Our Methodology
Every number on PlainSchools traces to a federal survey. This page explains where the data comes from, how we process it, and what our Resource Investment Index measures — so you can verify every figure yourself.
NCES collects
State education agencies submit enrollment, staffing, and finance data annually to the National Center for Education Statistics.
PlainSchools downloads
We pull the latest CCD flat files and F-33 finance survey from the NCES public data portal.
Pipeline transforms
Fixed-width and CSV files are parsed, deduplicated, geo-resolved, and merged into per-school profiles.
Profiles published
Every school and district gets a page with the raw numbers, computed comparisons, and cited sources.
Data Source
All data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), specifically the Common Core of Data (CCD) for the 2022–23 school year. NCES operates under the U.S. Department of Education.
Three CCD components:
- School-level universe files — Enrollment, grade range, school type, charter/magnet status, free/reduced-price lunch eligibility.
- Staff files — Teacher counts and student-teacher ratios.
- F-33 Finance Survey — District-level per-pupil expenditure and federal/state/local revenue breakdowns.
Processing Pipeline
We download NCES CCD flat files and transform them into individual school and district profiles:
- Parse fixed-width and CSV NCES files for the 2024–25 reporting year.
- Deduplicate on NCES school ID (NCESSCH) and district ID (LEAID).
- Compute student-teacher ratios from enrollment and staff headcount.
- Merge finance data from the F-33 survey at the district level.
- Resolve geographic hierarchies: school → district → county → state.
Resource Investment Index
The Resource Investment Index is a composite score (0–100) that measures the level of federal resource allocation at a school — not academic outcomes or test scores. It answers: "How well-resourced is this school relative to its peers?"
Lower ratios score higher. Calibrated against the national average of ~16:1.
Number offered (high schools). Schools without AP receive a low score on this factor.
Presence of a gifted and talented program, indicating enrichment beyond standard curriculum.
Students per counselor. Benchmarked against the ASCA recommendation of 250:1.
Share of students missing 10%+ of school days (CRDC). Lower rates score higher.
Each factor is normalized (0–100), then averaged across available indicators. Scores calibrate to letter grades: A (85+), B (65–84), C (50–64), D (40–49), F (below 40). Schools with fewer than three available indicators receive a note that the score reflects partial data.
What the index does not measure: Standardized test scores, graduation rates, college readiness, parent satisfaction, or teacher quality. It measures resource inputs — staffing, programs, and support services. A high Resource Investment Index does not guarantee strong academic outcomes. Use this index alongside the raw metrics on each school page.
Data Vintage & Collection
Current data reflects the 2024–25 school year. NCES releases updated CCD data annually, typically in late fall. We update our database when new data becomes available. Between releases, school openings, closures, and staffing changes are not reflected in our data. NCES collects CCD data annually from state education agencies, who compile it from local education agencies in their state. Every public school and school district in the United States is required to report enrollment, staffing, and operational data. NCES applies quality control checks, imputation for missing values, and validation before publishing the final CCD files — making it the most comprehensive and authoritative inventory of American public education.
Update Schedule
NCES releases updated CCD data annually, typically in late fall for the prior school year. The F-33 Finance Survey is released on a slightly longer timeline. We process and publish updates when new CCD files become available.
Limitations
- Smaller or newly opened schools may have incomplete records in NCES files.
- Finance data is reported at the district level — per-school spending is not available in CCD.
- Demographic data uses CCD ethnicity categories as reported by each district to NCES.
- Private schools are not included; CCD covers public schools only.
- Student-teacher ratios are computed from headcount data and do not account for part-time teachers, specialists, or instructional aides.
- Free and reduced-price lunch eligibility is an imperfect proxy for economic disadvantage.
Verify the Data Yourself
Every school page links directly to its NCES source record. Visit NCES CCD School Search, enter the 12-digit NCES ID shown on any profile, and compare the federal record to what we display. If you find a discrepancy, let us know — we correct errors against the source within one business day.
Not Affiliated
PlainSchools is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education, NCES, or any government agency. We are an independent data portal providing public information in a more accessible format.
Related Federal Resources
- FOIA.gov — Freedom of Information Act portal for requesting federal records.
- USA.gov Government Works — Directory of U.S. federal agencies and public datasets.
- Data.gov — Central repository of U.S. federal open data.
- Regulations.gov — Federal Register notices and rulemaking activity.