Where Teachers Stay the Longest (and Where Turnover is Highest) Across the U.S. – Michigan Ranks Eighth in Retention

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Article courtesy of Radius.ac.

• New York teachers lead the nation with an average of 10.8 years at their current school, 35% above the national average of eight years.
• Rhode Island teachers have the highest total teaching experience at 16.9 years and show strong school commitment with 10.3 years at their current institution.
• Nevada ranks last with teachers staying at schools for just 5.3 years on average, 33.75% below the national average.

Teachers in New York are sticking with their schools longer than anywhere else in the U.S., new research by Radius.ac shows – averaging 10.8 years in the same classroom.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Teacher and Principal Survey, the study found a clear divide: teachers in the Northeast are the most likely to stay put, while those in the Southwest tend to change schools more often.

Another interesting finding is that more than a third of public school teachers (37.9%) have been in their current role for three years or less – and only about one in five (21.6%) have stayed put for 15 years or longer.

The 10 states where teachers are the most committed to their schools

New York tops the list, with teachers staying at their schools for an average of 10.8 years – about 35% longer than the national average of eight years. More than a third (35.4%) have been in the same school for 15 years or more.

Pennsylvania comes second, with teachers remaining at their schools for 10.6 years – 32.5% above average. Nearly a third (32.8%) have been in the same school for at least 15 years.

Rhode Island ranks third, with an average of 10.3 years – 28.75% higher than the national figure. Almost one in three teachers (31.8%) have stayed at their school for 15 years or longer.

New Jersey and New Hampshire share fourth place, each averaging 10.2 years – 27.5% above the national benchmark. In New Jersey, 31.9% of teachers have been at their schools for 15 years or more, while in New Hampshire the figure is slightly higher at 32.6%.

Ohio is fifth, where teachers average 10.0 years – 25% above the national average. More than a quarter (28.5%) have remained in the same school for at least 15 years.

Connecticut ranks sixth, with teachers staying an average of 9.6 years – 20% above the national rate. Just over a quarter (27.6%) have committed to the same school for 15 years or longer.

Illinois and Maine tie for seventh at 9.4 years – 17.5% above the national average. In Illinois, 25.9% of teachers have stayed at the same school for 15 years or more, while in Maine the figure rises to 27.3%.

Michigan and Nebraska are tied in eighth, each averaging 9.3 years – about 16% above average. Michigan reports 28.8% of teachers staying at the same school for 15 years or more, compared with 23.5% in Nebraska.

Iowa ranks ninth, with an average tenure of 9.2 years – 15% above the national average. Almost a quarter (23.2%) of teachers have been at their schools for at least 15 years.

Finally, Massachusetts and California share tenth place, both averaging 9.1 years – 13.75% above the national average. In Massachusetts, exactly 25% of teachers have stayed at the same school for 15 years or longer, while in California the figure stands at 26%.

The states where teachers are the least committed to their schools

But while some teachers have demonstrated strong loyalty to their schools, this is not a trend across the country.

Teachers in Nevada are the least likely to stay put, spending an average of 5.3 years at their current schools – about 34% below the national average of eight years. Only 9.9% have stayed in the same school for 15 years or more.

Arizona comes next, where teachers average just 5.6 years – 30% below the national average. Long-term stability is rare, with only 10% of educators staying in the same school for 15 years or more.

North Carolina is third from the bottom, with an average of 6.1 years – 23.75% below the national figure. Just 13.8% of teachers have remained in their schools for 15 years or longer.

Mississippi follows, with teachers staying 6.2 years – 22.5% under the national average. The state has one of the lowest long-term commitment rates, with only 12.9% of teachers spending 15 years or more in the same school.

Finally, three states tie for fifth from the bottom – Colorado, Texas, and South Carolina – each averaging 6.5 years – 18.75% below the national average. In Colorado, 13.8% of teachers have stayed in the same school for 15 years or longer, compared with 13.2% in Texas and 13.8% in South Carolina.

An interesting finding outside the top and bottom rankings is the relationship between total teaching experience and school commitment. While Utah has the lowest total teaching experience at 12.1 years, it ranks 25th for school commitment, suggesting its teachers may change schools but stay in the profession.

The data also shows that states with high teacher retention tend to have more experienced educators overall, with 53.8% of New York teachers having 15 or more years of total teaching experience compared to just 37.4% in Arizona.

Gadi Kovler, CEO of Radius.ac, commented on the findings, “The regional patterns in teacher retention highlight systemic differences in how states support their educators. States with higher teacher retention typically invest more in competitive salaries, better working conditions, and stronger professional development programs.

“School stability is critical for student success. When teachers stay at a school longer, they build deeper relationships with students, parents, and colleagues, creating a more cohesive learning environment.”

Methodology:

The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides data from the National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS). The most recent survey (2020/21) data from the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)‘ National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS) was analyzed to determine which states have the teachers with the least experience on the job.

Around 9,900 public schools are included in the sample, with approximately 68,300 teachers in total. The states have been ranked by average years teachers spent in the same school.

(The data covers public K-12 schools)

Full State Rankings – Teacher Commitment to Schools

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