Elementary Education: Finding the Best Schools and Programs
Elementary education, often called grade school, serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade, though grade configurations may vary. With nearly 80,000 public and private schools listed in directories, choosing the right elementary school and the best path to becoming an elementary educator is a significant decision. This article explores the landscape of elementary education, including school statistics, qualities of effective elementary schools, and institutions offering strong elementary education programs.
The Elementary Education Landscape: Schools and Enrollment
Data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) paints a broad picture of elementary education in the United States. As of 2020-2021, there were 70,055 public pre-K, elementary, and middle schools across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 2019-2020, there were 18,870 private schools at the same levels. That comes to a total of 88,925 schools. Public school enrollment for kindergarten through fifth grade totaled 21.23 million students in fall 2021, while private school enrollment for pre-K through eighth grade was 4.07 million students in fall 2019.
In elementary school, students are taught how to learn new concepts and information. Students grow their knowledge in subject areas including reading, writing, math, science, social studies, the arts, physical education and health.
Top Colleges for Elementary Education Majors
For those aspiring to shape young minds, several colleges offer exceptional elementary education programs. These programs often blend theoretical knowledge with practical experience, preparing graduates for successful teaching careers.
Southern Institutions with Strong Education Programs
When considering colleges for an elementary education major, especially in the Southern United States, there are several institutions that stand out due to their strong education programs, supportive environments, and financial stability options. Here are some notable colleges:
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to Elementary Education Master's Programs
- University of Florida (UF): Located in Gainesville, UF offers a highly regarded College of Education with various undergraduate programs in elementary education. The program emphasizes hands-on experience through fieldwork and student teaching. UF’s BA in Education Sciences, launched in 2020, is ranked highly. This program gives students a foundation in education, preparing them to further explore a career in the field. The College of Education at the University of Florida continues to dominate the rankings, with a top spot as the home of one nation’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
- Florida State University (FSU): FSU’s College of Education provides a comprehensive curriculum for aspiring elementary educators. The university has a strong focus on research and community engagement, which can enhance your educational experience. The FSU College of Education offers world-class academics and a close-knit community. Faculty are pioneers in their fields - and students can work directly with them, at the forefront of education. They also have access to cutting-edge technology and resources, the most advanced teaching technology for testing and learning.
- University of Georgia (UGA): UGA’s College of Education is known for its commitment to preparing teachers through innovative teaching practices and extensive field experiences. The program also offers opportunities for involvement in local schools. Education students have the option of several different pathways to pursue at UGA. Via the BSEd program, they can study areas like English Education, Health and Physical Education, Middle Grades Education, Science Education, Special Education, and more. Another option is the so-called “Double Dawg,” a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree pathway. Students may earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years or fewer. Examples include an AB in French/MAT in World Language Education, AB in Political Science/MAT in Social Studies, and BSEd in Science Education/MEd in Science Education.
- Auburn University: Auburn’s College of Education offers a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.
Other Notable Institutions Nationwide
Beyond the South, numerous other universities offer exceptional programs for aspiring elementary educators:
- Vanderbilt University (Peabody College): Through Vanderbilt’s Peabody College, students can pursue programs in areas like Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education. Future teachers will gain classroom experience early on in college and are often required to pursue a non-education second major to gain knowledge in other topics. Peabody also offers master’s, Ed.D., and Ph.D. programs.
- Michigan State University (MSU): News’ best places in the country to earn an online master’s degree in education, MSU also boasts top undergraduate education programs. Both the elementary and secondary programs have been ranked highly, with fieldwork central to the curriculum. Students grow their understanding of pedagogy through internships and experiential learning.
- University of Washington (UW): The UW College of Education offers a wide variety of programs taught by nationally-recognized faculty, including undergraduate studies in areas like Early Childhood & Family Studies; Education, Communities & Organizations; Education, Learning & Society; and more.
- Ohio State University: Ohio State’s College of Education and Human Ecology encompasses a wide variety of programs at the undergraduate level and beyond.
- University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin): At UT Austin, students will learn how to teach children with different backgrounds and abilities.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW Madison): UW Madison’s School of Education offers a wide array of undergraduate programs. Students have a breadth of opportunities to conduct research and participate in experiential learning, such as volunteering, internships, and study abroad.
- Pennsylvania State University (Penn State): Penn State’s College of Education stays true to the belief that its students have the potential to positively impact the lives of others. Students will be equipped with the knowledge to pursue a range of careers across fields like policy-making, educational psychology, counseling, special education, and more.
