Boys and Men’s Issues – K-12 Education

Listed below are national statistics. For statistics specific to the Seattle area or Washington state, please see our series of blog posts on Seattle and Washington. Contact us if you want local statistics, if you have statistics to offer, or if you are willing to help with research.

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Death RatesK-12 EducationSpecial Education
Higher Education
and Labor Force Participation
Educational Attainment
of Young Adults
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Gender Equality in K-12 Education

Boys perform worse than girls on a variety of educational metrics. The percentages provided below draw attention to the inequality between boys and girls, with latest-available statistics rounded to the nearest 5%.

Gender equality in K-12 education calls for a country in which…

Gender equality in K-12 education calls for a country in which…

  • fewer boys are suspended from public elementary and secondary schools (currently 140% more boys than girls)
  • fewer boys are expelled from public elementary and secondary schools (currently 190% more boys than girls)
    Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Number of students suspended and expelled, 2014

Gender equality in K-12 education calls for a country in which…

Gender equality in K-12 education calls for a country in which…

  • more college-bound high school senior boys score in the top 10% of their class (currently 20% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys earn an A or A+ grade point average (currently 35% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys take AP/Honors courses in mathematics (currently 20% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys take AP/Honors courses in natural sciences (currently 20% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys take AP/Honors courses in English and language arts (currently 35% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys take AP/Honors courses in foreign and classical languages (currently 35% fewer boys than girls)
  • more college-bound high school senior boys take AP/Honors courses in arts and music (currently 45% fewer boys than girls)
    Source: College Board, Total Group Profile Report, 2016

(This list is based on “For Every 100 Girls…2020 Update” compiled by Tom Mortenson and originally published by Education Week on March 28, 2011, then updated in 2020 by Professor Mark J. Perry.)