The NEA has just released its Rankings of the States 2013 and Estimates of School Statistics 2014 report. We encourage everyone to review the report in its entirety.  Here are just a few facts regarding North Carolina’s standing among the states:

• The U.S. average public school teacher salary for 2012–13 was $56,103. The average salary for NC teachers is $45,737, or $10,366 less than the national average, and 46th in the U.S. for the second consecutive year.
• In the ten years from 2002-03 to 2012-13, North Carolina had the greatest decline among states where there were real declines in average teacher salaries (adjusting for inflation). In North Carolina, that decline was 15%.
• North Carolina ranked 48th in the US with a beginning teacher salary of $30,778. This places NC lowest among the southeastern states.
• North Carolina boasts the largest growth in public school enrollment in the U.S. (fall 2011 to fall 2012): 4.1%.
• In terms of the amount of revenue North Carolina public schools receives from state and local government, our rank is 42nd; in terms of revenue received from from federal goverment, we rank 16th. (2012-13)
• Per-pupil expenditures: North Carolina ranks 46th ($8,363), the lowest among the 12 southeastern states (projected).