Overview
Total Number of School Districts -- 14,881
Total Number of Public Schools -- 85,393
Total Number of Private and Catholic Schools -- 34,438
Total Public School Enrollment -- 45,037,000
Total Public School Teachers -- 2,595,000
Public School Student-Teacher Ratio -- 17:1
Private School Student-Teacher Ratio -- 15:1

Finances
Total Public School Expenditures $241,062,373,000
States provide about 50 percent of school budgets, local districts, through property taxes, contribute about 44% and the federal government gives approximately 6%.

Average Public School Per Pupil Expenditure -- $6,857
Average Private School Tuition -- $2,178
The average amount spent per student varies dramatically from state to state, ranging from a high of about $8,100 in New Jersey to about $3,500 in Utah.

Every state has school districts that are considered "impoverished." Most states have been sued at least once in the past 30 years for funding inequities. Funding plans in 13 states are currently unconstitutional; lawsuits are pending in 12 others.

A recent study by the U.S. General Accounting Office found that about a third of the nation's schools, serving 14 million students, need to replace or extensively repair at least one building. The cost of bringing the nation's school buildings into overall good condition is estimated, conservatively, to be $112 billion.

Public School Elementary School Principal Salary -- $60,922
Public School Average Teacher Base Salary -- $34,153

Per-pupil revenues from public sources increased about four and half times from 1950 to 1993, rising from $1,230 to $5,526. This trend was driven by many factors including: the assumption of greater responsibility for the education of disabled students, and providing for needs of poor students. Furthermore, the number of teachers and other school staff more than doubled between 1960 and 1993.

One study, by the Economic Policy Institute, found that only one quarter of the growth in education funding between 1967 and 1991 went to "regular education." Most of the increased funding has been spent on the 12% of students in special education, on trying to keep up with enrollment growth and on rising salaries for an aging teaching force.

Approximately 33% of public school students receive free or reduced price lunches.

About 13% of public school students in the United States received Chapter 1 services, federally sponsored programs designed to assist poorly performing students in economically disadvantaged areas.

Between 1950 and 1993, personal income per capita increased about 140%, whereas public revenues per student rose almost 350%.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll reported that 90% of Americans believe the federal government should spend the same or more on education, with 68% supporting more spending, and only 8% supporting cuts.

A college graduate today earns twice as much as a high school graduate and nearly three times as much as a high school dropout.


School Climate
On average, four out of 10 secondary school teachers do not have a degree in the subject they teach.

Nearly half of the elementary school teachers in the U.S. have classes of 25 or more pupils. More than half of high school English teachers teach 80 or more students a day.

In most states, nearly half the students attend elementary or high schools that are bigger than research suggests is optimal to promote learning.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation's Report Card, has produced some sobering statistics.


• Maine has the best score in the nation on the 1994 NAEP 4th grade reading test, and 59% of its fourth graders could not read at a proficient level.
  
• Iowa led the nation on the 1992 NAEP math exam, and 69% of its 8th graders were below the proficient level.
  
• 85% of Louisiana's 4th graders read blow the proficient level.
  
• 94% of Mississippi's 8th graders score below the proficient level in math.

  Last year, more than 250,000 crimes on school property were reported to police. Ten percent of 10th graders admit to taking a weapon to school during the last month.

  National polls consistently indicate the following as a prioritized list of problems facing public schools: lack of financial support, drug use, lack of discipline, violence, poor curriculum standards, overcrowding, quality of teachers, parent's lack of interest, truancy, moral standards, low teacher pay.

Also See These Related Cover Stories:

• Public Schools 'Riddled With Excellence But Rife With Mediocrity'
• Technology May Help Ease Educational Budget Crunch
• Expect Excellence, Get Excellence, Say Education Reformers
• Schools Keep the Lights On, Attract Community Support
• Making A Difference -- How You Can Help With The Issues of Urban Education.
• Related Reading -- Learn More About Urban Education.