United States Education Statistics 2026: Data, Charts & Rankings
National education indicators for the United States using the latest available official source years across K-12 enrollment, school finance, postsecondary enrollment, student achievement, attainment, and UNDP schooling measures.
United States Education Snapshot
Values use the latest official source year available for each indicator. Source years differ by data system.
PISA Score Comparison
PISA measures 15-year-old students in mathematics, reading, and science. The United States participated in the 2022 cycle with 80 other education systems.
United States vs OECD Average in PISA 2022
Mean score by subject; mathematics was the major domain in 2022.
The United States scored below the OECD average in mathematics and above the OECD average in reading and science in PISA 2022.
Assessment analysis
- Reading shows the largest U.S. advantage over the OECD average: 504 vs 476, a gap of 28 score points.
- Science is also above the OECD average: 499 vs 485.
- Mathematics is below the OECD average: 465 vs 472.
- The three-subject U.S. simple average is 489.3; the OECD simple average is 477.7.
- Scores are assessment-scale results, not percentages or curriculum grades.
United States Education Indicator Table
Main national indicators with source year, unit, source system, and comparability notes.
| Rank | Indicator | Value | Unit | Year | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public PK-12 enrollment | 49.5 | million students | Fall 2023 | NCES CCD | 50 states and District of Columbia. |
| 2 | Public PK-12 enrollment, prior release | 49.6 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES CCD | Includes prekindergarten through grade 12. |
| 3 | Public preK-8 enrollment | 34.1 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES CCD | Prekindergarten through grade 8. |
| 4 | Public grades 9-12 enrollment | 15.5 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES CCD | Grades 9 through 12. |
| 5 | Public school FTE teachers | 3.2 | million FTE teachers | Fall 2022 | NCES | Full-time-equivalent teachers in public schools. |
| 6 | Public student-to-FTE-teacher ratio | 15.5 | students per FTE teacher | Fall 2022 | Page-level calculation from NCES | 49.6 million students divided by 3.2 million FTE teachers; rounded. |
| 7 | Private K-12 enrollment | 5.5 | million students | Fall 2021 | NCES PSS | Private elementary and secondary schools; some prekindergarten exclusions apply. |
| 8 | Private school FTE teachers | 0.5 | million FTE teachers | Fall 2021 | NCES PSS | Full-time-equivalent teachers in private schools. |
| 9 | Postsecondary enrollment | 19.0 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES IPEDS | Includes degree-granting and non-degree-granting institutions. |
| 10 | Undergraduate enrollment | 15.8 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES IPEDS | Undergraduate programs. |
| 11 | Graduate enrollment | 3.2 | million students | Fall 2022 | NCES IPEDS | Graduate programs. |
| 12 | Any distance education course | 53 | percent of postsecondary students | Fall 2022 | NCES IPEDS | 10.1 million postsecondary students. |
| 13 | Current public PK-12 expenditure per student | $15,591 | current expenditure per student | FY 2022 | NCES NPEFS | Inflation-adjusted by NCES in the FY 2022 release. |
| 14 | Current public school spending per pupil | $17,619 | current spending per pupil | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Not adjusted for inflation or cost-of-living differences. |
| 15 | Public elementary-secondary total expenditures | $983.7 | billion | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Total expenditures by public school systems. |
| 16 | Public elementary-secondary current spending | $842.3 | billion | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau | Current spending component of total expenditures. |
| 17 | Government education expenditure | 5.44 | percent of GDP | 2022 | World Bank / UNESCO UIS | General government expenditure on education as share of GDP. |
| 18 | PISA mathematics score | 465 | mean score | 2022 | OECD / NCES | 15-year-old students; mathematics was the major domain. |
| 19 | PISA reading score | 504 | mean score | 2022 | OECD / NCES | Reading was a minor domain in 2022. |
| 20 | PISA science score | 499 | mean score | 2022 | OECD / NCES | Science was a minor domain in 2022. |
| 21 | PISA mathematics Level 2 or higher | 66 | percent of students | 2022 | OECD | Minimum proficiency threshold in PISA mathematics. |
| 22 | PISA reading Level 2 or higher | 80 | percent of students | 2022 | OECD | Minimum proficiency threshold in PISA reading. |
| 23 | PISA science Level 2 or higher | 78 | percent of students | 2022 | OECD | Minimum proficiency threshold in PISA science. |
| 24 | Human Development Index | 0.938 | index value | 2023 | UNDP | HDI rank 17 of 193 countries and territories. |
| 25 | Expected years of schooling | 15.9 | years | 2023 | UNDP | Expected years for a child of school-entry age. |
| 26 | Mean years of schooling | 13.9 | years | 2023 | UNDP | Average years of education among adults ages 25 and older. |
| 27 | Young adult high school completion | 95 | percent | 2022 | NCES / Census CPS | Ages 25 to 29; at least high school completion. |
| 28 | Young adult bachelor’s or higher | 40 | percent | 2022 | NCES / Census CPS | Ages 25 to 29; bachelor’s degree or higher. |
Table analysis
- The latest public PK-12 enrollment release reports 49.5 million students in fall 2023.
