U.S. Public School Student Demographics by State 2026: Statistics & Charts
State public school systems differ in both enrollment scale and racial or ethnic composition. The detailed 51-jurisdiction race and ethnicity distribution is the NCES fall 2022 series; it is a historical reference, not a 2026 measurement. The later 2024–25 CCD state membership total is reported separately.
The core measures are total enrollment and the reported shares of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, White, and students of two or more races. English learner status, disability status, and economic disadvantage are separate, overlapping measures and are not added to these race and ethnicity shares.
National Student Group Profile
The race and ethnicity percentages use fall 2022. The current membership count below is labeled separately and must not be used as the denominator for those older percentages.
Fall 2022 Demographic Mix in the 15 Largest State School Systems
Each bar totals 100 percent. Systems are ordered by fall 2022 public school enrollment.
California and Texas are the two largest systems and both report Hispanic majorities. The full 51-jurisdiction comparison remains available in the HTML table.
Composition patterns in the largest systems
- Florida has a near-even split between Hispanic students at 36.4% and White students at 35.3%.
- Georgia reports Black students as its largest group at 36.4%, only 0.5 percentage points above the White share.
- Enrollment size and group share are separate measures; a lower state percentage can still represent more students in a large system.
2024–25 CCD Enrollment and Race/Ethnicity Records
A newer federal enrollment collection exists, but the state percentages below retain their own 2022 reference year.
2024–25 Public Membership
The NCES CCD 2024–25 State Nonfiscal Survey reports 49,269,882 public school students across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. This count is not the 2022 denominator used in the race and ethnicity tables below.
Seven-Category State Distribution
The 2024–25 CCD membership files contain grade, sex, and race/ethnicity counts. The historical 51-jurisdiction percentages have not been replaced without a complete state-level seven-category extraction from the newer files. The 2022 shares, school-system ordering, and majority labels therefore remain tied to fall 2022.
The 2024–25 state membership total follows the CCD State Nonfiscal Survey, while the 2022 proportions come from NCES Digest Table 203.70. The newer CCD state-level race/ethnicity tables are the relevant source for a full same-year replacement. Percentages from 2022 are not multiplied by 2024 enrollment to infer student counts.
Fall 2022 State Public School Demographic Shares
The table retains the seven NCES race and ethnicity categories and identifies the largest reported group in each jurisdiction for fall 2022. It is not a 2024–25 racial distribution.
| State | Enrollment | AIAN | Asian | Black | Hispanic | Pacific | White | Two+ | Largest group | Largest share | Majority status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 750,923 | 0.8% | 1.5% | 31.7% | 10.5% | 0.1% | 51.9% | 3.5% | White | 51.9% | White majority |
| Alaska | 130,723 | 21.6% | 5.0% | 2.3% | 7.5% | 3.1% | 47.2% | 13.4% | White | 47.2% | No single-group majority |
| Arizona | 1,132,223 | 4.2% | 3.1% | 5.7% | 47.6% | 0.4% | 34.9% | 4.2% | Hispanic | 47.6% | No single-group majority |
| Arkansas | 493,130 | 0.6% | 1.8% | 19.4% | 14.2% | 1.0% | 58.8% | 4.2% | White | 58.8% | White majority |
| California | 5,930,473 | 0.4% | 11.9% | 5.0% | 56.2% | 0.4% | 20.5% | 5.5% | Hispanic | 56.2% | Hispanic majority |
| Colorado | 870,871 | 0.6% | 3.3% | 4.6% | 35.3% | 0.3% | 50.8% | 5.1% | White | 50.8% | White majority |
| Connecticut | 513,513 | 0.3% | 5.2% | 12.6% | 30.0% | 0.1% | 47.4% | 4.5% | White | 47.4% | No single-group majority |
| Delaware | 141,465 | 0.4% | 4.3% | 30.5% | 19.0% | 0.2% | 40.5% | 5.2% | White | 40.5% | No single-group majority |
| District of Columbia | 91,001 | 0.1% | 1.5% | 64.1% | 17.8% | 0.1% | 13.2% | 3.3% | Black | 64.1% | Black majority |
| Florida | 2,870,527 | 0.2% | 2.8% | 20.9% | 36.4% | 0.2% | 35.3% | 4.1% | Hispanic | 36.4% | No single-group majority |
| Georgia | 1,750,972 | 0.2% | 4.7% | 36.4% | 18.1% | 0.1% | 35.9% | 4.6% | Black | 36.4% | No single-group majority |
| Hawaii | 170,209 | 0.1% | 24.6% | 1.3% | 18.3% | 25.6% | 11.2% | 18.8% | Pacific Islander | 25.6% | No single-group majority |
