Latest news with #NCES
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Public school enrollment continues to fall
Teacher Lisa Schultheis (C) talks with students on the second to last day of school as New York City public schools prepare to wrap up the year at Yung Wing School P.S. 124 on June 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by) Across the country, public school enrollment has failed to rebound to pre-pandemic levels — and data suggests the decline is far from over. According to projections from the National Center for Education Statistics, public K-12 enrollment peaked at 50.8 million students in autumn 2019, but is expected to fall by nearly 4 million students to 46.9 million by 2031, a 7.6% nationwide drop. The steepest enrollment losses are in elementary and middle grades, with districts in the Northeast, West and Rust Belt most affected. When public school enrollment fell by 3% in 2020, it was the largest single-year decline since World War II. The NCES 2024 December report, which accounts for fall 2023 data, found that 18 states saw public school enrollment declines of more than 4%. Ten states — California, Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and West Virginia declined more than 5%. Pennsylvania's fell 2.3% between the fall of 2019 and the fall of 2023 A new study from Boston University found that high-income districts and middle schools in Massachusetts were especially vulnerable, with middle grade enrollment in fall of 2024 down almost 8% and the most significant losses concentrated among white and Asian students. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Public school enrollment in Massachusetts was down 2% from pre-pandemic trends for the fall 2024 school year, while private school enrollment rose 14% and homeschooling surged 45%. Long-term demographic shifts — such as falling birth rates, domestic migration and a post-COVID shift toward school choice — are also a factor in public school enrollment declines. Parents increasingly opt for private, charter or homeschooling models — options that expanded rapidly during and after the pandemic. A February Gallup poll showed that dissatisfaction with the U.S. public education system is rising, with the percentage of adults who report feeling satisfied about public education falling from 37% to 24% between 2017 and 2025. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools reported a net gain of 400,000 students over five years, offsetting some of the 1.8 million student losses from traditional districts. Public school funding, often tied to enrollment, is also shrinking. According to the Reason Foundation, 98 public schools closed in 2023-24 across 15 states, with significant losses in California, Colorado, Florida and New York. Districts are facing tough decisions around school consolidations, staffing and infrastructure. ProPublica reported that shrinking enrollment left roughly 150 Chicago schools operating at half-capacity this past school year, with another 47 at one-third capacity. However, some researchers offer a more nuanced view. A Kennesaw State University researcher notes that declining enrollment can lead to higher per-student funding. Since districts often retain funding for students who've left, those resources can be reallocated to support remaining students, improving staff compensation and access to teachers and other support services. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Map Shows States With the Most, Least High School Graduates
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. West Virginia has the highest rate of graduation among public high school students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). With score of higher than 90 percent, the state led the way on public high school graduation, with Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts close behind. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Education via email for comment. Why It Matters High school graduation rates in the country have been on the rise based on NCES data. Between 2011 to 2012, the average adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR) for public high school students was 80 percent, but in 2021 to 2022, that number was 87 percent. While the data shows a rise in graduation rates as a whole, the increase has not been completely steady, with the coronavirus pandemic knocking the average ACGR down slightly. Following the passage of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" earlier this month, education experts have voiced concern over what ramifications the wide-reaching legislation could have on children and schools. Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts could impact school budgets, experts warn, while the continued mass deportation of immigrants may strain schools as they try to support students whose family members have been detained. What To Know The NCES calculated the graduation rates in each state based on an ACGR—the percentage of public school students who graduate within four years of starting ninth grade with a regular diploma. For students with "the most significant cognitive disabilities," the score was measured by those with a state-defined alternate high school diploma. There was no available information for New Mexico or Oklahoma. While there were also other states that had ACGRs of 90, including Texas and Missouri, these states still fell into the category of ACGRs between 80 to less than 90 percent—suggesting these numbers may have been rounded up. States with the lowest ACGR include Arizona (77 percent), Alaska (78 percent), and Idaho (80 percent). Puerto Rico had the lowest ACGR across the board at 74 percent. Why the ACGR varies widely between states is multi-factorial. One reason is that states "have their own graduation requirements," Christopher Lubienski, director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University and elected member of the National Academy of Education, told Newsweek. For example, up until this school year, students in Massachusetts had to pass state-administered tests in English, mathematics, and a science in order to graduate, Richard Murnane, a professor of education and society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, told Newsweek. "This is no longer the case, so Massachusetts graduation rates will be higher this year." Graduation rates may also vary due to the differences in numbers of private schools in states. "In some states with fewer private schools, most students go to public schools, so the ACGR there is more of a reflection of the total school population," Lubienski said. "But in other states where many students go to independent schools, it could be that the students most likely to complete school enroll in those non-public options, leaving public schools with more students