Editor's Focus: A Look Ahead

Oct. 1, 2016

One of the more informative publications recently released is “Projections of Education Statistics to 2024,” which examines various issues key to education planners and administrators, including future looks at enrollment, grade breakouts, expenditures, and more.

Joe Agron Blog

The Fall season typically sees a variety of data released on education. For those whose business is education, this is a welcome time.

Of note, total enrollment in all levels of education (K-12 thru higher education) over the next nine years (Fall 2016-Fall 2024) will grow by more than 5 million students, or 7%. Total K-12 enrollment (public and private) will grow by approximately 3 million (5%) over this time. Higher education enrollment will see a much larger increase over this period, ballooning to 23.1 million in 2024 from 20.4 million in 2016 (13%), according to the report.

The South and West will see most of the growth in public elementary and secondary school enrollment over the next nine years (2016-2024), while the Northeast and Midwest will maintain basically stagnant enrollment during this time. The West is expected to experience a 9% jump in enrollment thru 2024 and the South a 7% increase.

Among the states that will experience the largest percentage growth in K-12 enrollment thru 2024 include Nevada, North Dakota, Arizona and Utah. The most significant percentage decreases in enrollment during this time are projected to be in West Virginia, Maine, Michigan, Connecticut and Ohio.

Pre-K thru grade 8 enrollment is projected to grow by approximately 7% during the 2016-2024 timeframe. Nevada and Arizona will have the greatest percentage increases in pre-K thru grade 8 enrollment thru 2024. West Virginia and Mississippi are projected to have the largest percentage decreases during that time.

Enrollment in grades 9 thru 12 is projected to grow by approximately 2% from now thru 2024. North Dakota and Utah will experience the largest percentage increases while New Hampshire and Connecticut will have the greatest percentage decreases.

Expenditures for public elementary and secondary schools are projected to increase 18% in constant dollars (adjusted for inflation) between the 2016 and the 2024 school years.

The full report can be read on the NCES website. And for more breakouts of this data, be sure to follow our Top 10 section.

About the Author

Joe Agron Blog | Editor-in-Chief and Associate Publisher

Joe Agron is the editor-in-chief/associate publisher of American School & University magazine. Joe has overseen AS&U's editorial direction for more than 30 years, and has helped influence and shape national school infrastructure issues. He has been sought out for comments by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, ABC News and CNN, and assisted with the introduction of the Education Infrastructure Act of 1994.

Joe also authors a number of industry-exclusive reports. His "Facilities Impact on Learning" series of special reports won national acclaim and helped bring the poor condition of the nation's schools to the attention of many in the U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education and the White House.