Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Pupil-Teacher Ratios, 1955-2021

Updated July 8, 2021 | Infoplease Staff

Teachers to students

Here's a look at the student-teacher ratio of public and private high schools in the United States. The table covers from 1955 to the most recent data that is available.

Year Total Public Private
1955 27.4 26.9 31.71
1960 26.4 25.8 30.71
1965 25.1 24.7 28.3
1970 22.4 22.3 23.0
1980 18.6 18.7 17.7
1985 17.6 17.9 16.2
1990 16.9 17.2 14.71
1995 17.0 17.3 14.9
2000 16.0 16.0 15.81
2005 15.4 15.6 13.5
2010 15.5 16.0 12.5
2015 15.6 16.0 12.5
2020 15.5 15.9 12.1
 
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics.
School Enrollment and Educational Attainment
School Enrollment and Educational Attainment
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