Digest of Education Statistics Provides New and Historical Data on Wide-Ranging Education Topics

Today, NCES released updated data from the Digest of Education Statistics, a comprehensive statistical reference for all levels of education in the United States. This update includes information on large school districts, teacher characteristics, high school course taking and completion, postsecondary degrees, and more. Selected findings include the following: In 2020–21, education expenditures in educational institutions represented 7.4 percent of GDP, with 4.2 percent in elementary and secondary schools and 3.2 percent in degree-granting postsecondary institutions. Educational expenditures have remained at or above 7 percent of GDP since 2001–02. (table 106.10) In 2019, 85 percent of high school graduates took a career technical education (CTE) course in high school. Participation was higher for graduates from schools in rural areas (92 percent) and towns (91 percent) and lower for graduates from suburban areas (83 percent) and cities (80 percent). (table 225.25) Participation in state-administered adult basic education declined from 522,000 adults in 2018 to 332,000 adults in 2020. Participation in adult secondary education and English language acquisition also decreased. (table 507.20) If it’s your first time browsing the Digest, consult our short blog “Tips for Navigating the Digest of Education Statistics” or Reader’s Guide  before diving in! Also see the introduction, which describes trends in American education and highlights key data on topics of current interest. Digest tables are continuously updated and released throughout the year. To view the latest versions of all Digest tables, please visit the “Most Current Digest Tables” page.