UNITED STATES DEPT. OF COMMERCE
August 18, 1997 CB97-FS.08 MEMORANDUM FOR Reporters, Editors, News Directors From: LaVerne Vines Collins Chief, Public Information Office Subject: Back-to-School Facts Each month, we plan to provide previously released facts pertaining to selected events or holidays occurring that month. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office (Tel: 301-457-3030; Fax: 301-457-3670; E-mail: pio@census.gov). Census Back to School Facts Nursery school - About 4.4 million of the nation's children were enrolled in nursery school in October 1995. This translates to nearly half (45 percent) of 3- and 4-year-olds, considerably higher than the one-tenth enrolled in 1968. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - More than half of nursery school enrollment (54 percent) was in private school. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - Nursery school enrollment rates for children aged 3 and 4 were highest for those in families with incomes of $40,000 or more (59 percent). Public programs such as Head Start enabled 34 percent of those in low-income families (under $20,000) to attend, as 27 percent attended public schools and 7 percent private. The chart below illustrates how children's nursery school attendance also is linked to their mother's level of education and labor-force status. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html Percent of 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in nursery school, by mother's level of education and labor-force status: October 1995 Education Labor Force Status Not a high school graduate 26% Not in labor force 40% High school graduate 38% In labor force 48% Some college 51% Bachelor's degree or higher 62% http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html Kindergarten - Forty-one percent of the nation's families, or nearly 30 million, had at least one child aged 5 to 17 enrolled in kindergarten, elementary school or high school in October 1995. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - About 4 million children attended kindergarten in October 1995. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html Elementary school - About 32 million children were enrolled in elementary school (grades 1-8) in October 1995--not significantly different from 1994 but nearly 5 million more than a decade earlier. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - Eleven percent of elementary students attended a private school, down from 15 percent in 1963. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html High school - By 1995, about 15 million students were enrolled in high school, roughly 300,000 more than in 1994. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - Eight percent of high school students attended private schools, down from 10 percent in 1963. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - One-third (33 percent) of 15-to-17 year-olds were enrolled below the appropriate grade level for their age in October 1995, up from 23 percent in 1980. Of enrolled 16 year olds, 60 percent were in their junior year of high school but 27 percent were in their sophomore year and 5 percent were freshmen. On the other hand, 7 percent were above the appropriate grade level: they were seniors. (Fewer than 1 percent were in their first year of college.) The percentages for freshman and seniors were not statistically different. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - Many high school students held down a job during the school year: more than a quarter (26 percent) aged 15 and over were employed and 3 percent worked full time in October 1995. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - During the year beginning October 1994, 5 percent of all high school students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades dropped out of school. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - The dropout pool (persons not enrolled and not high school graduates) of young adults 18 to 24 years old totaled 3.5 million in October 1995--14 percent of this age group. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html College - Just over 43 percent of persons aged 18 to 21 were enrolled in college in October 1995. The same was true for 23 percent of 22 to 24 years-olds, 11 percent of 25-29 year-olds, 6 percent of 30-34 year-olds, and 2 percent of those aged 35 or more. This added up to 14.7 million college students. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - Six million college students, or 41 percent, were 25 years old and over; of this number, 2.7 million, or 18 percent of all college students, were aged 35 or older. About 1.7 million students in the 35 plus age group were undergrads. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - More than half of college students (54 percent) were women. Women constituted an even larger share (58 percent) of students 25 and over. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - A total of 12 million persons were undergrads: of these, 8.1 million were enrolled in 4-year colleges and 3.9 million attended 2-year colleges. Among those in 4-year colleges or universities, 3 in 4 attended a public school. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - About 2.7 million persons attended graduate school. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html - About 6 in 10 college students (62 percent) worked: 32 percent full time, 30 percent part time. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-80.html The Rewards of Heading Back to School 1995 Mean Money Earnings by Educational Attainment and Sex for Year-Round, Full-Time Workers Ages 18 and Over Both sexes Men Women Not high school graduate $20,442 $22,454 $16,049 High school graduates $27,038 $31,063 $21,298 Some college, no degree $31,128 $36,546 $23,750 Associate degree $33,425 $37,628 $28,510 Bachelor's degree $44,523 $51,998 $33,665 Master's degree $55,384 $64,544 $41,676 Doctorate degree $72,099 $77,815 $55,041 Professional degree $98,197 $111,654 $59,793 http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/cb97-122.html
