1970

    Enrollments-
Public elementary schools-       32.4 million
Nonpublic elementary schools-   4.2 million
Public high schools-                 13.6 million
Nonpublic high schools-         +  1.4 million
                                              51.6 million

Highlight of the year:  Strikes
    School openings were delayed in more than 20 cities due to teacher strikes.  The demands were mostly for increased salaries.  Some school teachers also wanted classroom conditions to be improved.
 
 

1971

    Enrollments-
    The United Stated Office of Education predicted that a record 60.2 million students would be enrolled in schools through 1971-1972.
 

Highlight of the year:  Financial Crisis for Public Schools
    Despite a record spending of money, ($85.1 billion for education in 1971-1972), public schools began the current school year with huge financial problems.  Some schools had to drop sports and extracurricular activities.  The main reason for this was because of increase in teacher salaries.
 
 

1972

    Enrollments-
    The large amount of school population made education America's largest industry.  There were approximately 70 million students and educators altogether in this year.
 
 

1973

    Enrollments-
    In the fall of 1972, elementary school enrollment decreased by about 500,000 pupils.
 

1974

    Enrollments-
    The school enrollment in 1974 was decreasing by about 10-15%.

Highlight of the year:  Illiteracy in Public Schools
    5% (1 million) of all Americans aged 12-17 were discovered to be unable to read and write.  This caused problems in the school systems.  It made the teachers have to go back and start over to teach all of these students how to read and write.
 
 

1975

    Enrollments-
    34.4 million elementary students
    15.6 million high school students
      8.6 million college students
    Nearly 2 million kids, 7-17, were not enrolled in school though they should have been.  Reports have found that this was probably due to truancy (when a person stays aways from school without leave), children being expelled, and handicaps.
 

Highlight of the year:  School Effectiveness

    A 1960-1970 study showed: reading comprehension increased.  Depression and emotional outbursts were common among school students.  In 1974, 82% white males 25-34 years old had high school diplomas.  62% black males 25-34 years old had a high school diploma.
 

1976

   Enrollments-
    Elementary school population decreased by 5.9%
    High school population increased by 2%
    College population increased by 3%
 

Highlight of the year:  Teachers' Strikes

    With school costs rising, school opened this year under the threat of strikes for higher salaries.  In all, teachers went on strike in 11 states.
    While schoole enrollments decreased and living costs increased, new teaching positions became more scarce.
 

1977

    Enrollments-
    Declining enrollments were the cause of many problems.  School children population decreased in the high schools, colleges, and especially elementary schools.

Highlight of the year:  School Vandalism