The general statistical summary of pupils receiving secondary instruction shows the various classes of institutions engaged in the work, with the attendance upon each. The total attendance is 265,024. According to the statistical summary of pupils in classical and scientific preparatory courses, 34,326, or 13 per cent. of the whole number, are preparing for superior instruction. The proportion of students preparing for scientific courses increases slightly from year to year.

Considering the country as a whole, the greatest number of students preparing for classical courses are in secondary schools (Table VI), and the greatest number preparing for scientific courses are in universities and colleges. Considering the country by geographical sections, the work of preparing students for classical and scientific courses is found to be distributed as follows:

This shows that in the New England States more than two-thirds of the students reported as preparing for superior instruction are in schools classed in Table VII. In the middle Atlantic States and the Territories they are nearly equally divided between the three classes of institutions. In the southern Atlantic and Gulf States about one-half, and in the States of the Pacific coast a little less than one-half, of the work is done in schools classed in Table VI. In the northern central States a little more than two-thirds, and in the southern central States more than one-half, of the work is done in the preparatory departments of universities and colleges.

As compared with 1880, this exhibit indicates for the southern Atlantic and Gulf States a decided increase in the proportion of the work done in secondary, to the relief of superior institutions, and a similar though less marked change in the northern central States. Otherwise the distribution of the work is about the same as at the earlier date.

SECONDARY (INCLUDING PREPARATORY) INSTRUCTION.

TABLE VI.-INSTITUTIONS FOR SECONDARY INSTRUCTION.

The following is a comparative summary of the number of institutions for secondary instruction (exclusive of high schools, preparatory schools, and departments of normal schools and of institutions for superior instruction) making returns from 1875 to 1885, inclusive (1883 omitted):

5,999 5, 963

5,747

No. of institutions.. 1, 143 1,229 1,226 1,227
No. of instructors.. 6, 081
No. of students..... 108, 235 106, 647 98, 371 100, 374 108, 734 110, 277 122, 617 138, 384 152, 354 160, 137

1,236

1,264

5, 961

6, 009

1,336
6, 489

1,482 1,588
7,449 7,923

1,617

8, 186

States of the

Pacific coast.

Territories.

Total

1,617 a3, 463 4,723 a160, 137 74, 369 79, 007 95, 563 19, 90221, 481

a Sex not reported in all cases.

974 1,015 692, 241 40, 375 23, 392, 166 10,861,725 1, 207, 755 2,389, 941

6 Classification not reported in all cases.

The comparative summary of institutions reporting in Table VI shows a steady increase in the number of schools, instructors, and students. In this increase the New England and Middle States apparently bear no part, the number of this class of schools reported from the two sections having decreased by 44 since 1877.

The character of the schools as regards the courses of instruction, the number of teachers, equipment, and funds is very fully set forth in the detailed statistics of Table VI of the Appendix.

Instrumental music is taught in two-thirds of the schools, and vocal music and drawing in more than one-half.

The following table shows the percentage of secondary schools in each geographical section reporting chemical laboratories and philosophical apparatus, with the percentage of increase since 1877:

A little over 5 per cent. of the pupils of the secondary schools are reported as preparing for classical courses in college, and 2.8 per cent. for scientific courses. The number reported as entering colleges and scientific schools since the close of last year is 28 per cent. of the number reported last year as preparing for superior institutions. The majority of all the scholars are in the English course, and it is probable that these, together with a large proportion of the scholars not so classified, complete their education in the secondary schools.

A great trust is therefore committed to these schools, and it is of the utmost importance that the public opinion of the communities in which they are placed should hold them up to a high standard.

The report of productive funds alone is sufficient to indicate the need of more liberal endowments for this part of the general educational work of the country.

TABLE VII.-PREPARATORY SCHOOLS.

Detailed statistics of preparatory schools will be found in Table VII of the Appendix. The following is a comparative statement of the statistics of these schools as reported to the Bureau from 1875 to 1885, inclusive (1883 omitted):

1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1884. 1835.

Number of instructors...
Number of students..

12, 954 12, 369 12, 510 12, 538 13, 561 13, 239 13, 275 15, 681 18, 319 | 17, 605