In This Guide
This guide covers Education Statistics.
See the main Statistics guide for additional, general resources and advice for finding and using statistics and data.
Who Produces Statistics
These agencies have the power to standardize reporting and collect information from a wide variety of institutions. This power is often mandated by law.
Research organizations often have a specific focus, and will produce surveys and publish results. Many are non-profit, and will release their findings to the public for free.
Voluntary surveys of members are often produced by professional organizations. These surveys often cover topics related to compensation, education, work duties, and other professional matters. Results may be available to everyone, or just members.
Individual Researchers.
A typical scholar lacks the ability to produce statistics on a scale similar to that of the government or a major research organization. Scholars often produce quantitative studies that collect data from smaller cohorts or groups.
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U.S. Government Statistics
- National Center for Education StatisticsCovers a variety of statistics for K-12 schools, libraries, and higher education.
- IPEDS - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemFind statistics for institutions of higher education.
- Digest of Education StatisticsYearly compilation of education statistics from pre-kindergarten through graduate school. Much of the data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics.
- Nation's Report CardThe National Assessment of Educational Progress provides information about students' knowledge and abilities in specific subject areas.
- Condition of EducationCongressionally mandated yearly report on the state of education.
- National Household Education SurveyThis survey covers learning from childhood through adulthood.
- Early Childhood Longitudinal StudyFollows three cohorts of children through their education. The study provides data from birth through eighth grade.
- Common Core of DataCollection of financial and non-financial data from public schools in the United States.
- Education Finance Statistics CenterContains financial data for public elementary and secondary schools.
- Statistical Abstract of the United StatesContains a variety of statistics about the United States, including Education.
International and Foreign Government Statistics
- Statistics Canada - EducationCollects a variety of educational statistics for the federal government of Canada.
- World Bank EdStatsProvides data for individual countries, as well as data from international assessments such as PISA or TIMSS.
- UN EducationFind statistics related to the UN's educational programs and development goals.
- OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)Test of educational abilities of 15-year-olds from over 70 countries.
- Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)Assessment of 4th and 8th grade students from more than 60 countries.
Research Organizations & Think Tanks
Below are some selected research organizations that work on education topics.
Beware: Many think tanks have a policy bias that will impact their reports. Their reports do not go through a peer-review process. Be sure to evaluate, evaluate, evaluate!
- Pew Charitable Trusts - EducationProduces reports on early education, education quality, and student debt.
- Kid's Count from Annie E. Casey FoundationNational and state-by-state attempt to collect data about the status of children.
- RAND Corporation - EducationProduces public policy reports on current topics in education.
- Sloan ConsortiumFocuses on online education.
Professional Organizations
This is a small list of professional organizations in education. Many other organizations will produce selected statistics.
Explore educational organizations in your specialization to see what research and publications they produce.
- American Educational Research Association
- National Education AssociationHighlights specific statistics based on issues and policy positions of the organization.
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