Research Guides: Education: Statistics

Education Statistics

There is a multitude of statistical sources both online and in print. Depending upon your field AND topic, the information you need might be from the government, journal articles, associations, non-profit organizations, or others source.

**Additionally, search databases to find articles with statistics and use a search engine, such as Google, to find websites with information. REMEMBER, be sure the website is from a reliable source!**

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) This link opens in a new window
Statistics and data from the federal government on education in the United States.

Digest of Education Statistics
Compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. From the NCES.
Report Card on American Education
Provides state-by-state trends for the past twenty years and presents written analysis of data and the latest data available for public elementary and secondary schools in each state. Topics include student performance, spending and staffing. Sources for each table are provided.
Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE)
From the NCES, this program provides access to census information by school district to identify and understand the social and spatial context of education in the U.S.
MapED
From the NCES, this is a new dynamic data mapping tool that provides geographic context and access to education demographic datasets.
Institute of International Education: Open Doors
Includes data on foreign students studying in the United States and U.S. students studying abroad. Information included are enrollment numbers, place of origin of international students, source of funds for international students, visa status, sex, and major fields of specialization.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Global and internationally comparable statistics on education, science, technology, culture and communication.

General Demographic Statistics

Census.gov This link opens in a new window
Website of the U.S. Census Bureau. Comprehensive data on the United States summarized and analyzed.

data.census.gov
A source for population, economic, housing, and geographic information and data about the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island areas. Includes information about income, education, insurance, employment, housing, poverty, veterans, and much more. Replaces American FactFinder
UNdata
Statistical information from member states on agriculture, crime, education, employment, energy, environment, health, HIV/AIDS, human development, industry, information and communication technology, national accounts, population, refugees, tourism, trade, as well as the Millennium Development Goals indicators.

Finding Stats in Government Sources

Many government websites and publications include statistics; however, government websites can sometimes be frustrating to use and often it's easier to find statistics in government sources by using a search engine such as Google. Along with words to describe your topic, use these tricks to find statistics in government sources via Google:

Limit by URL Domain: site:gov

This limits your search to websites that end in "gov," which are typically U.S. (federal, state, and city) government websites.

Limit by Filetype: filetype:pdf

This limits your search to PDFs. Many government publications are in PDF format. Other filetypes such as .ppt (PowerPoints), .xls (Excel), and .doc (Word documents) work as well.

Add the word statistics to your search.

Example Searches

site:gov filetype:pdf education statistics
site:gov homeless Colorado statistics

Bullying in Schools

Percentage of students ages 12–18 who reported being bullied at school during the school year, by type of bullying and sex: 2017

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Facts