01/27/99 - 01/27/99 - Century Series Timeline

NOTES: Immigration data are compiled by decades beginning with 1891-1900 through 1981-1990 and do not include illegal immigration. Hawaii and Alaska had compulsory-education laws on their books before becoming states in 1959.

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1900

Children in public schools: 15.5 million

Number of new immigrants: 3.7 million (1891-1900)

High school graduates: 62,000, or 6.4 percent of 17-year-olds

By the turn of the century, 33 states and the District of Columbia have enacted compulsory-education laws.

1910

U.S. population: 92.4 million Children in public schools: 17.8 million

Number of new immigrants: 8.8 million (1901-10)

High school graduates: 111,000, or 8.8 percent of 17-year-olds

Between 1900 and 1910, nine additional states enact compulsory-education laws. The foreign-born make up 14.7 percent of the population--the highest level reached at any time in U.S. history. Fifty-seven percent of foreign-born residents live in one of six states: Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

1920

U.S. population: 106.5 million

Children in public schools: 21.6 million umber of new immigrants: 5.7 million (1911-20)

.High school graduates: 231,000, or 16.8 percent of 17-year-olds

Between 1910 and 1920, the six remaining states--Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi--enact compulsory-education laws. The Great Depression begins in 1929 and lasts through much of the 1930s.

1930

U.S. population: 123.1 million

Children in public schools: 25.7 million

Number of new immigrants: 4.1 million (1921-30)

High school graduates: 592,000, or 29.0 percent of 17-year-olds .

1940

U.S. population: 132.1 million

Children in public schools: 25.4 million

Number of new immigrants: 528,000 (1931-40)

High school graduates: 1.1 million, or 50.8 percent of 17-year-olds

The post-World War II population surge known as the baby boom begins in 1946 and lasts until 1964.

1950

U.S. population: 152.3 million

Children in public schools: 25.1 million

Number of new immigrants: 1.0 million (1941-50)

High school graduates: 1.1 million, or 59.0 percent of 17-year-olds

1960

U.S. population: 180.7 million

Children in public schools: 36.1 million

Number of new immigrants: 2.5 million (1951-60)

High school graduates: 1.6 million, or 69.5 percent of 17-year-olds.

1970

U.S. population: 205.1 million

Children in public schools: 45.6 million

umber of new immigrants: 3.3 million (1961-70)

High school graduates: 2.6 million, or 76.9 percent of 17-year-olds

The children of the early baby boomers begin to flood the schools. In 1971, a then-record 51.3 million children enroll in the nation's public and private K-12 schools. After declining since 1910, the percentage of the nation's population that is foreign-born hits 4.8 percent.

1980

U.S. population: 227.7 million

Children in public schools: 41.7 million umber of new immigrants: 4.5 million (1971-80) High school graduates: 2.7 million, or 71.4 percent of 17-year-olds

Seventy-five percent of all immigrants coming to the United States in the 1980s settle in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, or Texas.

1990

U.S. population: 249.4 million

Children in public schools: 40.5 million

umber of new immigrants: 7.3 million (1981-90)

High school graduates: 2.3 million, or 72.4 percent of 17-year-olds

In 1996, the number of children in U.S. public and private schools hits 51.7 million, an all-time high fueled by soaring immigration and a second surge in population known as the baby boom echo.

2000

U.S. population: 267.6 million (as of 1997)

Children in public schools: 45.9 million (as of 1997)