More than 54 million students are set to return to the classroom this fall. Here’s some data about the state of teaching and learning to improve decision-making.
Homeschooling remains popular
Roughly 4.2 million K12 students were homeschooled in 2024, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Homeschooling has grown in popularity since the pandemic, particularly among families who want more control over what their children are taught.
An estimated 6% of all school-aged children are homeschooled, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. The homeschool population has grown between 2% and 8% each of the past several years.
The teacher workforce
Nearly six million teachers will lead the nation’s classrooms this school year. Among them, roughly 57% are elementary or middle school teachers and more than three-quarters are female, according to the Census Bureau.
Still, the teacher pipeline is shrinking, according to a report from the Learning Policy Institute.
Over the past decade, the number of college students interested in the profession has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years. Additionally, enrollment in higher ed prep programs dropped by nearly 100,000 candidates between 2012-13 and 2014-15 but has remained stable since.
Per-pupil spending
School districts spent an average of $17,619 per pupil in FY 2023, the Census Bureau’s latest available data. Spending varies by region:
- Northeast:$26,738
- West: $18,166
- Midwest: $17,147
- South: $14,153
Money raised through athletics, clubs and concessions is being used to alleviate spending pressures in more districts. These leaders are encouraged to improve oversight of these activity funds, Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, recently told District Administration.
Beginning in January, the Education Freedom Tax Credit will allow families in participating states to use donor-funded scholarships to pay for K12 programs not defined as required public education.
The new money will be treated as privately donated, locally generated revenue, which generally carries a high risk of fraud. Districts must therefore tighten financial controls before the tax credit rolls out, Edunomics Lab Director Marguerite Roza recently told District Administration.
Read more back-to-school “fun facts” here.
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