Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Education Statistics: Key findings on enrollment and educational attainment


The Digest of Education Statistics is a compilation of a wide array of data about education. Compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Digest is a comprehensive statistical reference for all levels of education, from prekindergarten through graduate school. Data cover 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.

The new and updated statistical tables that are included in the Digest are released on a rolling basis. A complete volume that includes text and graphics is released annually.

NCES released Digest of Education Statistics 2016 today (February 20, 2018).

Key findings on the core topics of enrollment and educational attainment include the following:
  • In fall 2016, public schools enrolled 35.5 million elementary students and 15.1 million secondary students, according to projections. Public elementary enrollment is expected to increase 2 percent between 2016 and 2026, and public secondary enrollment is also expected to increase 2 percent over the same period;
  • Between 1990 and 2015, the status dropout rate declined from 12.1 percent to 5.9 percent. (The status dropout rate is the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who have not completed high school and are not enrolled in school.) Although the status dropout rate declined for both Blacks and Hispanics during this period, their rates (6.5 and 9.2 percent, respectively) remained higher than the rate for Whites (4.6 percent) in 2015;
  • Between fall 2005 and fall 2015, enrollment in 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities increased 14 percent, from 17.5 million to 20.0 million. The overall increase between 2005 and 2015 reflects an increase of 20 percent between 2005 and 2010, followed by a decrease of 5 percent between 2010 and 2015;
  • From fall 1976 to fall 2015, the percentage of college students who are Hispanic rose from 4 percent to 17 percent, the percentage who are Asian/Pacific Islander rose from 2 percent to 7 percent, the percentage who are Black rose from 10 percent to 14 percent, and the percentage who are American Indian/Alaska Native was higher in 2015 (0.8 percent) than in 1976 (0.7 percent); and
  • Between 2006 and 2016, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who had completed high school rose from 86 percent to 92 percent. During the same period, the percentage with a bachelor's or higher degree increased from 28 percent to 36 percent. 

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