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The State of Education in 2027: Will These Projections Impact Your Teaching Strategy or Career as an Educator?

See the projected statistics every U.S. educator should know.

How many students will be enrolled in school by 2027? Will there be more—or fewer—high school graduates? Is the need growing for preschool or kindergarten teachers who hold a certification in early childhood education, or will there be a greater demand for educators with teaching degrees at the secondary level?

These are the types of questions that data from the Projects of Education Statistics to 20271 may help answer. Produced by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the annual report provides a national-level snapshot of enrollment, teachers, high school graduates, and expenditure data at the elementary and secondary levels.

The State of Education in 2027: Will These Projections Impact Your Teaching Strategy or Career as an Educator?

Policymakers, education leaders, and professional educators can use this data to inform decisions on policy, funding priorities, curriculum programs, teaching strategies, technology needs in the classroom, and other issues surrounding education in the United States. And if you’re just now exploring how to become a teacher, the report may offer insights that will help you decide which education degree and credentials you’ll need for a career in the ever-changing education landscape.

Here are three projections highlighted in the NCES report that every educator should know:

1) More children will be enrolled in schools.

Enrollment in elementary and secondary schools is projected to increase by 4%, to 58.2 million students, between 2015 and 2027. The greatest enrollment increase will be seen in preK through eighth grade. Schools will need teachers with the credentials and advanced training to manage this growth, as well as teaching assistants who can provide extra support as needed.

2) Schools will hire more teachers.

By 2027, there will be an 8% increase in the number of teachers in elementary and secondary schools, with a total of 3.9 million teachers in both public and private schools. Schools will be hiring more professionals with teacher licensure, with new teacher hires projected to increase 17% to 379,000. So if you’re thinking about earning a teaching degree, your career prospects could be bright.

3) There will be more high school graduates—and many of them will go on to get a college education.

Since 2002, the number of high school graduates has been growing, with a 15% increase nationally between 2002–03 and 2012–13. According to the report, that number will continue to grow, with 5% more high school graduates in 2027–28 than in 2012–13. And many of these high school graduates could go on to earn a college degree, with the total enrollment in degree-granting postsecondary education institutions—which include online universities—expected to increase 3%, to 20.5 million, by 2027.

How Can I Prepare for the Future in My Teaching Career?

The NCES report sheds light on the future of education and provides important insights to help educators stay at the forefront of their field. If you’re an experienced teacher who wants the credentials to keep pace with changes in education—or if you’re just beginning to explore how to become a teacher—Walden University offers a number of online education degree programs that can help.

Whether you’re looking for a BS in Elementary Education degree program that prepares students for teacher licensure, online master’s degree programs for experienced teachers and aspiring principals, or an EdD with a specialization in Educational Administration and Leadership (a degree for administrators), an online education from Walden can prepare you to take that next step in your teaching career.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral education degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.

1Source: nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018019.pdf

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org.

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