Title: Our Nation's English Learners
Headings: OUR NATION'S ENGLISH LEARNERS
OUR NATION'S ENGLISH LEARNERS
Introduction
OVER 0
English learners (ELs) were enrolled in schools in 2014–15.a
Who Are English Learners?
The vast majority of ELs were Hispanic or Latino, while one-quarter of all students were Hispanic or Latino.
Homeless, Title I, and migrant students were more likely to be ELs than the overall student population.
ELs with disabilities were more likely to be classified as having a specific learning disability, or speech or language impairment.
Where Are English Learners?
English Learners were heavily concentrated in districts and schools with their EL peers.
School districts where ELs comprised a high proportion of enrollment accounted for 46 percent of ELs in the country but only 15 percent of all students overall.
Districts
ELs
All students
Schools
ELs
All students
English Learners Mapped
Most Common Non-English Languages Spoken by English Learners
Although Spanish was the most commonly spoken language among ELs in most states, there was a wide variety of languages spoken by ELs across the states.
Wrap Up

Content: In 2014–15 , there were more than 4.8 million ELs across the country. a Nearly all of them (97 percent) participated in language instruction education programs. a, b The racial/ethnic composition of ELs differed significantly from that of the overall student population. a, c, d
The vast majority of ELs were Hispanic or Latino, while one-quarter of all students were Hispanic or Latino. This chart displays the percentage of the overall student population and English Learners from each race/ethnicity. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 % OF ALL STUDENTS/ELS IN 2014–15
In 2014–15, 25.3% of All students, or 12,719,359, were Hispanic All students In 2014–15, 4.9% of All students, or 2,449,136, were Asian All students In 2014–15, 49.7% of All students, or 24,918,224, were White All students In 2014–15, 15.5% of All students, or 7,802,140, were Black All students In 2014–15, 1.0% of All students, or 520,462, were American Indian All students In 2014–15, 3.2% of All students, or 1,602,423, were Two or more races All students In 2014–15, 0.3% of All students, or 175,653, were Pacific Islander* All students In 2014–15, 25.3% of ELs, or 12,719,359, were Hispanic ELs In 2014–15, 4.9% of ELs, or 2,449,136, were Asian ELs In 2014–15, 49.7% of ELs, or 24,918,224, were White ELs In 2014–15, 15.5% of ELs, or 7,802,140, were Black ELs In 2014–15, 1.0% of ELs, or 520,462, were American Indian ELs In 2014–15, 3.2% of ELs, or 1,602,423, were Two or more races ELs In 2014–15, 0.3% of ELs, or 175,653, were Pacific Islander* ELs
Hispanic Asian White Black American Indian Two or more races Pacific Islander*
Note (s): Less than 1 percent of all students are Pacific Islander. Source (s): U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts Data Warehouse (EDW), 2014–15. SEA File C141, LEP Enrolled.