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Which states have the most students per teacher The average U.S. public school had 15.3 students per full-time teacher in 2024-25. The average school's ratio was highest in California (20.9) and lowest in North Dakota (10.9). Tennessee reported no 2024-25 teacher counts.
NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 · schools open that year · this page first published 2026-05-17 · data checked 2026-09-29 · method
U.S. 15.3 49 states measured
Most students per teacher 20.9 California
Fewest students per teacher 10.9 North Dakota
Students per teacher, average school by state AK 15.6; AL 17.2; AR 13.5; AZ 17.5; CA 20.9; CO 15.8; CT 12.2; DC 11.0; DE 14.6; FL 17.9; GA 13.9; HI 13.9; IA 14.1; ID 16.9; IL 13.5; IN 15.2; KS 12.9; KY 15.4; LA 13.5; MA 12.0; MD 14.1; ME 10.9; MI 16.9; MN 14.2; MO 12.3; MS 14.0; MT 11.6; NC 16.2; ND 10.9; NE 13.1; NH 11.0; NJ 11.6; NM 12.7; NV 19.2; NY 11.4; OH 17.4; OK 15.4; OR 17.3; PA 13.3; RI 13.2; SC 13.9; SD 13.3; TX 14.5; UT 20.6; VA 13.8; VT 11.1; WA 17.8; WI 14.2; WV 13.3; WY 11.0 AK: 15.6 AK 15.6 ME: 10.9 ME 10.9 WI: 14.2 WI 14.2 VT: 11.1 VT 11.1 NH: 11.0 NH 11.0 WA: 17.8 WA 17.8 ID: 16.9 ID 16.9 MT: 11.6 MT 11.6 ND: 10.9 ND 10.9 MN: 14.2 MN 14.2 IL: 13.5 IL 13.5 MI: 16.9 MI 16.9 NY: 11.4 NY 11.4 MA: 12.0 MA 12.0 OR: 17.3 OR 17.3 NV: 19.2 NV 19.2 WY: 11.0 WY 11.0 SD: 13.3 SD 13.3 IA: 14.1 IA 14.1 IN: 15.2 IN 15.2 OH: 17.4 OH 17.4 PA: 13.3 PA 13.3 NJ: 11.6 NJ 11.6 CT: 12.2 CT 12.2 RI: 13.2 RI 13.2 CA: 20.9 CA 20.9 UT: 20.6 UT 20.6 CO: 15.8 CO 15.8 NE: 13.1 NE 13.1 MO: 12.3 MO 12.3 KY: 15.4 KY 15.4 WV: 13.3 WV 13.3 VA: 13.8 VA 13.8 MD: 14.1 MD 14.1 DE: 14.6 DE 14.6 AZ: 17.5 AZ 17.5 NM: 12.7 NM 12.7 KS: 12.9 KS 12.9 AR: 13.5 AR 13.5 TN NC: 16.2 NC 16.2 SC: 13.9 SC 13.9 DC: 11.0 DC 11.0 OK: 15.4 OK 15.4 LA: 13.5 LA 13.5 MS: 14.0 MS 14.0 AL: 17.2 AL 17.2 GA: 13.9 GA 13.9 HI: 13.9 HI 13.9 TX: 14.5 TX 14.5 FL: 17.9 FL 17.9