- Fall 2022 public enrollment was 49.6 million, with 34.1 million in preK-8 and 15.5 million in grades 9-12.
- The page-level public student-to-FTE-teacher ratio is 15.5, based on NCES enrollment and teacher counts.
- Postsecondary enrollment in fall 2022 was 19.0 million, including 15.8 million undergraduate and 3.2 million graduate students.
- Public school current spending per pupil reached $17,619 in FY 2024 in U.S. Census Bureau data.
- World Bank / UNESCO UIS reports general government education expenditure at 5.44% of GDP for 2022.
- UNDP reports 15.9 expected years of schooling and 13.9 mean years of schooling for 2023.
- Source years range from fall 2021 to FY 2024; the table avoids forcing all indicators into a single reference year.
Enrollment, Demographics, and Spending Charts
Additional charts use published national totals and state finance rankings from official U.S. statistical releases.
Public School Enrollment by Race and Ethnicity
Fall 2022 public PK-12 students, millions.
NCES reports 49.6 million public PK-12 students in fall 2022; race and ethnicity categories follow NCES reporting.
Enrollment analysis
- White students were the largest reported group at 22.1 million.
- Hispanic students were the second-largest reported group at 14.4 million.
- Black students accounted for 7.4 million public school students.
- Asian students and students of two or more races were close in reported count: 2.7 million and 2.5 million.
- The chart uses rounded NCES counts; totals may not sum exactly to 49.6 million.
Public School Current Spending Per Pupil Over Time
Selected current-dollar points from NCES and FY 2024 U.S. Census Bureau school finance data.
The series is shown in current dollars. It does not adjust for inflation or state cost differences.
Spending analysis
- Current spending per pupil rose from $7,380 in 2000-01 to $17,619 in FY 2024.
- The current-dollar increase from 2000-01 to FY 2024 is $10,239 per pupil.
- NCES reported $15,591 for 2021-22; Census reported $17,619 for FY 2024.
- The FY 2024 value is not adjusted for inflation, purchasing power, or local cost levels.
Highest and Lowest Reported State Current Spending Per Pupil
FY 2024 U.S. Census Bureau public school system finance ranking summary.
State rankings are based on current spending per pupil; capital expenditures and cost-of-living adjustments are not included in the ranking metric.
Ranking analysis
- New York had the highest reported current spending per pupil at $31,918 in FY 2024.
- Idaho had the lowest reported value at $11,060.
- The spread between New York and Idaho was $20,858 per pupil.
- Four of the five highest values were in the Northeast region.
- The ranking does not measure learning outcomes or school quality.
| Rank | State or Jurisdiction | Spending | Rank group | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $31,918 | Highest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $31,529 | Highest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 3 | Vermont | $28,818 | Highest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 4 | New Jersey | $27,234 | Highest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 5 | Connecticut | $26,316 | Highest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 47 | Mississippi | $12,324 | Lowest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $12,162 | Lowest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 49 | Arizona | $12,003 | Lowest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 50 | Utah | $11,347 | Lowest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
| 51 | Idaho | $11,060 | Lowest reported values | FY 2024 | U.S. Census Bureau |
Table analysis
- The table lists the five highest and five lowest reported FY 2024 current spending values.
- New York and the District of Columbia both exceeded $31,000 per pupil.
- The five lowest listed values range from $11,060 to $12,324.
- Current spending excludes capital outlay; it is not a total expenditure ranking.
