California Education Statistics 2026: Schools, Enrollment & Spending
California reported 5,731,260 public TK/K–12 students in 2025–26 across 9,947 public school sites and 1,011 school districts. Enrollment counts are based on CDE Census Day reporting.
Spending figures use separate official measures: California’s FY2025–26 state budget funding levels, CDE current expense methodology, and U.S. Census FY2024 school finance tables. These measures should not be treated as interchangeable.
California Education Snapshot
Main statewide indicators use the most recent California Department of Education releases available for 2026 publication.
California Enrollment by Grade, 2025–26
CDE Census Day student counts by grade level, including separate Transitional Kindergarten reporting.
Grade 12 is the largest single grade count at 477,960 students. Transitional Kindergarten reached 213,313 students after another year of expansion.
Chart analysis
- Grade 12 has the largest 2025–26 count at 477,960 students.
- Transitional Kindergarten increased to 213,313 students.
- Grades 6–8 together total 1,300,186 students.
- Grades 9–12 together total 1,851,185 students.
- Counts are Census Day enrollment counts, not average daily attendance.
Full California Enrollment Table by Grade
Annual TK/K–12 enrollment by grade, with one-year percentage changes from 2023–24 through 2025–26.
| Grade | Schools | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 | 2023–24 to 2024–25 | 2024–25 to 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional Kindergarten | 5,652 | 151,491 | 177,570 | 213,313 | 17.2% | 20.1% |
| Kindergarten | 6,130 | 370,750 | 365,002 | 355,391 | -1.6% | -2.6% |
| Grade 1 | 6,167 | 396,408 | 384,822 | 376,393 | -2.9% | -2.2% |
| Grade 2 | 6,183 | 414,486 | 402,871 | 387,083 | -2.8% | -3.9% |
| Grade 3 | 6,187 | 416,362 | 419,608 | 404,454 | 0.8% | -3.6% |
| Grade 4 | 6,192 | 426,194 | 421,232 | 420,756 | -1.2% | -0.1% |
| Grade 5 | 6,203 | 430,596 | 430,679 | 422,499 | 0.0% | -1.9% |
| Grade 6 | 4,564 | 433,670 | 431,899 | 428,672 | -0.4% | -0.7% |
| Grade 7 | 3,120 | 440,688 | 437,475 | 432,565 | -0.7% | -1.1% |
| Grade 8 | 3,194 | 443,063 | 444,760 | 438,949 | 0.4% | -1.3% |
| Grade 9 | 2,183 | 466,915 | 474,921 | 462,206 | 1.7% | -2.7% |
| Grade 10 | 2,392 | 477,313 | 462,072 | 465,089 | -3.2% | 0.7% |
| Grade 11 | 2,527 | 470,608 | 465,015 | 445,930 | -1.2% | -4.1% |
| Grade 12 | 2,576 | 499,146 | 488,295 | 477,960 | -2.2% | -2.1% |
| Total | 9,947 | 5,837,690 | 5,806,221 | 5,731,260 | -0.5% | -1.3% |
Table analysis
- Total enrollment declined from 5,837,690 in 2023–24 to 5,731,260 in 2025–26.
- The one-year statewide decline was -1.3% from 2024–25 to 2025–26.
- Transitional Kindergarten had the largest one-year increase at 20.1%.
- Grade 11 had the largest one-year decline at -4.1%.
- Kindergarten through Grade 5 counts were lower in 2025–26 than in 2024–25 for every listed grade except Transitional Kindergarten.
- TK is reported as a separate grade beginning with the CDE’s newer CALPADS reporting structure.
Schools, Districts, Demographics, and Funding
Supporting tables separate school structure, charter enrollment, student group shares, and finance measures.
School Count by Type, 2025–26
Public school site counts by CDE school type.
Elementary schools make up the largest school type count with 5,841 reported sites.
Chart analysis
- Elementary schools account for the largest count at 5,841.
- High schools total 1,295.
- Intermediate/Middle schools total 1,245.
- Continuation schools total 417, more than alternative schools at 332.
California TK–12 Funding Indicators
Selected nominal funding levels from California’s FY2025–26 education budget materials.
