Private Schools
The Private School Universe Survey (PSS) by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collects data on private K-12 schools in the U.S. every two years. Since 1989, it has tracked enrollment, faculty, demographics, programs, and resources to support research and policy. As interest in private education grows, the PSS provides a clear picture of student populations, school characteristics, and trends. The 2021-22 cycle continues to track these metrics, ensuring an updated and accurate representation of the private school landscape.
For more information, visit the PSS Data Explorer.
Source
Source Description
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting education data in the United States and internationally. It fulfills a congressional mandate to gather, organize, and analyze comprehensive statistics on the state of education in the U.S. Additionally, NCES publishes reports and analyses, assists state and local education agencies in improving their statistical systems, and reviews educational activities in foreign countries.
The Private School Universe Survey (PSS), conducted by NCES, collects data on private K-12 schools in the U.S. every two years. Since 1989, it has tracked enrollment, faculty, demographics, programs, and resources to support research and policy decisions. As interest in private education grows, the PSS provides a clear picture of student populations, school characteristics, and trends. The 2021-22 cycle continues to monitor these metrics, ensuring an updated and accurate representation of the private school landscape.
Citation: Documentation for the NCES Private School Survey (2021-2022).
Methodology
Data was downloaded from the
Citation: Documentation to the NCES Private School Survey (2021-2022).
The Private School Universe Survey (PSS), conducted biennially by NCES, aims to collect comprehensive data on private K-12 schools in the U.S. The methodology combines a list frame, updated periodically through private school associations, state departments of education, and other sources, with an area frame search conducted by the Census Bureau to ensure complete coverage. The survey collects data on key school characteristics, including religious orientation, school level, enrollment, teachers, and school programs. For more details, the codebook for the 2021-22 survey can be found here, and further information on the PSS methodology is available on the NCES website here.
Data Breakouts Available
- Enrollments by Sex
- Enrollments by Race
- Enrollments by School Religious
- Enrollments by Grade Label