | 8,259 | 8,610 | 8,899 | |||||||||
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA13,14 | 15.55 | 12.71 | 17.23 | 20.21 | 33.23 | 64.16 | 108.49 | 105.74 | 260 | 471 | 955 | 2,491 | 5,550 | 8,592 | 9,614 | 9,952 | 10,302 | |||||||||
National income per pupil in ADA13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4,430 | 3,729 | 10,680 | 14,035 | 21,217 | 58,740 | 127,690 | 188,024 | 201,320 | 205,016 | 212,513 | |||||||||
Current expenditure per day per pupil in ADA6,13,15 | — | — | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.18 | 0.33 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.17 | 2.11 | 4.56 | 12.73 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA13 | 0.12 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.21 | 0.40 | 0.63 | 0.60 | 1.46 | 2.65 | 5.34 | 13.95 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
Amounts in constant 2005-06 dollars16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Annual salary of classroom teachers11 | — | — | — | — | — | $9,094 | $16,508 | $20,519 | $25,291 | $33,828 | $45,440 | $40,935 | $49,158 | $49,141 | $49,873 | $50,020 | $49,993 | |||||||||
Personal income per member of labor force1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20,116 | 18,795 | 28,393 | 38,909 | 50,796 | 50,360 | 58,044 | 65,806 | 67,781 | 66,997 | 66,882 | |||||||||
Total school expenditures per capita of total population | — | — | — | — | — | 103 | 221 | 255 | 329 | 595 | 1,064 | 1,095 | 1,351 | 1,608 | 1,705 | 1,726 | 1,742 | |||||||||
National income per capita1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8,985 | 8,933 | 13,404 | 17,358 | 23,273 | 25,672 | 30,646 | 34,697 | 35,173 | 35,019 | 35,413 | |||||||||
Current expenditure per pupil in ADA6,12,13 | — | — | — | — | — | 557 | 1,008 | 1,254 | 1,767 | 2,541 | 4,298 | 5,823 | 7,804 | 8,691 | 9,223 | 9,408 | 9,516 | |||||||||
Total expenditure per pupil in ADA13,14 | — | — | — | — | — | 670 | 1,261 | 1,506 | 2,188 | 3,190 | 5,031 | 6,384 | 8,698 | 10,099 | 10,736 | 10,875 | 11,016 | |||||||||
National income per pupil in ADA13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 51,498 | 53,101 | 89,739 | 95,047 | 111,766 | 150,565 | 200,113 | 221,010 | 224,820 | 224,024 | 227,244 | |||||||||
Current expenditure per day per pupil in ADA6,13,15 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.4 | 5.8 | 7.1 | 9.8 | 14.3 | 24.0 | 32.6 | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
Total expenditure per day per pupil in ADA13 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.2 | 7.3 | 8.5 | 12.3 | 17.9 | 28.1 | 35.8 | — | — | — | — | — |
—Not available. 1 Data on population and labor force are from the Census Bureau, and data on personal income and national income are from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce. Population data through 1900 are based on total population from the decennial census. From 1909–10 to 1959–60, population data are total population, including armed forces overseas, as of July 1. Data for later years are for resident population that excludes armed forces overseas. 2 Data for 1869–70 through 1959–60 are school year enrollment. Data for later years are fall enrollment. 3 Data for 1870–71. 4 Estimated by the National Center for Education Statistics. 5 Prior to 1919–20, data are for the number of different persons employed rather than number of positions. 6 Prior to 1919–20, includes interest on school debt. 7 Because of the modification of the scope of current expenditures for elementary and secondary schools," data for 1959–60 and later years are not entirely comparable with prior years. 8 Beginning in 1969–70, includes capital outlay by state and local school building authorities. 9 Includes summer schools, community colleges, and adult education. Beginning in 1959–60, also includes community services, formerly classified with "current expenditures for elementary and secondary schools." 10 Excludes community colleges and adult education. 11 Prior to 1959–60, average includes supervisors, principals, teachers, and other nonsupervisory instructional staff. Data for 1959–60 and later years are estimated by the National Education Association. 12 Excludes current expenditures not allocable to pupil costs. 13 "ADA" means average daily attendance in elementary and secondary schools. 14 Expenditure figure is the sum of current expenditures allocable to pupil costs, capital outlay, and interest on school debt. 15 Per-day rates derived by dividing annual rates by average length of term. 16 Constant dollars based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. NOTE: Some data have been revised from previously published figures. Beginning in 1959–60, data include Alaska and Hawaii. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Annual Report of the United States Commissioner of Education, 1869–70 through 1909–10; Biennial Survey of Education in the United States, 1919–20 through 1949–50; Statistics of State School Systems, 1959–60 and 1969–70; Statistics of Public Elementary and Secondary School Systems, 1979–80; Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, FY 1980; Common Core of Data (CCD), "State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education," 1989–90 through 2003–04, and "National Public Financial Survey," 1989–90 through 2003–04. Census Bureau, unpublished tabulations. Bureau of Economic Analysis, unpublished tabulations. (This table was prepared March 2007.) |