Overall TK–12 funding is reported at $137.8 billion for FY2025–26, while Prop 98 TK–12 funding is $101.6 billion.
Budget analysis
- FY2025–26 overall TK–12 funding is $137.8B.
- FY2025–26 Prop 98 TK–12 funding is $101.6B.
- The Budget Act lists FY2024–25 Prop 98 TK–12 funding at $104.5B.
- EPA final revenue for FY2025–26 is listed at $14.719B.
- Budget funding is not the same measure as final audited current expenditure.
District Type Table
California district counts and enrollment by district type, 2025–26.
| District Type | Enrollment | Districts | Source Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unified | 3,885,780 | 345 | 2025–26 |
| Elementary | 1,157,200 | 515 | 2025–26 |
| High | 549,357 | 76 | 2025–26 |
| Other | 138,923 | 75 | 2025–26 |
| Total | 5,731,260 | 1,011 | 2025–26 |
Table analysis
- Unified districts enroll 3,885,780 students, the largest district-type enrollment total.
- Elementary districts have the largest district count at 515.
- California reports 1,011 public school districts in the 2025–26 district-type table.
Public Schools by Type
Enrollment and school counts by public school type. Rows with N/A school counts are reporting locations without unique school-site counts in this table.
| School Type | Enrollment | Schools | Count Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 2,725,662 | 5,841 | School sites counted |
| Kindergarten-12 | 333,741 | 374 | School sites counted |
| Intermediate/Middle | 844,290 | 1,245 | School sites counted |
| Junior High | 29,930 | 54 | School sites counted |
| High | 1,621,715 | 1,295 | School sites counted |
| Alternative | 81,833 | 332 | School sites counted |
| Continuation | 40,818 | 417 | School sites counted |
| Community Day | 2,101 | 119 | School sites counted |
| County Community | 12,913 | 72 | School sites counted |
| Juvenile Court | 2,211 | 47 | School sites counted |
| Opportunity Schools | 1,620 | 17 | School sites counted |
| Special Education | 19,864 | 134 | Includes State Special Schools |
| Other School Locations | 0 | 0 | No enrollment reported |
| District Offices | 5,917 | N/A | No unique school code |
| Non-Public Sectarian | 8,645 | N/A | No school-site count in table |
| Total | 5,731,260 | 9,947 | Total includes charter enrollment |
Table analysis
- Elementary schools report the largest enrollment count at 2,725,662.
- High schools report 1,621,715 students and 1,295 schools.
- The total reported school-site count is 9,947.
- District Offices and Non-Public Sectarian rows report enrollment but not school-site counts in the CDE table.
Charter Enrollment by School Type
CDE charter enrollment and charter school counts, 2025–26.
| Charter Type | Enrollment | Schools | Share of Charter Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary | 229,874 | 537 | 31.7% |
| K-12 | 307,609 | 331 | 42.4% |
| Intermediate/Middle | 48,992 | 117 | 6.8% |
| Junior High | 451 | 4 | 0.1% |
| High | 132,746 | 256 | 18.3% |
| Other | 5,974 | 18 | 0.8% |
| Total | 725,646 | 1,263 | 100.0% |
Table analysis
- K-12 charter schools enroll 307,609 students, the largest charter type total.
- Elementary charter schools have the largest school count at 537.
- Total charter enrollment is 725,646 students across 1,263 charter schools.
Student Race and Ethnicity Distribution
CDE statewide public-school student distribution, 2025–26.
| Student Group | Students | Share | Source Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American not Hispanic | 276,113 | 4.8% | 2025–26 |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 24,130 | 0.4% | 2025–26 |
| Asian | 588,419 | 10.3% | 2025–26 |
| Filipino | 126,911 | 2.2% | 2025–26 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,209,829 | 56.0% | 2025–26 |
| Pacific Islander | 22,692 | 0.4% | 2025–26 |
| White not Hispanic | 1,128,447 | 19.7% | 2025–26 |
| Two or More Races Not Hispanic | 280,475 | 4.9% | 2025–26 |
| None Reported | 74,244 | 1.3% | 2025–26 |
| Total | 5,731,260 | 100.0% | 2025–26 |
Table analysis
- Hispanic or Latino students total 3,209,829, or 56.0% of statewide enrollment.
