What share of students in Pennsylvania are proficient in math?

In 2024, 31% of eighth graders in Pennsylvania public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (15th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 31% in reading, compared with 39% and 35% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Pennsylvania, United States: official figures

87.0% of public high school students in Pennsylvania graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 22nd highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

87.0%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

276

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$21,091

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,692,829

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

36.4%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Pennsylvania rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Pennsylvania was 87.0% in 2021-22, compared with 84% in 2011-12 and 86.5% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Pennsylvania?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Pennsylvania was 80.1% for economically disadvantaged students, 73.6% for students with disabilities and 67.5% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Pennsylvania?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Pennsylvania was 77.0% for Black, 76.0% for Hispanic and 91.1% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Pennsylvania score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Pennsylvania averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 223 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 33% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Pennsylvania score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Pennsylvania averaged 259 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 17th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 264 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 31% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Pennsylvania score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Pennsylvania averaged 238 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 244 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 41% scored at or above Proficient and 25% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Pennsylvania score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Pennsylvania averaged 276 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 285 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 37% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Pennsylvania spend per student?

Public school systems in Pennsylvania spent $21,091 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 12th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Pennsylvania going up?

Current spending per pupil in Pennsylvania rose from $16,864 in fiscal 2019 to $21,091 in fiscal 2024, up 25.1% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 5.2%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Pennsylvania spend school money on?

Of the $21,091 spent per pupil in Pennsylvania in fiscal 2024, $12,628 went on instruction and $7,672 on support services; salaries and wages came to $10,145 per pupil and employee benefits $6,609.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Pennsylvania come from?

Public school systems in Pennsylvania received $41.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 10.1% from the federal government, 37.5% from the state and 52.4% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Pennsylvania spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Pennsylvania was $40.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $35.9 billion was current spending and $3.4 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $25.6 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Pennsylvania?

1,692,829 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Pennsylvania in fall 2023, down 2.3% on fall 2019 (1,732,449) and down 3.6% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Pennsylvania?

Public schools in Pennsylvania had 127,037 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.3 pupils per teacher, 16th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Pennsylvania in fall 2019: 13.9).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Pennsylvania have a college degree?

36.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Pennsylvania, about 3,370,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 21st highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.9 percentage points on 2021 (34.5%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Pennsylvania have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 15.1% of adults 25 and over in Pennsylvania had a graduate or professional degree and 8.9% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Pennsylvania did not finish high school?

92.4% of adults 25 and over in Pennsylvania had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 7.6% without one; that share is 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Pennsylvania compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Pennsylvania ranks 23 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
20	Illinois	87.3%
21	Nebraska	87.1%
22	California	87.0%
23	Pennsylvania	87.0%
24	New York	86.7%
25	North Carolina	86.4%
26	Maryland	86.3%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Pennsylvania ranks 22 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
19	Wisconsin	81.4%
20	Delaware	81.0%
21	Oregon	80.7%
22	Pennsylvania	80.1%
23	Illinois	80.0%
24	North Carolina	79.5%
25	Nebraska	79.0%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
10	Florida	218
11	Kentucky	218
12	Montana	217
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
14	Minnesota	260
15	South Dakota	260
16	Wyoming	260
17	Pennsylvania	259
18	Georgia	259
19	Washington	259
20	Tennessee	259

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 20 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
17	Connecticut	239
18	Mississippi	239
19	Hawaii	239
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238
22	Washington	238
23	South Carolina	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
15	Wyoming	278
16	Illinois	277
17	Connecticut	277
18	Pennsylvania	276
19	North Carolina	276
20	Tennessee	276
21	Vermont	276

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 15 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
12	New Hampshire	32.0%
13	Connecticut	31.9%
14	North Carolina	31.5%
15	Pennsylvania	31.4%
16	Idaho	30.9%
17	Indiana	30.8%
18	Tennessee	30.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
36	Idaho	38.6%
37	North Dakota	38.4%
38	Ohio	38.2%
39	Pennsylvania	37.8%
40	Montana	37.8%
41	Kentucky	37.7%
42	Florida	37.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
9	Delaware	$22,201
10	Rhode Island	$22,110
11	Illinois	$21,776
12	Pennsylvania	$21,091
13	Alaska	$21,004
14	California	$20,791
15	Wyoming	$20,521

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 46 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
43	Wisconsin	+26.6%
44	South Dakota	+26.5%
45	Wyoming	+25.9%
46	Pennsylvania	+25.1%
47	Connecticut	+23.5%
48	North Dakota	+22.1%
49	Iowa	+20.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
6	Colorado	54.8%
7	Missouri	53.7%
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%
12	New York	50.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Pennsylvania ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
33	Montana	13.7
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5
36	Pennsylvania	13.3
37	Mississippi	13.0
38	Kansas	12.9
39	Missouri	12.8

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Pennsylvania ranks 26 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
23	Missouri	-2.1%
24	Maryland	-2.1%
25	Connecticut	-2.1%
26	Pennsylvania	-2.3%
27	Arkansas	-2.4%
28	Minnesota	-2.6%
29	Virginia	-2.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 21 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
18	Hawaii	37.8%
19	North Carolina	37.1%
20	Maine	37.1%
21	Pennsylvania	36.4%
22	Georgia	36.3%
23	Montana	36.3%
24	Kansas	36.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Pennsylvania ranks 35 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
32	Michigan	7.8%
33	Washington	7.7%
34	Oregon	7.7%
35	Pennsylvania	7.6%
36	Idaho	7.5%
37	Nebraska	7.4%
38	Iowa	7.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Pennsylvania: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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