Summertime is winding down and vacations are coming to an end, signaling that back-to-school time is here. It’s a time that many children eagerly anticipate — catching up with old friends and making new ones, and settling into a new daily routine. Parents and children alike scan newspapers and websites looking for sales on a multitude of school supplies and the latest clothing fads and essentials. Following are key highlights compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau outlining various statistics associated with the return to classrooms by our nation’s students and teachers.

Back-to-School Shopping

$8.8 billion:  The estimated sales at family clothing stores in August 2015. The sales at bookstores in August 2015 were estimated at $1.6 billion.

28,138:  The number of family clothing stores in 2014. For back-to-school shopping, choices of retail establishments were plenty: In 2014, there were 7,351 children and infants clothing stores; 25,214 shoe stores; 6,823 office supply and stationery stores; 6,888 bookstores; and 7,898 department stores.

Students

77.2 million:  The number of children and adults enrolled in school throughout the country in October 2014 — from nursery school to college. They comprised 25.6 percent of the entire population age 3 and older.

$11,009:  The amount of current spending per pupil for elementary and secondary public school systems in the United States in 2014.

Pre-K through 12 Enrollment

48.3 million:  Fall enrollment for elementary and secondary public school systems in 2013.

Languages

11.8 million:  Number of school-age children (5 to 17) who spoke a language other than English at home; 8.5 million of these children spoke Spanish at home.

Colleges

4,688:  The number of colleges, universities and professional schools in the United States in 2014. There were 1,083 junior colleges.

For more key back-to-school statistics, please visit the U.S. Census Bureau's latest issue of Facts for Features:  Back to School:  2016--2017.