- White not Hispanic students total 1,128,447, or 19.7%.
- Asian students total 588,419, or 10.3%.
- The “None Reported” category totals 74,244 students.
California Spending and Funding Measures
Finance rows use the reporting period and unit shown in the table. Budget funding, Census current spending, and CDE current expense methodology are separate measures.
| Finance Measure | Measure Type | Value | Related Unit | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall TK–12 education funding | Budget funding | $137.8B | $25,155 per pupil | FY2025–26 | California Budget Act |
| Prop 98 TK–12 funding | State and local guarantee | $101.6B | $18,534 per pupil | FY2025–26 | California Budget Act |
| Prop 98 TK–12 funding | Prior-year budget level | $104.5B | Not separately listed | FY2024–25 | California Budget Act |
| Prop 98 TK–12 funding | Prior-year budget level | $86.9B | Not separately listed | FY2023–24 | California Budget Act |
| Census current spending per pupil | Current operations | $20,791 per pupil | 5,274,265 students | FY2024 | U.S. Census school finance tables |
| LCFF statutory COLA | Funding rate | 2.30% | Formula rate | FY2025–26 | CDE funding rates |
| Education Protection Account final revenue | Revenue amount | $14.719B | 62.47675118% entitlement percentage at P-2 | FY2025–26 | CDE funding rates |
| Transitional Kindergarten add-on | Per ADA add-on | $5,545 per ADA | TK ADA | FY2025–26 | CDE funding rates |
Program analysis
- Overall FY2025–26 TK–12 funding is $137.8B, or $25,155 per pupil under the budget measure.
- FY2025–26 Prop 98 TK–12 funding is $101.6B, or $18,534 per pupil under the budget measure.
- U.S. Census FY2024 current spending per pupil for California is $20,791 using the Census school finance measure.
- The LCFF statutory COLA listed for FY2025–26 is 2.30%.
- The TK add-on rate is $5,545 per ADA.
- Budget funding per pupil and Census current spending per pupil use different definitions and periods.
What the California Data Shows
The analysis separates scale, enrollment movement, school structure, and finance definitions.
Enrollment Scale
California remains one of the largest public TK/K–12 systems in the country, with 5.731 million students in 2025–26. The count is a Census Day snapshot rather than an attendance average.
Recent Enrollment Movement
Total enrollment moved from 5.806 million in 2024–25 to 5.731 million in 2025–26, a reported one-year change of -1.3%.
TK Expansion Signal
Transitional Kindergarten increased 20.1% from 2024–25 to 2025–26. That row should be read with the CDE note that TK is now collected as a separate grade.
School Structure
Elementary schools account for the largest public school-site count, while unified districts enroll most students. Charter schools report 725,646 students across 1,263 charter schools.
Spending Definitions
The FY2025–26 Budget Act reports funding levels, while the U.S. Census FY2024 figure reports current spending per pupil. CDE current expense of education is a district-level ADA calculation.
Interpretation Limit
Enrollment and finance measures do not measure student outcomes by themselves. Spending values are nominal and are not adjusted here for California regional cost differences.
Source and Methodology
California Department of Education, Fingertip Facts on Education in California, 2025–26.
California Department of Education, Enrollment by Grade Comparison, 2023–24 through 2025–26.
CDE downloadable Census Day TK/K–12 enrollment files. Counts are annual Census Day counts from CALPADS Fall 1 reporting.
California Department of Education, Budget Act for 2025–26: Information.
California Department of Education, Funding Rates and Information, Fiscal Year 2025–26.
CDE Current Expense of Education and Per-pupil Spending pages define current expense per ADA and provide annual files.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data.
Enrollment tables use CDE Census Day counts. District and school counts use CDE CalEdFacts tables. Funding rows keep fiscal year, academic year, and source units separate. Dollar values are nominal and rounded for display. Percent shares in the charter table are calculated from the CDE charter enrollment total of 725,646 and rounded to one decimal place.
California education finance data uses several valid measures. Budget Act funding, Census current spending, and CDE current expense per ADA answer different questions. Enrollment counts are not ADA. Spending values are not adjusted for regional price differences, labor costs, district mix, student need, or local reporting differences.