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): The College creates a diverse community of learners. In 2014, UIUC received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award, recognizing its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Harvard University: Undergraduates at Harvard are encouraged to pursue the Teaching and Teacher Leadership (TTL) program at the Graduate School of Education, which houses the Harvard Teacher Fellows Program and its residency fieldwork model pathway. Students may also pursue a secondary field in Educational Studies, allowing them to examine the field of education from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
- Arizona State University (Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College): Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College offers degrees that blend subject matter knowledge, classroom techniques, and professional teaching experience - all before graduation. ASU is one of the best schools for elementary education. With this elementary education degree, you’ll be prepared with the skills and theory needed to teach children in grades K-8. In your junior year, this field experience will take the form of a part-time internship within a K-8 classroom.
- Stanford University: Through Stanford’s renowned Graduate School of Education, undergraduate students can explore pathways in teaching and learning, too. This is an undergraduate minor in education that offers a broad and focused study of research, theory, and practice.
- Indiana University (IU): The no. 1 school of education in Indiana, IU offers a bachelor’s degree in areas like Counseling and Student Services, Music Education, Special Education, Visual Arts Education, World Languages, and many others. Taught by well-known scholars and experts, graduates are routinely named the best teachers in Indiana.
- University of Kansas (KU): Offering the no. 1 Special Education Public Program, KU’s School of Education and Human Sciences offers a broad array of programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- University of Maryland: The College of Education at the University of Maryland offers extensive research opportunities at multiple levels, both graduate and undergraduate, along with practice-oriented programs. This Bachelor of Science in elementary education is designed to be completed within four years. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible for the state of Maryland’s elementary teacher certification.
- University of Virginia (UVA): Future teachers and current teachers alike have access to a range of degree and certificate programs at the UVA School of Education and Human Department. Just some of the niches students can pursue include Curriculum & Instruction, ESL Education, Gifted Education, Instructional Technology, and Social and Emotional Learning.
- University of Pennsylvania (UPenn): UPenn’s Graduate School of Education offers several pathways for graduate students, including multiple joint and dual degree offerings. Undergraduates, too, can gain preparation for a career in education. Students can take a number of courses taught by GSE faculty and learn alongside graduate students. Another option is submatriculation.
- Clemson University: A transformative leader in education, Clemson’s College of Education has a particular focus on serving underserved communities, offering award-winning programs in a range of areas. The College equips students for careers that make a difference in South Carolina and beyond.
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): The no. 7 public college of education - home to the no. One mission of the College is to close the inequity gap.
- New York University (NYU Steinhardt): Founded in 1890 as the first school of pedagogy in the US, NYU Steinhardt continues its mission of educating educators and fostering innovation and creativity. At the undergraduate level, students study in the classroom, while also pursuing internships, study abroad, and other experiential learning opportunities.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC): Over its 130-year history, UNC’s School of Education has served the state, educating teachers in a range of specialties. Today, the School offers undergraduate degrees in Human and Organizational Leadership Development, Human Development and Family Science, K-12 Music Education, and Education in Science and Teaching.
- University of Missouri (Mizzou): Mizzou’s College of Education & Human Development offers bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees in several niches and disciplines, and students engage in research and real teaching beginning sophomore year, completing their coursework in classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Elementary and special education programs culminate in a year-long senior year internship, called Senior Year On-Site Program.
Additional Institutions with Noteworthy Education Programs:
- SUNY Oneonta
- State University of New York at New Paltz
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- University of Delaware
- CUNY Queens College
- Iowa State University
- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
- University of Iowa
- Kansas State University
- Northern Arizona University
- Taylor University
- Washington State University
- Rider University
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- Tennessee Technological University
- University of the Cumberlands
- Fort Hays State University
- Temple University
- Utah State University
- University of Arizona
- CUNY Brooklyn College
- SUNY College at Potsdam
- Rowan University
- Mayville State University
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Whitworth University
- Salisbury University
- Western Kentucky University
- Indiana University-Indianapolis
- Kean University
- Brenau University
- Florida International University
- University of Illinois Chicago
- University of Missouri-St Louis
- Hannibal-LaGrange University
- Purdue University-Main Campus
- SUNY Old Westbury
- SUNY College at Plattsburgh
- Covenant College
- Bethel University
- Northwestern College
- St- John's University-New York
- Johnson University
- Dordt University
- Heritage University
- Towson University
- St- Thomas Aquinas College
- University of Rhode Island
- Calvin University
- Franklin College
- Ramapo College of New Jersey
- Clarke University
- Ripon College
- Central College
- University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Mount St- Mary's University
- University of Maryland-College Park
- Aurora University
- Wartburg College
- Northern Illinois University
- University of Wyoming
- Blackburn College
- University of Arkansas
- University of Nebraska at Omaha
- SUNY at Fredonia
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Saint Anselm College
- Holy Cross College
- Carolina University
- Alfred University
- Lees-McRae College
- Plymouth State University
- University of Montevallo
- Harding University
- Barclay College
- Westfield State University
- University of Nevada-Reno
- Wheaton College
- University of Kentucky
- Youngstown State University
- Colorado Christian University
- Old Dominion University
- Saint Ambrose University
- Mid-Atlantic Christian University
- Saint Leo University
- Ouachita Baptist University
- Butler University
- Boston College
- Asbury University
- Texas A&M University
- Louisiana State University (LSU)
- Louisiana Tech University
- University of Houston
- East Carolina University
- Hunter College
- Fort Hays State University
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
- University of Southern Mississippi
- University of Michigan
- Marshall University
- Mississippi State University (MSU)
Specific Elementary Education Programs
Several universities offer specialized elementary education programs with unique features:
- Texas A&M University: Offers a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary studies leading to a certification in EC-Grade 6 Core Subjects. The elementary education program is designed for future Texas teachers who want to work in an elementary school.
