English Language Learners by School District Location

English Language Learners (ELLs) account for 21 percent of all K-12 public school students. Where are they learning? Below, data from the US Department of Education shows the school district location of ELLs compared to the general student population.

Total students

Population: 50,010,000

  • Suburban: 40%
  • City: 30%
  • Rural: 18%
  • Town: 11%

ELL Students

Population: 4,559,000

  • City: 46%
  • Suburban: 41%
  • Town: 8%
  • Rural: 6%

City districts are defined as those located inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city. Population total is calculated by an aggregated total of large (≥ 250,000), mid-size (100,000-250,000), and small (< 100,000) cities.

Suburban districts are defined as being located inside an urbanized area and outside a principal city. Population total is calculated by an aggregated total of large (≥ 250,000), mid-size (100,000-250,000), and small (< 100,000) suburbs.

Town districts are defined in relation to its proximity to an urbanized area. Population total is calculated by an aggregated total of large (≤ 10 miles), mid-size (10-35 miles), and small (> 25 miles) towns.

Rural districts are defined in relation its proximity to an urbanized area and urban cluster. Population total is calculated by an aggregated total of large (≤ 5 miles from an urbanized area; ≤ 2.5 miles from an urban cluster), mid-size (5-25 miles from an urbanized area; 2.5-10 miles from an urban cluster), and small (> 25 miles from an urbanized area; > 10 miles from an urban cluster).

NOTE: Data are based on locales of school districts rather than locales of schools. Includes students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools nationally who are only served in regular school districts—excluding other types of districts, such as regional education service agencies and charter schools—with the exception of Vermont data which are for students served in all types of districts. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,” 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15; and “Local Education Agency Universe Survey,” 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15

Public elementary and secondary school enrollment, number of schools, and other selected characteristics, by locale: Fall 2011 through fall 2014