Racial and ethnic makeup of public schools:

 1972: 78 percent white, 15 percent black, 6 percent Hispanic, 1 percent other

 2005: 57.1 percent white, 17.2 percent black, 19.8 percent Hispanic, 5.8 percent other

Public school enrollment in pre-kindergarten through grade 12:

 1997: 46.1 million

 2007: 49.6 million (x)

Private school enrollment in kindergarten through grade 12:

 1997: 5.9 million

 2007: 6.2 million (x)

Percentage of fourth-graders, by race and ethnicity, attending highest poverty schools:

 White: 5 percent

 Asian: 16 percent

 American Indian: 36 percent

 Black: 48 percent

 Hispanic: 49 percent

Percentage of 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds enrolled in school:

 1965: 10 percent

 2006: 66 percent

Children ages 3-5 who were read to by family member at least three times in past week:

 1993: 78.3 percent

 2005: 85.7 percent

Students in grades 9-12 who reported carrying a weapon in the last 30 days:

 1993: 22.1 percent

 2005: 19 percent

Percentage of children ages 5-17 who spoke a language other than English at home:

 1979: 8.5 percent

 2006: 20.3 percent

Number of children with disabilities receiving special education:

 1977: 3.7 million

 2007: 6.7 million

Percentage of students who can handle rigorous material at their grade level, 2007:

 Fourth-grade math: 39 percent

 Eighth-grade math: 32 percent

 Fourth-grade reading: 33 percent

 Eighth-grade reading: 31 percent

How people say the U.S. is doing in education against other countries:

 Getting ahead: 4 percent

 Just keeping up: 44 percent

 Falling behind: 50 percent

What people say is the best way to measure student achievement:

 Test scores: 28 percent

 Classroom work and homework: 70 percent

What people say about teacher pay:

 Should be based at least in part on student performance, 61 percent

 Should not be based in any way on student performance, 37 percent

Percentage of population 25 and older achieving various educational levels, 2006:

 Less than high school degree: 14.3 percent

 High school graduate: 32 percent

 Some college: 17 percent

 Associate's degree: 8.6 percent

 Bachelor's degree: 18.9 percent

 Advanced degree: 9.8 percent

Median yearly earnings of full-time workers 18 and older in 2005:

 Less than high school degree: $21,943

 High school diploma or equivalent: $30,587

 Some college experience: $35,317

 Bachelor's degree or higher: $55,188

Average salaries of teachers in public schools:

 2000: $41,807

 2003: $45,776

 2005: $47,750

 2006: $49,026

Sources of public spending on schools, 2006:

 Federal: 9.0 percent

 States: 46.6 percent

 Local: 44.4 percent

 Total spending: $521.1 billion

Spending per student, 2006

 National average: $9,138

 New York (highest): $14,884

 Utah (lowest): $5,437

Total enrollment in two-year and four-year colleges:

 1991: 14.4 million

 2000: 15.3 million

 2005: 17.5 million

 2008: 18.3 million (x)

Percentage of full-time college students who have received loans:

 1997: 53 percent

 2007: 52 percent

Average salaries for all ranks of college professors, 2007:

 Public schools: $71,362

 Private schools: $84,249

  

Sources: AP-Knowledge Networks Poll, Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center for Education Statistics, College Board, American Association of University Professors.'