What share of students in Texas are proficient in math?

In 2024, 24% of eighth graders in Texas public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 25% in reading, compared with 30% and 25% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Texas, United States: official figures

89.7% of public high school students in Texas graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 8th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

89.7%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

212

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

269

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$12,895

FY2024

Public school enrollment

5,532,518

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

35.2%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Texas rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Texas was 89.7% in 2021-22, compared with 88% in 2011-12 and 90.0% 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 Texas?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Texas was 86.4% for economically disadvantaged students, 79.1% for students with disabilities and 80.1% 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 Texas?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Texas was 85.6% for Black, 88.0% for Hispanic and 93.8% 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 Texas score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Texas averaged 212 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 15th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 216 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 28% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

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

How do students in Texas score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Texas averaged 252 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 8th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 256 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 25% scored at or above Proficient and 39% below Basic.

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

How do students in Texas score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Texas averaged 241 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 6th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 244 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 43% scored at or above Proficient and 21% below Basic.

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

How do students in Texas score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Texas averaged 269 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 280 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 24% scored at or above Proficient and 44% below Basic.

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

How much does Texas spend per student?

Public school systems in Texas spent $12,895 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 9th lowest 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 Texas going up?

Current spending per pupil in Texas rose from $9,827 in fiscal 2019 to $12,895 in fiscal 2024, up 31.2% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 4.8%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Texas spend school money on?

Of the $12,895 spent per pupil in Texas in fiscal 2024, $7,421 went on instruction and $4,831 on support services; salaries and wages came to $8,512 per pupil and employee benefits $1,594.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Texas come from?

Public school systems in Texas received $83.2 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 13.4% from the federal government, 35.8% from the state and 50.8% 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 Texas spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Texas was $91.5 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $66.4 billion was current spending and $17.3 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $135.2 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Texas?

5,532,518 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Texas in fall 2023, up 0.7% on fall 2019 (5,495,398) and up 7.4% 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 Texas?

Public schools in Texas had 373,332 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 14.8 pupils per teacher, 21st most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Texas in fall 2019: 15.1).

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

What percentage of people in Texas have a college degree?

35.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Texas, about 7,236,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 24th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.1 percentage points on 2021 (33.1%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Texas have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 13.1% of adults 25 and over in Texas had a graduate or professional degree and 7.6% 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 Texas did not finish high school?

86.7% of adults 25 and over in Texas had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 13.3% without one; that share is 2nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Texas compares with other states

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

Texas ranks 8 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)
5	Kentucky	90.1%
6	Iowa	89.9%
7	Missouri	89.8%
8	Texas	89.7%
9	Virginia	89.1%
10	Kansas	89.1%
11	Connecticut	88.9%

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

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Texas ranks 3 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
1	Mississippi	90.3%
2	Kentucky	88.4%
3	Texas	86.4%
4	Arkansas	85.4%
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%

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

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Texas ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
35	Kansas	213
36	Vermont	213
37	California	212
38	Texas	212
39	Missouri	212
40	Nebraska	212
41	Arkansas	210

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

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Texas ranks 44 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
41	Florida	253
42	Nevada	253
43	Mississippi	253
44	Texas	252
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250
47	Oklahoma	249

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

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Texas ranks 6 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
3	Wyoming	243
4	Utah	242
5	New Hampshire	242
6	Texas	241
7	Minnesota	241
8	North Dakota	241
9	New Jersey	240

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

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Texas ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
32	Hawaii	270
33	Rhode Island	270
34	California	269
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269
38	Maryland	268

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

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

Texas ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
31	Maine	24.5%
32	Kentucky	24.3%
33	Michigan	23.9%
34	Texas	23.7%
35	Georgia	23.7%
36	South Carolina	23.7%
37	Oregon	23.7%

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

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Texas ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
10	Maine	44.5%
11	Arkansas	43.8%
12	California	43.7%
13	Texas	42.9%
14	Alabama	42.4%
15	Nebraska	42.2%
16	Missouri	42.1%

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

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Texas ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
40	Alabama	$13,627
41	Indiana	$13,622
42	North Carolina	$12,995
43	Texas	$12,895
44	Tennessee	$12,882
45	South Dakota	$12,828
46	Florida	$12,693

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Texas ranks 30 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
27	North Carolina	+31.8%
28	Florida	+31.6%
29	New Hampshire	+31.6%
30	Texas	+31.2%
31	Indiana	+31.0%
32	Washington	+30.5%
33	Tennessee	+30.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Texas ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%
12	New York	50.9%
13	Texas	50.8%
14	South Dakota	49.9%
15	Virginia	48.9%
16	Georgia	48.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Texas ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
18	North Carolina	15.4
19	Tennessee	15.3
20	Kentucky	15.3
21	Texas	14.8
22	New Mexico	14.6
23	Georgia	14.4
24	Maryland	14.3

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)

Texas ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
5	South Dakota	+1.1%
6	South Carolina	+0.9%
7	Utah	+0.8%
8	Texas	+0.7%
9	Alabama	+0.6%
10	Florida	+0.5%
11	Louisiana	-0.3%

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)

Texas ranks 28 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
25	Delaware	36.0%
26	Florida	35.8%
27	Nebraska	35.4%
28	Texas	35.2%
29	Arizona	34.7%
30	Wisconsin	34.6%
31	South Dakota	34.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Texas ranks 2 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
1	California	15.2%
2	Texas	13.3%
3	Nevada	12.3%
4	New Mexico	12.1%
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Texas: 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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