Future of American Education

A new report from The College Board recommends that at least 55 percent of young Americans earn a community college degree or higher by the year 2025 in order to maintain global competitiveness and leadership in education. Among the ten steps recommended to achieve this goal are to provide universally available preschool education; to keep college affordable; to clarify and simplify the admissions process; and to provide postsecondary opportunities as an essential element of adult education programs. High school graduation rates have fallen from about 77 percent in 1971 to 67 percent today. In recent years, American college completion rates have dropped from number two in the world for younger workers (age 25–34) to number eleven.

The College Board (2008). Coming to our sense: Education and the American future. New York, NY: The College Board. https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/advocacy/admissions21century/coming-to-our-senses-college-board-2008.pdf

Projections in Education

This report includes statistics on elementary and secondary schools and degree-granting institutions. Included are projections of enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures to the year 2017. This is the first edition of the Projections of Education Statistics to include projections of new teacher hires in public and private elementary and secondary schools. In addition to projections at the national level, the report includes projections of public elementary and secondary school enrollment and public high school graduates to the year 2017 at the state level.

Between 2006 and 2018, continued increases are expected in the number of degrees awarded to women at all levels Between 2005 and 2018, the number of doctoral degrees is projected to increase 27 percent overall.

Hussar, W. J., & Bailey, T. M. (2008). Projections of education statistics to 2017.Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, & U.S. Department of Education.