Students per teacher, average school by state AK 15.6; AL 17.2; AR 13.5; AZ 17.5; CA 20.9; CO 15.8; CT 12.2; DC 11.0; DE 14.6; FL 17.9; GA 13.9; HI 13.9; IA 14.1; ID 16.9; IL 13.5; IN 15.2; KS 12.9; KY 15.4; LA 13.5; MA 12.0; MD 14.1; ME 10.9; MI 16.9; MN 14.2; MO 12.3; MS 14.0; MT 11.6; NC 16.2; ND 10.9; NE 13.1; NH 11.0; NJ 11.6; NM 12.7; NV 19.2; NY 11.4; OH 17.4; OK 15.4; OR 17.3; PA 13.3; RI 13.2; SC 13.9; SD 13.3; TX 14.5; UT 20.6; VA 13.8; VT 11.1; WA 17.8; WI 14.2; WV 13.3; WY 11.0 AK: 15.6 AK 15.6 ME: 10.9 ME 10.9 WI: 14.2 WI 14.2 VT: 11.1 VT 11.1 NH: 11.0 NH 11.0 WA: 17.8 WA 17.8 ID: 16.9 ID 16.9 MT: 11.6 MT 11.6 ND: 10.9 ND 10.9 MN: 14.2 MN 14.2 IL: 13.5 IL 13.5 MI: 16.9 MI 16.9 NY: 11.4 NY 11.4 MA: 12.0 MA 12.0 OR: 17.3 OR 17.3 NV: 19.2 NV 19.2 WY: 11.0 WY 11.0 SD: 13.3 SD 13.3 IA: 14.1 IA 14.1 IN: 15.2 IN 15.2 OH: 17.4 OH 17.4 PA: 13.3 PA 13.3 NJ: 11.6 NJ 11.6 CT: 12.2 CT 12.2 RI: 13.2 RI 13.2 CA: 20.9 CA 20.9 UT: 20.6 UT 20.6 CO: 15.8 CO 15.8 NE: 13.1 NE 13.1 MO: 12.3 MO 12.3 KY: 15.4 KY 15.4 WV: 13.3 WV 13.3 VA: 13.8 VA 13.8 MD: 14.1 MD 14.1 DE: 14.6 DE 14.6 AZ: 17.5 AZ 17.5 NM: 12.7 NM 12.7 KS: 12.9 KS 12.9 AR: 13.5 AR 13.5 TN NC: 16.2 NC 16.2 SC: 13.9 SC 13.9 DC: 11.0 DC 11.0 OK: 15.4 OK 15.4 LA: 13.5 LA 13.5 MS: 14.0 MS 14.0 AL: 17.2 AL 17.2 GA: 13.9 GA 13.9 HI: 13.9 HI 13.9 TX: 14.5 TX 14.5 FL: 17.9 FL 17.9
Students per teacher, average school by state AK 15.6; AL 17.2; AR 13.5; AZ 17.5; CA 20.9; CO 15.8; CT 12.2; DC 11.0; DE 14.6; FL 17.9; GA 13.9; HI 13.9; IA 14.1; ID 16.9; IL 13.5; IN 15.2; KS 12.9; KY 15.4; LA 13.5; MA 12.0; MD 14.1; ME 10.9; MI 16.9; MN 14.2; MO 12.3; MS 14.0; MT 11.6; NC 16.2; ND 10.9; NE 13.1; NH 11.0; NJ 11.6; NM 12.7; NV 19.2; NY 11.4; OH 17.4; OK 15.4; OR 17.3; PA 13.3; RI 13.2; SC 13.9; SD 13.3; TX 14.5; UT 20.6; VA 13.8; VT 11.1; WA 17.8; WI 14.2; WV 13.3; WY 11.0 AK: 15.6 AK ME: 10.9 ME WI: 14.2 WI