Back to School Facts

While most kids are already back at school, there are still a few out there with one another free weekend before it’s back to the books, so what should kids and parents expect? 

• Shopping - If you think you’re the only one spending big bucks to get your kids ready for the first day of classes, you are totally wrong. The U.S. Census reveals that in August 2014, $8.2-billion was spent on clothing for kids, while $1.6-billion was spent on books.

• Students – In October 2013, there was approximately 78-million adults and children enrolled in school – nursery through college - which is 25.9-percent of the entire population ages three and older. What’s more, 77-percent of children ages three to six were enrolled in all-day kindergarten as of October 2013.

• Cost – In 2013, elementary and secondary public schools spent $10,700 per student.

• Languages – As of 2013, 12-million school-age children spoke a language other than English at home, while 8.5 million of them spoke Spanish. In addition, 25 percent of elementary through high school students had at least one foreign-born parent in October, 2013.

• College – As of 2013, there were 4,605 colleges, universities and professional schools in the United States, and 1,006 junior colleges. Folks over 35 made up 15-percent of those in college or graduate programs, while 40-percent of 18-24-year-olds were enrolled in college or graduate school in 2013.

• Degrees – 12.8-million people 25 and over held a bachelors degree in business in 2013, which is 20.5 percent of the population. Other popular degrees include education (13.2%), science and engineering-related fields (9.1%), engineering (7.8%), social sciences (7.7%), biological, agricultural and environmental (6.1%) and liberal arts and history (5.1%).

• Salary - $82,720 was the average earnings of full-time, year-round workers, 18 and older with a bachelors degree or higher in 2012. The mean earnings for full-time year-round workers with only a bachelor’s degree was $70,432, and those with only a high school diploma earned $41,248.

How much do you spend each year on your kids going back to school? Does it get higher each year?

Do you kids like going back to school? If not, how hard is it to get them out of the house on the first day? How about you, do you look forward to the first day of school every year?