Historical Trend Table
Selected long-run indicators from NCES, OECD PISA, and UNDP. Years follow each source system’s reporting cycle.
| Indicator | Earliest point | Earliest value | Latest point | Latest value | Change | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public PK-12 enrollment | Fall 2012 | 49.8 | Fall 2022 | 49.6 | -0.2 | million students | NCES CCD |
| Public PK-12 enrollment from pre-pandemic level | Fall 2019 | 50.8 | Fall 2022 | 49.6 | -1.2 | million students | NCES CCD |
| Public PK-12 enrollment projection | Fall 2022 | 49.6 | Fall 2031 | 46.9 | -2.7 | million students | NCES projection |
| Postsecondary enrollment | Fall 2012 | 21.1 | Fall 2022 | 19.0 | -2.1 | million students | NCES IPEDS |
| Current public school spending per pupil | 2000-01 | $7,380 | 2021-22 | $15,591 | $8,211 | current dollars | NCES |
| PISA mathematics | PISA 2003 | 483 | PISA 2022 | 465 | -18 | score points | OECD PISA |
| PISA reading | PISA 2000 | 504 | PISA 2022 | 504 | 0 | score points | OECD PISA |
| PISA science | PISA 2006 | 489 | PISA 2022 | 499 | +10 | score points | OECD PISA |
| Expected years of schooling | 1990 | 15.6 | 2023 | 15.9 | +0.3 | years | UNDP |
| Mean years of schooling | 1990 | 13.0 | 2023 | 13.9 | +0.9 | years | UNDP |
| Young adult high school completion | 2010 | 89 | 2022 | 95 | +6 | percentage points | NCES / CPS |
| Young adult bachelor’s or higher | 2010 | 32 | 2022 | 40 | +8 | percentage points | NCES / CPS |
Trend analysis
- Public PK-12 enrollment was broadly flat from fall 2012 to fall 2022, moving from 49.8 million to 49.6 million.
- From fall 2019 to fall 2022, public PK-12 enrollment declined by 1.2 million students.
- NCES projects public PK-12 enrollment at 46.9 million in fall 2031, down 2.7 million from fall 2022.
- Postsecondary enrollment declined from 21.1 million in fall 2012 to 19.0 million in fall 2022.
- PISA mathematics declined from 483 in 2003 to 465 in 2022.
- PISA reading was 504 in both 2000 and 2022 in the OECD trend table.
- UNDP mean years of schooling increased by 0.9 years from 1990 to 2023.
- Young adult bachelor’s-or-higher attainment increased by 8 percentage points from 2010 to 2022.
Data Interpretation Notes
These notes separate source definitions, reporting years, and ranking scope.
Enrollment Level
Public PK-12 enrollment remained below the 2019 level in the latest NCES releases. The fall 2023 total was 49.5 million, down 2.5 percent from fall 2019.
Spending Definition
Current spending per pupil is not the same as total spending per pupil. Capital outlay, debt interest, and local price levels affect comparisons across states.
Achievement Scope
PISA results cover sampled 15-year-old students in participating education systems. They do not measure all grade levels or all subjects in U.S. schools.
Schooling Years
UNDP expected years and mean years of schooling are population-level indicators. They are not the same as enrollment counts, graduation rates, or test scores.
Postsecondary Coverage
NCES postsecondary enrollment includes degree and non-degree institutions in the cited fall 2022 count. Undergraduate and graduate subtotals are reported separately.
Ranking Scope
The state ranking module uses FY 2024 current spending per pupil only. It does not rank states by outcomes, attainment, staffing, or overall education performance.
Source and Methodology
Values are rounded for readability. Dollar figures are shown in the source’s stated dollar basis and are not converted across sources unless noted. The public student-to-FTE-teacher ratio is a page-level calculation from rounded NCES enrollment and teacher counts. PISA rankings and comparisons refer only to participating systems and the named assessment year. Missing national literacy-rate data are not imputed because recent adult literacy rates are not consistently reported in the selected official international source set for the United States.
Rankings in this profile refer to the named metric only, such as FY 2024 current spending per pupil or PISA 2022 subject scores. Spending, enrollment, attainment, and assessment data come from different source systems and reference years, so they should not be merged into a single education quality score or used for causal claims.