What share of students in Vermont are proficient in math?

In 2024, 29% of eighth graders in Vermont public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC) and 29% in reading, compared with 38% and 40% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Vermont, United States: official figures

82.8% of public high school students in Vermont graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 11th lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

82.8%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

213

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

276

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$28,818

FY2024

Public school enrollment

82,455

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

45.1%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Vermont rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Vermont was 82.8% in 2021-22, compared with 88% in 2011-12 and 84.5% 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 Vermont?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Vermont was 75.0% for economically disadvantaged students, 70.0% for students with disabilities and 63.0% 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 Vermont?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Vermont was 73.0% for Black, 83.0% for Hispanic and 83.4% 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 Vermont score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Vermont averaged 213 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 20th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 222 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 31% scored at or above Proficient and 42% below Basic.

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

How do students in Vermont score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Vermont averaged 257 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 24th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 268 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 33% below Basic.

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

How do students in Vermont score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Vermont averaged 235 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 239 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 36% 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 Vermont score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Vermont 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 287 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 29% scored at or above Proficient and 36% below Basic.

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

How much does Vermont spend per student?

Public school systems in Vermont spent $28,818 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 3rd 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 Vermont going up?

Current spending per pupil in Vermont rose from $20,315 in fiscal 2019 to $28,818 in fiscal 2024, up 41.9% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 9.4%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Vermont spend school money on?

Of the $28,818 spent per pupil in Vermont in fiscal 2024, $15,895 went on instruction and $11,877 on support services; salaries and wages came to $14,614 per pupil and employee benefits $8,571.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Vermont come from?

Public school systems in Vermont received $2.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 10.4% from the federal government, 87.0% from the state and 2.6% 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 Vermont spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Vermont was $2.7 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $2.5 billion was current spending and $170.47 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $492.79 million in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Vermont?

82,455 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Vermont in fall 2023, down 5.0% on fall 2019 (86,759) and down 7.0% 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 Vermont?

Public schools in Vermont had 7,934 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 10.5 pupils per teacher, the fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Vermont in fall 2019: 10.8).

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

What percentage of people in Vermont have a college degree?

45.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Vermont, about 214,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 4th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 0.7 percentage points on 2021 (44.4%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Vermont have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 19.2% of adults 25 and over in Vermont had a graduate or professional degree and 8.7% 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 Vermont did not finish high school?

94.7% of adults 25 and over in Vermont had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 5.3% without one; that share is 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Vermont compares with other states

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

Vermont ranks 39 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)
36	Minnesota	83.6%
37	Rhode Island	83.3%
38	Louisiana	83.1%
39	Vermont	82.8%
40	Colorado	82.3%
41	South Dakota	82.1%
42	Wyoming	81.8%

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

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Vermont ranks 37 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
34	South Carolina	76.4%
35	Montana	76.4%
36	Rhode Island	75.7%
37	Vermont	75.0%
38	Arizona	73.3%
39	New Hampshire	73.3%
40	Colorado	71.9%

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

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Vermont ranks 36 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
33	Alabama	213
34	Nevada	213
35	Kansas	213
36	Vermont	213
37	California	212
38	Texas	212
39	Missouri	212

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

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Vermont ranks 28 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
25	Louisiana	257
26	Hawaii	257
27	North Dakota	257
28	Vermont	257
29	Virginia	256
30	Nebraska	256
31	North Carolina	255

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

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Vermont ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
34	Michigan	235
35	Missouri	235
36	Louisiana	235
37	Vermont	235
38	New York	234
39	Maryland	234
40	California	233

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

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Vermont ranks 21 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
18	Pennsylvania	276
19	North Carolina	276
20	Tennessee	276
21	Vermont	276
22	Virginia	275
23	Iowa	275
24	Washington	274

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

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

Vermont ranks 23 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
20	Washington	29.5%
21	North Dakota	29.5%
22	Virginia	28.5%
23	Vermont	28.5%
24	Iowa	27.2%
25	Kansas	26.3%
26	New York	26.2%

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

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Vermont ranks 17 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
14	Alabama	42.4%
15	Nebraska	42.2%
16	Missouri	42.1%
17	Vermont	41.8%
18	North Carolina	41.7%
19	Virginia	41.5%
20	Nevada	41.4%

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

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Vermont ranks 3 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
1	New York	$31,918
2	District of Columbia	$31,529
3	Vermont	$28,818
4	New Jersey	$27,234
5	Connecticut	$26,316
6	Massachusetts	$24,429
7	Hawaii	$23,878

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Vermont ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
5	Oregon	+45.2%
6	Colorado	+44.2%
7	Michigan	+43.6%
8	Vermont	+41.9%
9	Utah	+41.6%
10	Georgia	+41.0%
11	District of Columbia	+39.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Vermont ranks 50 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
45	Alaska	23.8%
46	Idaho	20.9%
47	New Mexico	16.7%
48	Nevada	16.3%
49	Arkansas	16.0%
50	Vermont	2.6%
51	Hawaii	1.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Vermont ranks 51 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
45	New Jersey	11.8
46	New York	11.7
47	Connecticut	11.7
48	New Hampshire	11.5
49	Maine	11.4
50	District of Columbia	11.3
51	Vermont	10.5

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)

Vermont ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
38	Wisconsin	-4.8%
39	Illinois	-5.0%
40	Kentucky	-5.0%
41	Vermont	-5.0%
42	California	-5.2%
43	Colorado	-5.2%
44	Rhode Island	-5.2%

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)

Vermont ranks 4 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
1	District of Columbia	65.5%
2	Massachusetts	48.3%
3	Colorado	47.8%
4	Vermont	45.1%
5	Maryland	44.7%
6	New Jersey	44.5%
7	Virginia	43.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

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

Vermont ranks 49 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
45	North Dakota	5.9%
46	Minnesota	5.8%
47	Wyoming	5.6%
48	Montana	5.4%
49	Vermont	5.3%
50	Maine	5.2%
51	New Hampshire	5.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Vermont: 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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