VT: 11.1 VT NH: 11.0 NH WA: 17.8 WA ID: 16.9 ID MT: 11.6 MT ND: 10.9 ND MN: 14.2 MN IL: 13.5 IL MI: 16.9 MI NY: 11.4 NY MA: 12.0 MA OR: 17.3 OR NV: 19.2 NV WY: 11.0 WY SD: 13.3 SD IA: 14.1 IA IN: 15.2 IN OH: 17.4 OH PA: 13.3 PA NJ: 11.6 NJ CT: 12.2 CT RI: 13.2 RI CA: 20.9 CA UT: 20.6 UT CO: 15.8 CO NE: 13.1 NE MO: 12.3 MO KY: 15.4 KY WV: 13.3 WV VA: 13.8 VA MD: 14.1 MD DE: 14.6 DE AZ: 17.5 AZ NM: 12.7 NM KS: 12.9 KS AR: 13.5 AR TN NC: 16.2 NC SC: 13.9 SC DC: 11.0 DC OK: 15.4 OK LA: 13.5 LA MS: 14.0 MS AL: 17.2 AL GA: 13.9 GA HI: 13.9 HI TX: 14.5 TX FL: 17.9 FL
Students per teacher, average school by state AK 15.6; AL 17.2; AR 13.5; AZ 17.5; CA 20.9; CO 15.8; CT 12.2; DC 11.0; DE 14.6; FL 17.9; GA 13.9; HI 13.9; IA 14.1; ID 16.9; IL 13.5; IN 15.2; KS 12.9; KY 15.4; LA 13.5; MA 12.0; MD 14.1; ME 10.9; MI 16.9; MN 14.2; MO 12.3; MS 14.0; MT 11.6; NC 16.2; ND 10.9; NE 13.1; NH 11.0; NJ 11.6; NM 12.7; NV 19.2; NY 11.4; OH 17.4; OK 15.4; OR 17.3; PA 13.3; RI 13.2; SC 13.9; SD 13.3; TX 14.5; UT 20.6; VA 13.8; VT 11.1; WA 17.8; WI 14.2; WV 13.3; WY 11.0 AK: 15.6 AK ME: 10.9 ME WI: 14.2 WI VT: 11.1 VT NH: 11.0 NH WA: 17.8 WA ID: 16.9 ID MT: 11.6 MT ND: 10.9 ND MN: 14.2 MN IL: 13.5 IL MI: 16.9 MI NY: 11.4 NY MA: 12.0 MA OR: 17.3 OR NV: 19.2 NV WY: 11.0 WY SD: 13.3 SD IA: 14.1 IA IN: 15.2 IN OH: 17.4 OH PA: 13.3 PA NJ: 11.6 NJ CT: 12.2 CT RI: 13.2 RI CA: 20.9 CA UT: 20.6 UT CO: 15.8 CO NE: 13.1 NE MO: 12.3 MO KY: 15.4 KY WV: 13.3 WV VA: 13.8 VA MD: 14.1 MD DE: 14.6 DE AZ: 17.5 AZ NM: 12.7 NM KS: 12.9 KS AR: 13.5 AR TN NC: 16.2 NC SC: 13.9 SC DC: 11.0 DC OK: 15.4 OK LA: 13.5 LA MS: 14.0 MS AL: 17.2 AL GA: 13.9 GA HI: 13.9 HI TX: 14.5 TX FL: 17.9 FL
Students per teacher, average school
D.C. is one city system, so it is in the table but not ranked among the 50 states. No 2024-25 teacher counts: Tennessee.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: membership and staff (teachers).
