Qualifications of Public School Mathematics and Computer Science Teachers

 

Among all 2017–18 mathematics and computer science teachers in public high school grades, 58 percent had both a degree and teaching certificate in this field. In public middle school grades, 24 percent of mathematics and computer science teachers had both a degree and teaching certificate in this field.  A new NCES Data Point, Qualifications of Public School Mathematics and Computer Science Teachers in 2017‒18, examines the degree and certification qualifications of mathematics and computer science teachers in public high school and middle school grades in the United States during school year 2017-18. Findings include: A larger percentage of public high school teachers were certified in their field compared to those with a degree (82 percent versus 67 percent). The percentage of public high school teachers with both a degree and certification in their field was larger for those teaching in traditional public schools compared to charter schools (59 percent versus 50 percent).  A larger percentage of public middle school teachers were certified in their field compared to those with a degree (60 percent versus 29 percent). The percentage of public middle school teachers with both a degree and certification in their field was larger for those teaching in traditional public schools compared to charter schools (25 percent versus 16 percent).  This report uses data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), “Public School Teacher Data File,” 2017–18.