Teacher Profiles

California’s teaching force remains overwhelmingly white even though minority students now make up a majority. A quarter of teachers either lack credentials or have yet to complete two years of probationary service. California also has a higher percentage of teachers older than 50 than any state in the nation, suggesting that retirements will require schools to find many new teachers soon.

CALIFORNIA TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS

Statistics

Average age: 43.1

Average years in district: 11.6

Average years in education: 14.2

Percent tenured: 71.3

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Salary averages

California: $43,114*

National: $37,685

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Highest Salaries

Connecticut: $50,254

Alaska: $49,620

New York: $48,115

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Ethnic breakdown

White: 78.8%

Hispanic: 10.6%

Black: 5.%

Asian: 3.8%

Other: 1.8%

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Gender makeup

Male 28.4%

Female: 71.6%

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TEACHING OUT OF FIELD

Percentage of public high school teachers with less than a minor in the subject they teach.

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Subject Percentage Math 46.4% Science 22.6 Social Studies 13.3 English 24.8 Foreign Language 26.9 Vocational Education 19.1 Art/Music 37.8 Physical Education 25.4 Life Science 30.7 History 46.9 Physical Science 52.0

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SAT SCORES OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS 1997

Intended college major: Education

Verbal and math score: 949

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Intended college major: Natural Sciences

Verbal and math score: 986

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Intended college major: Biological Sciences

Verbal and math score: 1084

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Intended college major: Business and Commerce

Verbal and math score: 983

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Intended college major: General or Interdisciplinary

Verbal and math score: 1079

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Intended college major: Health ad Allied Services

Verbal and math score: 998

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Intended college major: Home Economics

Verbal and math score: 905

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Intended college major: Language and Literature

Verbal and math score: 1141

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Intended college major: Mathematics

Verbal and math score: 1149

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Intended college major: Physical Sciences

Verbal and math score: 1154

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Intended college major: Social Sciences and History

Verbal and math score: 1026

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Intended college major: Technical and Vocational

Verbal and math score: 887

* estimated

Sources: California Department of Education, National Commission on Teachers and America’s Future, National Education Assn.