Most students per teacher: the top ten Students per teacher, average school, highest ten states California 20.9; Utah 20.6; Nevada 19.2; Florida 17.9; Washington 17.8; Arizona 17.5; Ohio 17.4; Oregon 17.3; Alabama 17.2; Idaho 16.9; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 30 California 20.9 Utah 20.6 Nevada 19.2 Florida 17.9 Washington 17.8 Arizona 17.5 Ohio 17.4 Oregon 17.3 Alabama 17.2 Idaho 16.9 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, highest ten states California 20.9; Utah 20.6; Nevada 19.2; Florida 17.9; Washington 17.8; Arizona 17.5; Ohio 17.4; Oregon 17.3; Alabama 17.2; Idaho 16.9; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 30 California 20.9 Utah 20.6 Nevada 19.2 Florida 17.9 Washington 17.8 Arizona 17.5 Ohio 17.4 Oregon 17.3 Alabama 17.2 Idaho 16.9 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, highest ten states California 20.9; Utah 20.6; Nevada 19.2; Florida 17.9; Washington 17.8; Arizona 17.5; Ohio 17.4; Oregon 17.3; Alabama 17.2; Idaho 16.9; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 30 California 20.9 Utah 20.6 Nevada 19.2 Florida 17.9 Washington 17.8 Arizona 17.5 Ohio 17.4 Oregon 17.3 Alabama 17.2 Idaho 16.9 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, highest ten states California 20.9; Utah 20.6; Nevada 19.2; Florida 17.9; Washington 17.8; Arizona 17.5; Ohio 17.4; Oregon 17.3; Alabama 17.2; Idaho 16.9; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 30 California 20.9 Utah 20.6 Nevada 19.2 Florida 17.9 Washington 17.8 Arizona 17.5 Ohio 17.4 Oregon 17.3 Alabama 17.2 Idaho 16.9 U.S. 15.3
Fewest students per teacher: the bottom ten Students per teacher, average school, lowest ten states North Dakota 10.9; Maine 10.9; Wyoming 11.0; New Hampshire 11.0; Vermont 11.1; New York 11.4; New Jersey 11.6; Montana 11.6; Massachusetts 12.0; Connecticut 12.2; U.S. 15.3. 0 5 10 15 20 North Dakota 10.9 Maine 10.9 Wyoming 11.0 New Hampshire 11.0 Vermont 11.1 New York 11.4 New Jersey 11.6 Montana 11.6 Massachusetts 12.0 Connecticut 12.2 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, lowest ten states North Dakota 10.9; Maine 10.9; Wyoming 11.0; New Hampshire 11.0; Vermont 11.1; New York 11.4; New Jersey 11.6; Montana 11.6; Massachusetts 12.0; Connecticut 12.2; U.S. 15.3. 0 5 10 15 20 North Dakota 10.9 Maine 10.9 Wyoming 11.0 New Hampshire 11.0 Vermont 11.1 New York 11.4 New Jersey 11.6 Montana 11.6 Massachusetts 12.0 Connecticut 12.2 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, lowest ten states North Dakota 10.9; Maine 10.9; Wyoming 11.0; New Hampshire 11.0; Vermont 11.1; New York 11.4; New Jersey 11.6; Montana 11.6; Massachusetts 12.0; Connecticut 12.2; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 North Dakota 10.9 Maine 10.9 Wyoming 11.0 New Hampshire 11.0 Vermont 11.1 New York 11.4 New Jersey 11.6 Montana 11.6 Massachusetts 12.0 Connecticut 12.2 U.S. 15.3
Students per teacher, average school, lowest ten states North Dakota 10.9; Maine 10.9; Wyoming 11.0; New Hampshire 11.0; Vermont 11.1; New York 11.4; New Jersey 11.6; Montana 11.6; Massachusetts 12.0; Connecticut 12.2; U.S. 15.3. 0 10 20 North Dakota 10.9 Maine 10.9 Wyoming 11.0 New Hampshire 11.0 Vermont 11.1 New York 11.4 New Jersey 11.6 Montana 11.6 Massachusetts 12.0 Connecticut 12.2 U.S. 15.3
Five years of students per teacher U.S. pupil/teacher ratio, fall 2018 to fall 2022 (NCES) 2018: 16.0, 2019: 15.9, 2020: 15.4, 2021: 15.4, 2022: 15.4 0 5 10 15 20 2018 16.0 2019 15.9 2020 15.4 2021 15.4 2022 15.4
U.S. pupil/teacher ratio, fall 2018 to fall 2022 (NCES) 2018: 16.0, 2019: 15.9, 2020: 15.4, 2021: 15.4, 2022: 15.4 0 5 10 15 20 2018 16.0 2019 15.9 2020 15.4 2021 15.4 2022 15.4
U.S. pupil/teacher ratio, fall 2018 to fall 2022 (NCES) 2018: 16.0, 2019: 15.9, 2020: 15.4, 2021: 15.4, 2022: 15.4 0 5 10 15 20 2018 16.0 2019 15.9 2020 15.4 2021 15.4 2022 15.4
U.S. pupil/teacher ratio, fall 2018 to fall 2022 (NCES) 2018: 16.0, 2019: 15.9, 2020: 15.4, 2021: 15.4, 2022: 15.4 0 5 10 15 20 2018 16.0 2019 15.9 2020 15.4 2021 15.4 2022 15.4
NCES's own count of all public school students over all teachers put the U.S. at 16.0 students per teacher in fall 2018 and 15.4 in fall 2022. The ratio fell most in Mississippi (14.8 to 13.0), Oregon (20.2 to 18.7), Indiana (17.3 to 15.8), Illinois (15.0 to 13.7), California (23.1 to 21.8), and rose most in Alaska (17.1 to 18.3), Florida (17.3 to 18.3), North Dakota (12.0 to 12.4), Alabama (17.6 to 17.9), Oklahoma (16.5 to 16.6).
