Visualizing Washington's Teacher Workforce
Understanding the trends impacting teacher recruitment and retention
Teacher Turnover
Understanding the stability of the teacher workforce
Key Findings
- Washington’s teacher mobility patterns are similar to national averages.
- Eighty-four percent of teachers continued teaching in their district in 2016/17 from the prior school year.
- Sixteen percent of teachers left teaching in their district after 2015/16, half of which were no longer teaching in Washington public schools.
- Teachers of color had slightly lower turnover rates than white teachers, which differs from national turnover rates.
Teacher retention rates have decreased over time.
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers who taught in the district during the prior school year
>90% | 85–89.9% | 80–84.9% | <80%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
In 2016/17, 84 percent of teachers had remained in their district from 2015/16. This is lower than in 2011/12, when 92 percent of teachers had remained in their district from 2010/11. This trend of decreasing retention rates is reflected in most districts across the state.
Teacher mobility rates have stayed about the same over time in Washington
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers moving to another district
0% | 0.1–4.9% | 5–9.9% | >10%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
When teachers leave their district, typically 40 to 50 percent of them move to another district in Washington to teach. Teacher mobility from one district to another stayed about the same over time, fluctuating 5 to 7 percent each year between 2011/12 and 2015/16.
The percentage of teachers no longer teaching in Washington has increased over time.
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers leaving teaching in Washington
0% | 0.1–4.9% | 5–9.9% | >10%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
The percentage of teachers who were no longer teaching in Washington public schools increased steadily from 5 percent after 2011/12 to 8 percent after 2015/16. These percentages include only teachers who did not return to teaching in Washington public schools by the end of 2016/17. Teachers who returned to the classroom after a gap in employment of a year or more are not counted as leaving the profession in Washington.
On average, turnover rates were slightly lower for teachers of color than white teachers.
LEGEND: Differences in percentages of white teachers and teachers of color leaving the district
Teachers of color leave at a higher rate that white teachers
Teachers of color and white teachers leave at about the same rates
Teachers of color leave at lower rates than white teachers
No teachers of color reported
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
In general, teachers of color left teaching in their districts at slightly lower rates than white teachers. For example, after 2015/16, 6 percent of white teachers and 5 percent of teachers of color left teaching in their districts. These results differ from findings from a recent study that used nationally representative survey data to conclude that teachers of color had a slightly higher turnover rate than white teachers between 1987 and 2013.
Questions to Consider
What factors led to the decrease in the percentage of teachers continuing to teach in a school district from the prior school year between 2011/12 and 2016/17?
What local and state policies and practices improve teacher retention in Washington state? Which practices are effective for retaining teachers of color?
Key Findings
- Washington’s teacher mobility patterns are similar to national averages.
- Eighty-four percent of teachers continued teaching in their district in 2016/17 from the prior school year.
- Sixteen percent of teachers left teaching in their district after 2015/16, half of which were no longer teaching in Washington public schools.
- Teachers of color had slightly lower turnover rates than white teachers, which differs from national turnover rates.
Teacher retention rates have decreased over time.
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers who taught in the district during the prior school year
>90% | 85–89.9% | 80–84.9% | <80%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
In 2016/17, 84 percent of teachers had remained in their district from 2015/16. This is lower than in 2011/12, when 92 percent of teachers had remained in their district from 2010/11. This trend of decreasing retention rates is reflected in most districts across the state.
Teacher mobility rates have stayed about the same over time in Washington
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers moving to another district
0% | 0.1–4.9% | 5–9.9% | >10%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
When teachers leave their district, typically 40 to 50 percent of them move to another district in Washington to teach. Teacher mobility from one district to another stayed about the same over time, fluctuating 5 to 7 percent each year between 2011/12 and 2015/16.
The percentage of teachers no longer teaching in Washington has increased over time.
LEGEND: Percentage of teachers leaving teaching in Washington
0% | 0.1–4.9% | 5–9.9% | >10%
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
The percentage of teachers who were no longer teaching in Washington public schools increased steadily from 5 percent after 2011/12 to 8 percent after 2015/16. These percentages include only teachers who did not return to teaching in Washington public schools by the end of 2016/17. Teachers who returned to the classroom after a gap in employment of a year or more are not counted as leaving the profession in Washington.
On average, turnover rates were slightly lower for teachers of color than white teachers.
LEGEND: Differences in percentages of white teachers and teachers of color leaving the district
Teachers of color leave at a higher rate that white teachers
Teachers of color and white teachers leave at about the same rates
Teachers of color leave at lower rates than white teachers
No teachers of color reported
Source: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, S-275 Personnel Reporting, 2011/12–2016/17.
In general, teachers of color left teaching in their districts at slightly lower rates than white teachers. For example, after 2015/16, 6 percent of white teachers and 5 percent of teachers of color left teaching in their districts. These results differ from findings from a recent study that used nationally representative survey data to conclude that teachers of color had a slightly higher turnover rate than white teachers between 1987 and 2013.
Questions to Consider
What factors led to the decrease in the percentage of teachers continuing to teach in a school district from the prior school year between 2011/12 and 2016/17?
What local and state policies and practices improve teacher retention in Washington state? Which practices are effective for retaining teachers of color?