Articles
Longer-form pieces on U.S. public school data, education finance, NCES metrics, teacher staffing, student demographics, and the policies shaping American public education.
How to Look Up Your School's Federal Data Profile
SchoolDataLookup aggregates NCES data into easy-to-navigate school profiles. Here's how to find the information that matters most for any public school.
The Teacher Retention Crisis: What State Data Reveals
Teacher turnover has accelerated since the pandemic. State data shows which regions and school types are bearing the greatest staffing burden.
Understanding NCES Common Core of Data: A Guide for Parents and Researchers
The NCES Common Core of Data is the most comprehensive public source for U.S. school information. Here's how to read it and what it actually tells you.
What School Lunch Data Reveals About Economic Inequality
Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility is one of the most reliable proxies for school poverty in federal data. Here's what the numbers show.
How Teacher-Student Ratios Are Calculated and Why They Matter
Teacher-student ratio is one of the most cited school metrics — but it's also frequently misunderstood. Here's what federal data actually measures.
Charter Schools by the Numbers: What Federal Data Actually Shows
Charter schools are one of the most debated topics in American education policy. NCES data offers a fact-based view of enrollment, demographics, and distribution.
Title I Schools: What Funding Follows Low-Income Students
Title I is the largest federal education grant program, directing billions annually to high-poverty schools. Here's how the money flows and what it funds.
Chronic Absenteeism in U.S. Public Schools: A Growing Crisis
Chronic absenteeism — missing 10% or more of school days — affects millions of students. Understanding the scale of the problem starts with the data.
Graduation Rate Gaps: Urban vs. Rural School Districts
The narrative that rural schools outperform urban ones on graduation rates is more complicated than it seems. Federal data reveals a nuanced picture.
Special Education Enrollment Has Grown — Here's What the Numbers Show
The share of public school students receiving special education services has risen steadily. Understanding what drives these trends requires looking beyond the headline numbers.