who are less likely to complete school." These factors make it difficult to make accurate conclusions on what the ACGR says about education in each state, Lubienski told Newsweek. Broadly, factors that cause variation in education outcomes in states include "family incomes," Murnane said, pointing to Massachusetts as "a quite wealthy state." He also said that high school graduation rates depend on the percentage of students who are immigrants. "Many immigrants come with low English skills and have trouble doing high-school-level work. Others move back to their original countries before they graduate," Murnane said. He added that "when and where the economy is very strong, drop out rates tend to be higher because students leave school to take jobs." What People Are Saying Christopher Lubienski, director of the Center for Evaluation & Education Policy at Indiana University and elected member of the National Academy of Education, told Newsweek: "A more useful number would be looking at this issue over time. Assuming that a given state has maintained its same graduation requirement, changes over time would give us some indication as to whether schools are performing better or worse." He added: "Students are more likely to successfully complete school if they attend a well-resourced school, and have suitable family, community and school support systems in place." Richard Murnane, a professor of education and society at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, told Newsweek: "States differ in how well they track high school graduation rates. The data comes from individual high schools. High schools have incentives to state that students who leave prior to graduation have 'transferred' to another school rather than state they have 'dropped out.' Some states check on the accuracy of the reports from individual schools much more carefully than other states do." Mavis Sanders, a senior research scholar of Black Children and Families at Child Trends, nonprofit, non-partisan research organization, told Newsweek: "Graduation rates are complex outcomes shaped by a variety of factors, including the availability of jobs and career opportunities for individuals without high school diplomas, graduation requirements which differ by state, as well as specific supports and pathways to graduation—such as those implemented in states like Tennessee." She added: "Graduation rates also vary significantly across student groups and are influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, and English language proficiency. As such, graduation rates reflect broader issues of educational access and opportunity."
Boston Globe
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Condition of Education report postponed: insights into the delay
Advertisement The Education Department did not respond to email questions about the reasons for not meeting the deadline. But several former department employees, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said that outside contractors do most of the work to produce the report and those contracts were Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'The Condition of Education is a herculean effort every year that requires so many people at NCES to coordinate and prepare for Congress,' said Stephen Provasnik, a deputy commissioner of NCES who retired in January. 'We've never missed a deadline before. But NCES has never had only Advertisement The NCES produces a wide array of statistics on students and teachers throughout the year. The Condition of Education bundles all of these tables together with explanations, charts and figures so that the public can understand trends, such as how the demographics of students have changed over time. Educators, researchers and policymakers use the report as a reference manual, akin to a corporate annual report. The tables that would have been assembled for this year's report were largely produced before President Donald Trump took office. Going forward, however, fewer data tables are expected to be produced because separate contracts for a range of data collections were also terminated in February. Some of those data collections have been restarted, but with less funding. Three contractors were supposed to have helped produce the Condition of Education: Committee staff for Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, did not reply to emails asking for a comment on the Education Department's failure to meet its statutory obligations. Advertisement This story about the was written by Jill Barshay and produced by , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for and other .
Forbes
05-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
Education Success: How To Successfully Graduate
Graduating is not just a milestone—it is a mission. Whether you are returning to school mid-career, picking up your education after years away, or navigating college for the first time, the road to graduation is rarely a straight line. Success is not driven by talent alone, nor by sheer willpower in isolation. It requires a thoughtful blend of strategy, structure, and support. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), adult learners, first-generation college students, and individuals juggling work and education often need tailored strategies and dedicated institutional support to stay on track and complete their degrees. This makes it clear: effective graduation planning must account for real-life responsibilities and provide students with systems that support—not just expect—success. This article outlines the core practices that help learners stay the course and cross the finish line with confidence. According to a 2024 survey published in Higher Ed Dive, students often don't leave college due to a lack of intelligence or motivation. This research shows that Financial hardship (86%), emotional or mental stress (80%), family or job responsibilities (73%), health issues (66%), misalignment of courses with career goals (65%), lack of belonging or campus engagement (65%), technology challenges (59%), and inconsistent campus support (57%) are among the top factors impacting students' ability to persist in higher education. These factors, combined with emotional burdens like burnout or imposter syndrome, can make it exceedingly difficult for students to persist in their academic journeys. But here is the thing: the students who do finish often have something powerful in common, they know why they are doing this. As per the research by Tope et al. (2020), students who utilize effective coping strategies, including mindfulness and emotional regulation, tend to develop greater academic resilience, which supports improved academic performance and helps them overcome challenges more successfully. Not just vaguely. Not just 'to get a better job.' Their why is personal, urgent, and