| Idaho | 317,555 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 19.3% | 0.3% | 73.8% | 3.4% | White | 73.8% | White majority |
| Illinois | 1,852,242 | 0.2% | 5.5% | 16.5% | 27.5% | 0.1% | 46.0% | 4.2% | White | 46.0% | No single-group majority |
| Indiana | 1,036,108 | 0.2% | 2.9% | 13.1% | 14.0% | 0.1% | 64.3% | 5.5% | White | 64.3% | White majority |
| Iowa | 511,297 | 0.3% | 2.5% | 6.8% | 12.5% | 0.6% | 72.5% | 4.9% | White | 72.5% | White majority |
| Kansas | 487,978 | 0.7% | 2.8% | 6.7% | 21.5% | 0.2% | 61.9% | 6.1% | White | 61.9% | White majority |
| Kentucky | 660,029 | 0.1% | 2.0% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 0.2% | 73.1% | 5.1% | White | 73.1% | White majority |
| Louisiana | 718,145 | 0.6% | 1.6% | 41.6% | 10.6% | 0.1% | 42.0% | 3.5% | White | 42.0% | No single-group majority |
| Maine | 173,853 | 0.8% | 1.4% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 0.1% | 86.7% | 3.4% | White | 86.7% | White majority |
| Maryland | 889,960 | 0.3% | 6.7% | 32.8% | 22.0% | 0.1% | 32.9% | 5.2% | White | 32.9% | No single-group majority |
| Massachusetts | 923,349 | 0.2% | 7.3% | 9.4% | 24.2% | 0.1% | 54.4% | 4.4% | White | 54.4% | White majority |
| Michigan | 1,433,914 | 0.6% | 3.5% | 18.1% | 8.9% | 0.1% | 63.6% | 5.1% | White | 63.6% | White majority |
| Minnesota | 870,019 | 1.7% | 7.0% | 11.7% | 10.9% | 0.1% | 62.3% | 6.2% | White | 62.3% | White majority |
| Mississippi | 440,285 | 0.2% | 1.1% | 47.0% | 4.8% | 0.1% | 42.6% | 4.3% | Black | 47.0% | No single-group majority |
| Missouri | 892,246 | 0.4% | 2.1% | 15.2% | 8.0% | 0.4% | 68.5% | 5.5% | White | 68.5% | White majority |
| Montana | 150,733 | 10.4% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 5.9% | 0.2% | 77.4% | 4.7% | White | 77.4% | White majority |
| Nebraska | 329,234 | 1.3% | 3.0% | 6.6% | 21.1% | 0.2% | 63.3% | 4.6% | White | 63.3% | White majority |
| Nevada | 484,192 | 0.8% | 5.5% | 12.2% | 44.2% | 1.5% | 28.4% | 7.5% | Hispanic | 44.2% | No single-group majority |
| New Hampshire | 168,909 | 0.2% | 3.0% | 2.1% | 6.9% | 0.1% | 82.9% | 4.7% | White | 82.9% | White majority |
| New Jersey | 1,383,830 | 0.2% | 10.2% | 14.7% | 33.1% | 0.2% | 38.6% | 3.0% | White | 38.6% | No single-group majority |
| New Mexico | 315,023 | 10.3% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 63.4% | 0.1% | 20.8% | 2.4% | Hispanic | 63.4% | Hispanic majority |
| New York | 2,532,888 | 0.7% | 10.0% | 15.8% | 29.2% | 0.2% | 40.4% | 3.6% | White | 40.4% | No single-group majority |
| North Carolina | 1,541,722 | 1.1% | 4.0% | 24.8% | 20.4% | 0.1% | 44.0% | 5.6% | White | 44.0% | No single-group majority |
| North Dakota | 118,513 | 8.2% | 1.4% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 0.3% | 73.7% | 4.6% | White | 73.7% | White majority |
| Ohio | 1,680,639 | 0.1% | 2.8% | 16.8% | 7.3% | 0.1% | 66.6% | 6.2% | White | 66.6% | White majority |
| Oklahoma | 701,301 | 11.2% | 2.3% | 7.9% | 19.8% | 0.4% | 45.5% | 12.9% | White | 45.5% | No single-group majority |
| Oregon | 577,335 | 1.2% | 4.0% | 2.4% | 25.5% | 0.8% | 58.8% | 7.2% | White | 58.8% | White majority |
| Pennsylvania | 1,693,347 | 0.2% | 4.5% | 14.5% | 14.3% | 0.1% | 61.4% | 5.1% | White | 61.4% | White majority |
| Rhode Island | 137,449 | 0.7% | 3.3% | 9.0% | 29.4% | 0.1% | 52.3% | 5.1% | White | 52.3% | White majority |
| South Carolina | 789,231 | 0.3% | 1.7% | 31.6% | 12.7% | 0.1% | 47.8% | 5.8% | White | 47.8% | No single-group majority |
| South Dakota | 141,888 | 10.4% | 1.6% | 3.3% | 8.0% | 0.1% | 70.8% | 5.7% | White | 70.8% | White majority |
| Tennessee | 1,006,752 | 0.2% | 2.0% | 20.6% | 13.9% | 0.1% | 58.7% | 4.5% | White | 58.7% | White majority |
| Texas | 5,519,599 | 0.3% | 5.1% | 12.8% | 52.9% | 0.2% | 25.7% | 3.0% | Hispanic | 52.9% | Hispanic majority |
| Utah | 691,906 | 1.0% | 1.7% | 1.3% | 19.6% | 1.7% | 71.3% | 3.4% | White | 71.3% | White majority |
| Vermont | 83,654 | 0.3% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 3.1% | 0.1% | 88.1% | 3.8% | White | 88.1% | White majority |
| Virginia | 1,260,351 | 0.3% | 7.5% | 21.6% | 18.7% | 0.2% | 45.0% | 6.7% | White | 45.0% | No single-group majority |
| Washington | 1,090,227 | 1.1% | 8.7% | 4.8% | 25.7% | 1.4% | 49.3% | 8.9% | White | 49.3% | No single-group majority |
| West Virginia | 251,224 | 0.1% | 0.7% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 88.6% | 4.3% | White | 88.6% | White majority |
| Wisconsin | 823,040 | 1.0% | 4.2% | 8.7% | 13.6% | 0.1% | 67.2% | 5.1% | White | 67.2% | White majority |