- Purdue University: The elementary education curriculum has been carefully tailored to align with both state and national standards for elementary teacher training.
- University of Florida: The Unified Elementary ProTeach (UEP) program is a five-year program culminating in a year’s internship and a master’s degree. There are also single and dual certification options available.
- Louisiana State University (LSU): Offers a choice of two concentrations: a four-year teacher certification track geared toward those who want to become teachers in grades 1 through 5, and a four-year program for students who do not wish to pursue the additional concentrations above.
- Kansas State University: The College of Education’s BS in education will prepare you for licensure in K-6 classroom settings. A professional development component of the degree in elementary education will see you complete forty hours of service that provides either educational services to youth and their families or professional services to the teaching discipline.
- Louisiana Tech University: Undergraduate programs in the area of elementary education have been recognized as some of the most innovative in the nation.
- University of Houston: The curriculum for this degree in elementary education includes teacher certification, with students graduating with a B.S. in Teaching & Learning.
- University of South Carolina: As a graduate of this bachelor’s degree in elementary education, you’ll be prepared to work with children in grades 2 to 6. You’ll also get the opportunity to specialize in additional areas of certification, including special education and literacy coaching.
- East Carolina University: Offers a B.S. in Elementary Education, which is combined with North Carolina A-level elementary licensure. As an elementary education major, you’ll have the opportunity to work directly with faculty members who are considered experts within their respective fields. You’ll also get multiple opportunities to work in classrooms throughout the region, with one real-world experience offered in each semester.
- The University of Iowa: Offers a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education comprising a minimum of 120 credit hours. You’ll also have the choice of combining this program with another.
- University of Wyoming: Offers a Bachelor of Science in elementary education that will prepare students to teach grades K-6, in addition to Wyoming state licensure.
- Hunter College: This degree in early elementary education will prepare students to become state-certified early childhood education teachers in New York State.
- Fort Hays State University: Students enrolling in this elementary teacher education program have a choice of studying on-campus or remotely, online.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF): The elementary education program is available face-to-face at the Anchorage UAF main campus or fully online, with internship opportunities available in different areas across the state.
- University of Southern Mississippi: Offers an Elementary Education/Special Education Dual Degree Program that is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. You’ll participate in field-based practicum placements in each semester, with a total of 840 hours of field-based instruction being part of the elementary teacher education program.
- University of Michigan: A large focus of the elementary teacher training program at UoM revolves around the practices intended to disrupt inequality at school. First-year students who want to pursue an elementary teaching career may also apply for the Teacher Education Preferred Admissions (TEPA) program.
- Marshall University: The bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Marshall University includes the CIF (Curriculum, Instruction, & Foundations) Program, which is designed to give pre-service teachers the necessary educational, elementary, and secondary foundations required by teachers. As part of your plan of study, you have the option of choosing an add-on endorsement for either special education or early childhood (Pre-K).
- Mississippi State University (MSU): With this bachelor’s degree in elementary education, you’ll be prepared to teach within elementary grades after gaining a strong foundation in your subject matter areas and the foundations of educational practice. Licensure options available include the early childhood (PreK-3) concentration, which leads to K-3 interdisciplinary certification and PreK endorsement. Option two is the middle school (K-8) concentration, plus two endorsement areas.
The Value of an Elementary Education Degree
Elementary education is a strong and stable career. These elementary education degree programs can open the doors to many other kinds of careers thanks to useful, transferable skills. The best colleges for elementary education can prepare you for a stable career that’s always sought-after. After all, we’ll always need competent teachers.
Read also: Your Guide to Elementary Education Masters
Read also: Shaping Future Educators
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