Education (K-12) · 2024–25 school year
California Public Schools
Public K-12 education statistics for California — 5,789,934 students in 10,405 schools in 2024–25, with enrollment history back to 1986 and county-level detail from 2002.
| Statistic | Value | School year |
|---|---|---|
| Student enrollment | 5,789,934 | 2024–25 |
| Public schools | 10,405 | 2024–25 |
| Teachers (full-time equivalent) | 267,438 | 2024–25 |
| Pupil-teacher ratio | 21.6 | 2024–25 |
| Free/reduced-price lunch students | 62.9% | 2024–25 |
| School poverty rate (MEPS) | 14.0% | 2022–23 |
| Charter school enrollment | 12.5% | 2024–25 |
| High school graduation rate | 87.5% | 2024–25 |
| Math proficiency (of tested) | 33.1% | 2021–22 |
| Reading proficiency (of tested) | 46.7% | 2021–22 |
| Chronically absent students | 31.5% | 2021–22 |
| White students | 19.8% | 2024–25 |
| Black students | 4.8% | 2024–25 |
| Hispanic students | 56.0% | 2024–25 |
| Asian students | 12.3% | 2024–25 |
Not every statistic is collected every year — each row shows its most recent available school year (amber when older than 2024–25). Blank/absent means not collected or below reliability floors, never zero. Some universal-meals states no longer report free/reduced-price lunch — school poverty (MEPS) is the better lens there. A 0% charter share in a state without a charter-school law is a true zero.
California state report card
Outcomes reported directly by California’s education agency — often more current than the federal series above. Because each state uses its own tests, definitions, and reporting windows, these figures are not comparable state-to-state; each row notes how California measures it.
| Measure | Latest | Trend | School year |
|---|---|---|---|
College enrollment rate How California measures thisCollege-Going Rate, 12-month window: % of 2022-23 high school completers (CompleterType=TA, all completer types) enrolling in any postsecondary institution (in-state or out-of-state) within 12 months of completing; statewide row AggregateLevel=T, CharterSchool=All, AlternativeSchoolAccountabilityStatus=All, ReportingCategory=TA | 65.7% | 2022–23 | |
Dropout rate How California measures this4-year cohort dropout rate: members of the 4-year adjusted graduation cohort who dropped out, as % of the cohort (same denominator as ACGR); statewide row AggregateLevel=T, CharterSchool=All, DASS=All, ReportingCategory=TA | 8.0% | 2024–25 | |
Math proficiency (state test) How California measures thisCAASPP Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment Mathematics (Test ID 2), % Standard Met and Above (levels 3+4), All Grades combined (grade code 13 = grades 3-8 and 11); denominator = students tested with scores (Overall Total); statewide record County 00/District 00000, Student Group 001 All Students | 37.3% | 2024–25 | |
Reading / ELA proficiency (state test) How California measures thisCAASPP Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment ELA (Test ID 1), % Standard Met and Above (achievement levels 3+4), All Grades combined (grade code 13 = grades 3-8 and 11); denominator = students tested with scores (Overall Total); statewide record County 00/District 00000, Student Group 001 All Students | 48.8% | 2024–25 | |
Chronic absenteeism (recent) How California measures this% of students (TK/K-12) absent 10% or more of the days they were enrolled and expected to attend; denominator = chronic-absenteeism-eligible cumulative enrollment (full academic year eligibility rules per CDE, excludes students enrolled/expected <31 days per CDE definition of eligible enrollment); statewide row AggregateLevel=T, ReportingCategory=TA | 19.4% | 2024–25 |
Source: CaliforniaDepartment of Education (public reporting), 2026 collection. Not comparable across states — proficiency reflects different assessments and cut scores; graduation, dropout, and college-going use each state’s own cohort definitions and windows. Absent rows mean the state doesn’t publish that measure in a comparable file.
California schools by county
Students enrolled, 2024–25.
California schools — FAQ
How many students attend public school in California?+
5,789,934 students were enrolled in California's 10,405 public K-12 schools in the 2024–25 school year, taught by 267,438 full-time-equivalent teachers (NCES Common Core of Data).
What share of California students get free or reduced-price lunch?+
62.9% of California public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25 — a common proxy for student economic need.
What is California's high school graduation rate?+
87.5% of California's adjusted cohort graduated in the 2024–25 school year — reported by California's education agency (its 4-year ACGR, more current than the federal series, which lags to 2021–22). Graduation rates run from 2010–11 onward.
Where does this data come from?+
Core statistics (enrollment, schools, teachers, poverty, demographics) come from the National Center for Education Statistics — the Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Civil Rights Data Collection. The most recent graduation rates and the state report-card outcomes (proficiency, college-going, dropout, chronic absenteeism) come directly from state education agencies, which publish sooner than the federal series. Full source and license details are on the methodology page. pumsdata is independent and not affiliated with NCES or any state agency.
Other states
Data: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (CCD, EDFacts, CRDC) and ED Data Express, plus current-year graduation and report-card outcomes from state education agencies. Full source and license details on the methodology page.