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The Future of Public Education in America

In 2025, the landscape of public education in America stands at a crossroads. Changes in demographics, funding, policy, technology and public sentiment are reshaping what it means for students, parents and educators to engage with the public school system. As we chart the future of public education in America, understanding where we are now—and where we might go—is essential for informed decision-making.

Current Snapshot: Strengths and Stresses

Enrollment and staffing

For the 2025 school year, about 54.1 million K-12 students are enrolled in public schools across the United States.Meanwhile, the workforce comprises approximately 5.7 million teachers and nearly 10 million staff members, including support personnel.
Despite this scale, the sector is dealing with persistent challenges: a recent survey from RAND Corporation shows that in the 2024-25 academic year, 30 percent or more of students in many urban districts missed 10 percent or more of school days (the definition of chronic absenteeism). These figures point to a core truth: while public education serves tens of millions of students, the system is under strain.

Funding and expenditure

Public school funding remains a major focal point. According to data compiled by EducationData.org, per-pupil spending in many states ranges from about US $12,000 up to more than $30,000 in high-cost regions. On a national scale, the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD)

Not Just for College: A Guide to K-12 Scholarships (2025 Update)

When most families and educators think of scholarships, the focus tends to be on higher education. But increasingly, substantial scholarship opportunities exist for students before college—indeed for “K-12” students in grades K through 12. This guide explores the landscape of K-12 scholarships in 2025: what’s changed, what families need to know, and how parents, students and educators can leverage these options. It also links to resources at for schools and choice programs.

Why K-12 Scholarships Matter Now

Tuition trends tell the story. According to recent data, the national average tuition for private K-12 schools stands around $12,790 per year, though actual costs vary widely by grade level and region.For example, a 2025 report shows median day-school tuition at approximately $26,800 for elementary, $30,535 for middle grades and $35,105 for high school.
With such costs, scholarship assistance becomes a meaningful planning tool—not just for college, but for K-12 school choice, private day or boarding schools, and alternative learning settings.

Meanwhile, policy is shifting. In January 2025, the White House issued an executive order declaring that “parents — rather than just geography — should direct the education of their children,” and directed federal agencies to issue guidance on how states can use formula funding for K-12 choice and scholarship initiatives.Further, Congress enacted the first-ever federal tax-credit for K-12 education scholarships: starting January 1 2027, individual

Introduction

Every year, the tragic loss of a child or teen to suicide reminds schools, families and communities of the urgent need for thoughtful, coordinated prevention efforts. While the focus of this article is K-12 school settings (including boarding schools), the lessons apply broadly to any educational environment where young people spend significant time. Our goal is to equip parents, educators and students with current evidence, policy context, practical steps and real-world examples to prevent suicide in schools.

The Scope of the Problem in 2025

Recent data show that youth suicide and suicidal ideation remain serious challenges. According to the Jed Foundation, 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
Among high school students, 20.4% reported seriously considering suicide in the past year; overall, 9.5% attempted suicide.
At the national level, the age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States was 14.12 per 100,000 in 2023.
In 2024, some states experienced alarming surges: for example, in Georgia youth suicides rose by 70% in one year.
These figures illustrate that suicide remains the second-leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults ages 10–34.
Schools are therefore a frontline environment for prevention, since students spend much of their day there, and many warning signs may present within the educational setting.

Why Schools Matter – and What to Focus On

In the school setting, prevention efforts must address multiple dimensions: promoting protective factors, identifying risk indicators early, ensuring timely

Introduction

Standardized tests have long played a central role in U.S. K-12 and post-secondary education—used for everything from measuring student progress to informing school accountability and shaping college admissions. As we enter 2025, the landscape for standardized testing continues to shift in meaningful ways. From digital test delivery and evolving college admissions policies to declining student proficiency and renewed questions about equity, the changes matter deeply for parents, students, educators and schools.

This article examines the current state of standardized testing in 2025: how policies have changed, what recent performance data show, how colleges are responding, and what practical steps families and schools can take to navigate this evolving terrain. In particular, we reference authoritative sources including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and federal education policy, and link to relevant resources—including one of our own reviews at Boarding School Review.

What We Mean by “Standardized Tests”

“Standardized tests” is a broad term that can refer to a variety of assessments administered under consistent conditions, with the goal of measuring student achievement or growth across different students, schools or jurisdictions. In K-12 settings this often includes state-level assessments (for example, in grades 3-8 and 11), diagnostic and interim assessments, and nationally-normed exams like the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the ACT in the college admissions context.
These tests serve multiple functions: measuring what students know and can do, informing instruction, enabling comparisons across schools or states, supporting accountability systems and guiding admission or