At A Glance
Noteworthy Characteristics
- Data can be used to identify specific types of schools for studies on childhood obesity.
- School-level demographics can be linked by address/zip code/county.
- Provides data on racial/ethnic composition of private schools.
Website
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/
Purpose
To produce aggregate counts of private schools, students, and teachers, and to serve as a sampling frame for National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) sample surveys of private schools. This system also collects descriptive and demographic data on these schools, teachers, and students.
Target Population
Schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that meet the NCES definition of a private school (i.e., not supported primarily by public funds, provides classroom instruction for one or more of grades K-12 or comparable ungraded levels, and has one or more teachers).
Conducted
Began in 1989 (1989-1990 school year). Conducted biennially. Most recent year conducted was 2015-2016.
Sponsor
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
Special Note(s)
See also: National Center for Educational Statistics Common Core of Data (NCES/CCD)
PSS data are complemented by more in-depth information collected through the NCES’ Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), which is now called The National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS)
Sampling
Sample Design
Census design (estimated). Data are representative of U.S. private schools as defined by the National Center for Education Statistics. To learn more about the sampling design, see the PSS Overview and the 2015-2016 PSS Data File User’s Manual and Survey Documentation.
Sample Size
Data gathering does not involve sampling. The 2011-12 data included, 30,861 schools, 4,494,845 students, 420,880 full-time equivalent teachers.
The 2015-16 data have been released, 34,576 schools, 4,903,596 students, 481,558 full-time equivalent teachers.
Special Note(s)
A list frame of most private schools in the U.S. initially was developed for the 1989-1990 survey. The list is updated periodically by matching it with lists provided by national private school associations, state departments of education, and other national private school guides and sources. The list frame is supplemented by an area frame search of randomly selected geographic areas around the U.S. that is conducted by the Census Bureau. The two frames are used together to estimate the population of private schools in the U.S.
Key Variables
Demographic
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Enrollment by sex | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
| Grade levels at school | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
| Race/ethnicity of students | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
| Whether school primarily serves students with disabilities | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
Geocode/Linkage
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| State, school county, school address and latitude/longitude, and zip code | N/A |
Other
| Name | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|
| Location of school | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
| Type of school | Interview/questionnaire (school administrator) |
Data Access and Cost
Data Availability
Data are publicly available.
Cost
Free of charge.
Special Note(s)
Completion files are restricted access. A restricted data use license is required for access. Learn more about obtaining this license.
The most recent year for which data are available is not necessarily the most recent year this survey was conducted.
Geocode/Linkage
Geocode Variable(s)
State, school county, school address and latitude/longitude, and zip code.
Existing Linkages
None noted.
Selected Publications
General
Broughman SP and Swaim NL. Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States Results From the 2011-12 Private School Universe Survey. NCEDS 2013-316
Broughman SP, Rettig A., and Peterson J. Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results From the 2015–16 Private School Universe Survey NCES 2017-073.
Broughman SP, Swaim NL, Keaton PW. Characteristics of private schools in the United States: Results from the 2007-2008 Private School Universe Survey Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, 2009. NCES 2009-313.
Broughman SP, Swaim NL. Hryczaniuk CA. Characteristics of Private Schools in the United States: Results From the 2009-10 Private School Universe Survey. 2011. NCES 2011-339.
Methods
Resources
Data Query System
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/