| Wyoming | 92,467 | 3.1% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 14.7% | 0.2% | 76.8% | 3.8% | White | 76.8% | White majority |
Majority patterns across states
- White students are the largest reported group in 41 jurisdictions, Hispanic students in 6, Black students in 3, and Pacific Islander students in Hawaii.
- 19 jurisdictions have no reported group above 50 percent, including several states where the two largest shares are separated by less than one percentage point.
- The highest single-group shares are 88.6% White in West Virginia, 64.1% Black in the District of Columbia, and 63.4% Hispanic in New Mexico.
Largest Reported Student Group by State
The grid classifies each jurisdiction by its largest reported group. A leading group is not necessarily a majority.
Where the leading group changes
- Hispanic students are the largest group in Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
- Black students are the largest group in the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Mississippi.
- Hawaii is the only jurisdiction where Pacific Islander students are the largest reported group, at 25.6%.
Where Each Student Group Reached Its Highest State Share in 2022
A high percentage describes concentration within a state system, not the largest national student count for that group.
| Student group | State | Highest state share | State enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | Alaska | 21.6% | 130,723 |
| Asian | Hawaii | 24.6% | 170,209 |
| Black | District of Columbia | 64.1% | 91,001 |
| Hispanic | New Mexico | 63.4% | 315,023 |
| Pacific Islander | Hawaii | 25.6% | 170,209 |
| White | West Virginia | 88.6% | 251,224 |
| Two or more races | Hawaii | 18.8% | 170,209 |
Concentration is not the same as student count
- Hawaii leads the Asian, Pacific Islander, and two-or-more-races percentage columns, reflecting a distribution unlike any other state system.
- A smaller state can hold the highest percentage while a larger state enrolls more students from the same group in absolute terms.
What the State Distribution Reveals
The 2022 distributions support a historical state comparison but do not describe every district, school, or overlapping student status; the 2024–25 membership total is a different reference year.
Near Ties Change the Label
Maryland reports a 32.9 percent White share and a 32.8 percent Black share. Louisiana and Georgia also have gaps below one percentage point between their two largest groups. A single “largest group” label can hide a nearly balanced distribution.
Scale and Share Answer Different Questions
Percentages describe the composition of a state system. Enrollment counts describe service volume. Resource planning often requires both because similarly sized percentages can represent very different numbers of students.
State Averages Hide District Patterns
State shares combine urban, suburban, town, and rural systems. A statewide distribution does not show how students are distributed among districts or individual schools.
Student Statuses Overlap
English learner, disability, homelessness, and economic disadvantage measures can overlap with every race or ethnicity category. Adding those percentages to the race and ethnicity columns would double-count students.
Data Sources and Measurement
NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 203.70
NCES Digest of Education Statistics, Table 203.20
Common Core of Data, State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education
NCES CCD 2024–25 state school and enrollment summary and state membership by race/ethnicity data tables. The 2024 total is not used to calculate the 2022 demographic shares.
Fall 2022 for race and ethnicity distributions; 2024–25 separately for the newer statewide total
50 states and the District of Columbia; outlying jurisdictions and the Bureau of Indian Education are excluded
Largest group, largest share, majority status, and group concentration leaders are calculated from the published percentages
Race categories exclude students of Hispanic ethnicity. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, and Pacific Islander includes Native Hawaiian. NCES prorated students without reported race or ethnicity across known categories to match state totals. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place, so row detail may not total exactly 100.0 percent. Prekindergarten reporting varies among states. The “no single-group majority” count identifies jurisdictions where the largest published share is below 50.0 percent.