August 2022:
By the Numbers
Join us this month as we get ready to go back to school, celebrate America's senior citizens, and more.
Explore statistics about the states of Colorado, Missouri, and Hawaii.
And learn more about a new data tool that visualizes the radius of economic opportunity.
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🎓 Back to School
It's August and across the nation, millions of students are getting ready to go back to school. As the summer winds down, enjoy these fun facts and stats from the Census Bureau.
🔎 Did you know? About 76 million children and adults enrolled in school throughout the country in October 2019—from nursery school to college.
🏫 About 48 million students enrolled in public kindergarten through 12th grade in the United States in fall 2019.
📚 Elementary and secondary public school systems spent about $13,000 per pupil in the United States in 2019.
💰 In 2019, all workers aged 18 and older with earnings made different average yearly salaries based on their education level.
- People with a bachelor’s degree made approximately $73,000.
- High school graduates and GED recipients made about $39,000.
- Those with an education below ninth grade made nearly $30,000.
You May Be Interested In
- America Counts: Teachers Are Among Most Educated, Yet Their Pay Lags
- America Counts: U.S. Teachers More Diverse but Still Lag Student Racial, Ethnic Makeup
- America Counts: Pre-COVID Early Childhood Enrollment Grew, More in Public Preschools
- America Counts: U.S. Spending on Public Schools in 2019 Highest Since 2008
- America Counts: Elementary, Secondary School Revenue, Spending Increased in Most Areas
Infographic:
Interactive Data Visualization:
4️⃣ Resources for Teachers and Students
1. Statistics in Schools brings school subjects to life using real-world Census Bureau statistics to create materials for use year after year for K-12 students.
2. State Facts for Students helps students collect, analyze, and compare kid-friendly information about their own state.
3. Kahoot! Games from the Statistics and Schools team boost students' statistical literacy, better prepare them for a data-driven world, and enhance their learning in many subjects.
Play our newest game here!
4. Census Academy can show you how to find and use Census Bureau data. Whether you’re looking for economic or demographic data, we can teach you how to get what you need for your project.
📆 Senior Citizens Day
Every year on August 21st, we celebrate National Senior Citizens Day.
From the Presidential Proclamation: "Throughout our history, older people have achieved much for our families, our communities, and our country. That remains true today, and gives us ample reason this year to reserve a special day in honor of America's senior citizens."
"And more than 4.5 million senior citizens are serving as volunteers in various programs and projects that benefit every sector of society. Wherever the need exists, older people are making their presence felt—for their own good and that of others.”
The last two decades have seen the country grow continuously older.
🔎 Did you know? Since 2000, the national median age – the point at which one-half the population is older and one-half younger – has increased by 3.4 years according to recently released 2021 Population Estimates from the Census Bureau.
You May Be Interested In
- America Counts: A State’s Median Age Does Not Tell The Whole Story
- Stats for Stories: Older Americans Month
- Press Release: Nation Continues to Age as it Becomes More Diverse
Visit our Stats for Stories page to learn more about Senior Citizens Day and other notable observances.
🎂 Happy Birthday CO, MO, and HI!
August 1, 2022: Colorado's 146th Anniversary
🔎 Did you know? Colorado is the 8th largest state by area and was the 38th state to join the Union. The state nickname is the Centennial State.
- Check out our America Counts state profile for Colorado
- Explore Census Bureau data for Colorado using data.census.gov
August 10, 2022: Missouri's 201st Anniversary
🔎 Did you know? Missouri is the 18th largest state by area and was the 24th state to join the Union. The state nickname is the Show Me State.
- Check out our America Counts state profile for Missouri
- Explore Census Bureau data for Missouri using data.census.gov
August 21, 2022: Hawaii's 63rd Anniversary
🔎 Did you know? Hawaii is the 47th largest state by area and was the 50th state to join the Union. The state nickname is the Aloha State.
- Check out our America Counts state profile for Hawaii
- Explore Census Bureau data for Hawaii using data.census.gov
🌐 Radius of Opportunity
The Census Bureau recently released a new interactive data tool, data tables, and a research paper on young adult migration.
We can think of an individual’s “radius of economic opportunity” as the geographic area within which they might benefit from economic growth. If individuals are highly mobile and highly responsive to wage opportunities, that radius is quite large. If the geographic mobility is limited, that radius may be quite small.
There’s No Place Like (Close to) Home
Nearly six in 10 young adults live within 10 miles of where they grew up, and eight in 10 live within 100 miles, according to a new study by researchers at the U.S. Census Bureau and Harvard University.
Even the prospect of higher earnings in more distant locations does little to change these patterns.
The new study examines the migration patterns of young adults and explores where people go between childhood and young adulthood. It also analyzes how those patterns differ across demographic groups and whether people move greater distances to take advantage of job opportunities.
