President Donald Trump’s recently announced $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applicants has ignited significant concern among public school administrators nationwide. This policy has also prompted a deeper examination into the number of international teachers currently working in K-12 schools across the United States.
According to data from the National Education Association, over 500 K-12 public school districts employed more than 2,300 H-1B visa holders during fiscal year 2025. The exact total is uncertain because the data only includes visas approved that year, whether new or renewed. Still, these educators represent a modest but strategically important segment of the workforce.
H-1B teachers frequently fill positions that are challenging to staff with domestic recruits. Federal data from fall 2022 revealed 3.2 million full-time public school teachers nationwide, yet H-1B educators are often concentrated in specialized fields such as science, mathematics, and special education. They bring advanced qualifications and valuable international experience, as reported by K-12 Dive.
Urban and Rural Districts Alike Rely on H-1B Teachers
While large urban districts employ the majority of these teachers, many rural schools also depend heavily on them. For instance, the Dallas Independent School District hired 157 H-1B teachers. Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools in Georgia hired 79, the District of Columbia Public Schools 62, and the New York City Department of Education 56, according to K-12 Dive.
Alaska serves as a prime rural example. The Bering Strait School District employed 35 H-1B teachers, and the Lower Kuskokwim School District employed 20. A spokesperson for the National Education Association emphasized that, “The $100,000 fee on H-1B visas proposed by the current administration would severely impact these districts’ ability to serve their students,” as reported by K-12 Dive.
States with the Highest Reliance on H-1B Educators
The NEA’s analysis indicates that Texas employed the most H-1B teachers in fiscal year 2025, with 271 in total. North Carolina followed with 213, and California with 195. Other states with over 100 H-1B teachers included Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, and Minnesota, as reported by K-12 Dive.
This data clearly demonstrates that international teachers are concentrated in states actively struggling to fill high-demand teaching roles.
Legal and Policy Implications
The NEA’s findings emerge amidst a pending lawsuit filed by various education, union, religious, and nonprofit organizations challenging this new fee. Plaintiffs contend that the fee could exacerbate existing teacher shortages by deterring schools from hiring qualified international educators. District leaders in Texas and North Carolina have characterized the fee as an “unsustainable cost” that would further strain under-resourced schools, according to K-12 Dive.
For districts heavily reliant on international talent, this fee could drastically alter their staffing strategies. Educators and policymakers are now confronted with the complex challenge of balancing immigration policy with the critical operational needs of K-12 schools.
Looking Ahead
The ongoing debate surrounding H-1B teachers underscores a larger challenge within American education: how to maintain a skilled teaching workforce amidst increasing demand for STEM education and simultaneous restrictions on international recruitment. For students across the nation, the stakes are undeniably high, as access to qualified teachers directly impacts both educational opportunity and equity.