Who'll teach in US schools?

K-12 schools in the US are finding it increasingly difficult to retain teachers, with potentially far-reaching ramifications for society. Over the past decade, the annual teacher turnover rate has hovered around 8% nationally, and is more than double that for schools designated for Title 1 funding. By comparison, the annual turnover rate in high-performing jurisdictions, such as Finland, Ontario and Singapore, is about 3-4%.

When school districts can't attract and retain enough teachers, students suffer. And the Covid-19 pandemic has only compounded the nation's education talent challenges. McKinsey surveyed more than 1,800 US educators, school leaders and school mental health professionals at the end of the 2021-22 school year....

There is no easy fix for lowering teacher turnover rates. Our research found that more than half of teachers say that compensation is driving them out the door, while more than a third say it's why they are, instead, sticking with teaching.


Furthermore, almost three-quarters of respondents who plan to leave cite an unmanageable workload, while nearly three-quarters of those who plan to stay say their workload is manageable....

From 'K-12 Teachers are Quitting. What Would Make Them Stay?', McKinsey & Co