Digest of Education Statistics, 2014

The National Center for Education (NCES) has released Digest of Education Statistics, 2014. The Digest's purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.

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Key findings appearing in the Digest include:

Fall 2014 marked a new record for public elementary school enrollment, according to projections. Public elementary enrollments are expected to continue increasing, with an overall increase of 7 percent between 2014 and 2024. Public secondary enrollment is expected to increase 3 percent between 2014 and 2024.

Between 1990 and 2013, the status dropout rate—that is, the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who have not completed high school and are not enrolled in school—declined from 12.1 to 6.8 percent. Although the status dropout rate declined for both Blacks and Hispanics during this period, their rates (7.3 and 11.7 percent, respectively) remained higher than the rate for Whites (5.1 percent) in 2013.

Between fall 2000 and fall 2010, enrollment in 2-year and 4-year colleges rose 37 percent, from 15.3 million to 21.0 million. Enrollment then decreased 3 percent to 20.4 million in fall 2013.

From 1976 to 2013, the percentage of Hispanic college students rose from 4 percent to 16 percent, the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander students rose from 2 percent to 6 percent, the percentage of Black students rose from 10 percent to 15 percent, and the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native students rose from 0.7 to 0.8 percent.

Americans are completing more years of education. The percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who had completed high school rose from 87 percent in 2004 to 91 percent in 2014. During the same time period, the percentage of young adults with a bachelor’s or higher degree increased from 29 percent to 34 percent.