National Center for Education Statistics

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as part of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES), collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States; conducts studies on international comparisons of education statistics; and provides leadership in developing and promoting the use of standardized terminology and definitions for the collection of those statistics. Also supports the Data Analysis System (DAS) and the National Public School Locator.

NCES runs the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, often abbreviated IPEDS, as its core postsecondary education data collection program.

Useful NCES Links for researchers

 * Find a Public School
 * Find a Private School
 * Build a Table
 * NCES Handbooks On-Line
 * National Center for Education Statistics comparing private to public schools

National Center for Education Statistics