At the end of January, the Census Bureau released the results of its American Community Survey (ACS), a trove of data about several aspects of American life. This week, we take a look at the latest ACS estimates on K-12 school enrollment (ACS 1-year estimates for 2024) and compare them to the ACS estimates 10 years prior.
Across the United States, about 54.4 million children are enrolled in K-12 schooling. The vast majority, about 47.1 million, are enrolled in public school, with about 7.3 million enrolled in private school.
Compared to 2014, overall enrollment is a little higher, but there have been shifts in the balance of public and private school enrollment. In 2014, about 54.2 million children were enrolled in K-12 public schools. An even greater share, 48.7 million, were enrolled in public schools compared to 2024, with only 5.5 million enrolled in private schools.
Overall, K-12 school enrollment has grown by about 250,000 students, or about half a percentage point from 2014. The number enrolled in public schools has fallen by about 1.6 million, or three percentage points compared to 2014. The number enrolled in private school on the other hand, has grown by almost 2 million (1.8 million) or just over a third compared to 2014.
This data is certainly not the first to show shifts in public vs. private enrollment patterns over the last several years. But it does add to the sense that families are increasingly seeking more and different options when it comes to their child’s education. As projections show there will soon be simply fewer K-12 age students to go around, public and private schools will need to think more strategically about how they attract and retain students. A consistent, demonstrated focus on student outcomes would be a compelling start.