This series divides a state's students by its teachers; the ranking above averages each school's own ratio for 2024-25, so the two measures differ, most in states with many small schools.
Source: NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, table 208.40: pupil/teacher ratio by state, fall 2018 to fall 2022 (state-reported enrollment over state-reported teachers).
The question and the method Across the 50 states and D.C., which have the most and the fewest students per teacher?
Each school's fall 2024 membership over its full-time-equivalent teachers in the same year; the state figure is the mean over its open schools with a ratio from 3 to 99.
Limits. Student-teacher ratio measures staffing, not class size: specialists, aides who teach and pull-out teachers count, so classes are usually larger than the ratio. The mean weights each school equally.
Every state All 50 as a table State Rank Students per teacher, average school Schools California 1 20.9 9,918 Utah 2 20.6 1,044 Nevada 3 19.2 722 Florida 4 17.9 3,929 Washington 5 17.8 2,437 Arizona 6 17.5 2,183 Ohio 7 17.4 3,471 Oregon 8 17.3 1,266 Alabama 9 17.2 1,357 Idaho 10 16.9 767 Michigan 11 16.9 3,326 North Carolina 12 16.2 2,653 Colorado 13 15.8 1,861 Alaska 14 15.6 483 Kentucky 15 15.4 1,381 Oklahoma 16 15.4 1,755 Indiana 17 15.2 1,822 Delaware 18 14.6 222 Texas 19 14.5 8,846 Minnesota 20 14.2 2,321 Wisconsin 21 14.2 2,148 Iowa 22 14.1 1,290 Maryland 23 14.1 1,370 Mississippi 24 14.0 844 Georgia 25 13.9 2,287 Hawaii 26 13.9 295 South Carolina 27 13.9 1,183 Virginia 28 13.8 1,845 Arkansas 29 13.5 1,041 Illinois 30 13.5 3,817 Louisiana 31 13.5 1,277 Pennsylvania 32 13.3 2,899 South Dakota 33 13.3 670 West Virginia 34 13.3 630 Rhode Island 35 13.2 302 Nebraska 36 13.1 993 Kansas 37 12.9 1,328 New Mexico 38 12.7 859 Missouri 39 12.3 2,294 Connecticut 40 12.2 987 Massachusetts 41 12.0 1,793 Montana 42 11.6 818 New Jersey 43 11.6 2,480 New York 44 11.4 4,767 Vermont 45 11.1 283 District of Columbia not ranked 11.0 240 New Hampshire 46 11.0 484 Wyoming 47 11.0 346 Maine 48 10.9 553 North Dakota 49 10.9 486
Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25: membership and staff (teachers).
Sources
Source: NCES Digest of Education Statistics Table 208.40, pupil/teacher ratios by state · Fall 2018 to fall 2022
Source: NCES Common Core of Data Membership and staff · 2024-25
Cite this page PlainSchools, “Student-teacher ratio by state: all 50 and D.C. (NCES).” Compiled from Common Core of Data (CCD), 2024-25; data as of 2026-09-29.
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Compiled from official source data by PlainSchools . · Updated September 2026