The long-term trend in the history of American education has been one of rising enrollment at all ages, encouraged at the elementary and secondary school ages by compulsory attendance laws and at the college ages by a rising rate of high school graduation. The increased availability of two-year colleges has also contributed substantially to the rise in college enrollment.

In 1973 , almost all persons between the ages of 6 and 16 were enrolled in school. Because of compulsory school attendance laws the proportion enrolled at these ages is not likely to change much, if any, in the future, although the total number of children attending elementary school has declined in recent years as a result of declining births. Among persons outside these conventional ages of school attendance, however, some changes in the enrollment rate are occurring. For example, at ages 3 to 5 years, the enrollment rate has risen from 38 percent in 1969 to 44 percent in 1973. At the same time, among young men of the age to enter college (18 and 19 years old) the enrollment rate has declined since 1969. These findings are based on results from the Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census in October 1973 and earlier years and relate to the civilian noninstitutional population 14 to 34 years old.