emotionally anchored. It is what keeps them going when motivation runs dry and life throws curveballs. So before diving into study strategies and time hacks, take a moment to reflect on these three questions: Write down your answers. Keep them on your phone, post them on your wall, or even turn them into a screensaver. When midterms get rough or you feel like giving up, return to your 'why.' Let it speak louder than your doubts. Every winning team needs a playbook. Your graduation game plan should include: Grit is the ability to keep pushing forward when things get tough—and they will. Deadlines, unexpected life events, or a disappointing grade can shake your confidence. What makes the difference? Resilience. To build grit, break down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, celebrate small wins along the way, and regularly reflect, adjust your approach, and keep moving forward. Angela Duckworth's research on grit shows that perseverance, not talent, is the key predictor of long-term success. She suggests that grit may be even more crucial than intelligence, as students who cultivate grit tend to recover more effectively and come back stronger after facing setbacks. Seek Resources Before Crisis Hits Do not wait until you are overwhelmed to seek help. Most colleges provide a variety of support services aimed at helping students succeed, such as tutoring and writing centers, mental health counseling, financial aid advising, and faculty office hours. Accessing these resources early demonstrates proactive commitment to your education and is a smart strategy for graduation—not a sign of weakness. As Gray and Swanston explain in their Forbes article, colleges typically offer a comprehensive range of services, including libraries, tutoring services, writing centers, mental health services and medical care. that support students throughout their academic journey. Align Your Environment With Your Goal Your physical and digital surroundings play a crucial role in your success. Create a dedicated study space free from distractions, limit screen time during critical focus periods, and use apps like Forest or Freedom to block distractions. As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, reminds us, quoted in Homayun's Forbes article, 'You do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.' In other words, the habits you develop and the environment you create ultimately determine your success. Graduation Day getty Finally, hold a mental picture of your graduation day. Picture the gown, the applause, the sense of achievement. This vision anchors your 'why' and re-energizes you in tough moments. Graduating is not an accident. It is the result of purpose, planning, perseverance—and people. Whether you are juggling work, raising a family, or simply navigating a challenging curriculum, you can graduate. The key lies in doing it deliberately. With a clear mind, the right habits, and a supportive circle, your path to the finish line is not only possible—it is inevitable.
Miami Herald
04-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Education Department misses key deadline for delivering statistics report
UPDATE: After this story was published, the Education Department updated its website late Monday afternoon, June 2, explaining that the new Report on the Condition of Education would no longer be a 'singular report' and instead update indicators on a rolling basis. The department published a sparse Part I highlights report on five topics. For nearly 160 years, the federal government has been producing a statistical report on the condition and progress of education. In 2002, as part of the Education Sciences Reform Act, Congress gave the Education Department an annual deadline for that report: June 1. But no "Report on the Condition of Education" was delivered by June 1 of this year, the first time the Education Department has failed to meet this statutory obligation. The Education Department did not respond to email questions about the reasons for not meeting the deadline. But several former department employees, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, said that outside contractors do most of the work to produce the report and those contracts were canceled in February by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Then, in March, Education Department employees who work on the report within the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) were fired as part of mass staff reductions. There was no one left - inside or outside the department - to do the work. Related: Our free weekly newsletter alerts you to what research says about schools and classrooms. "The Condition of Education is a herculean effort every year that requires so many people at NCES to coordinate and prepare for Congress," said Stephen Provasnik, a deputy commissioner of NCES who retired in January. "We've never missed a deadline before. But NCES has never had only three staff since the 1860s," he added, referring to its predecessor statistics office. The NCES produces a wide array of statistics on students and teachers throughout the year. The Condition of Education bundles all of these tables together with explanations, charts and figures so that the public can understand trends, such as how the demographics of students have changed over time. Educators, researchers and policymakers use the report as a reference manual, akin to a corporate annual report. The tables that would have been assembled for this year's report were largely produced before President Donald Trump took office. Related: DOGE's death blow to education studies Going forward, however, fewer data tables are expected to be produced because separate contracts for a range of data collections were also terminated in February. Some of those data collections have been restarted, but with less funding. Three contractors were supposed to have helped produce the Condition of Education: Research Triangle Institute (RTI), Manhattan Strategy Group and Optimal Solutions. A federal website that tracks federal contracts shows that "other administrative action" occurred on May 28 on the Manhattan Strategy Group and Optimal Solutions contracts, but it is unclear what those actions were. Committee staff for Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, did not reply to emails asking for a comment on the Education Department's failure to meet its statutory obligations. Contact staff writer Jill Barshay at 212-678-3595, jillbarshay.35 on Signal, or barshay@ This story about the Condition of Education report was written by Jill Barshay and produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for Proof Points and other Hechinger newsletters. The post Education Department misses key deadline for delivering statistics report appeared first on The Hechinger Report.
