10/18/2026
How the U.S. school system works: 13 grades, 100,119 public schools, and 13,318 districts
100,119 public schools in the 50 states and D.C. enrolled 49.1 million students in 2024-25, across 13 grades from kindergarten through 12th. Here is how the levels, ages, districts, and core subjects fit together, with federal figures on charter, private, and homeschool shares.
Kate Carter