Student Demographics Research

Digest of Education Statistics, 2007
The 43rd annual Digest of Education Statistics report has been released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The Digest's primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of American education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The report contains a series of data tables covering a variety of topics, including the number of schools, colleges, and teachers; enrollments and graduates; educational attainment; finances; and international comparisons. (3/08)

Young Adults in the United States: A Mid-Decade Profile
A working paper from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Transitions to Adulthood presents a detailed profile of young adults (age 18 to 34) in the United States using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. The authors present data on their demographic, socioeconomic and occupational characteristics. The report also examines the timing and sequencing of conventional milestones of the transition to adulthood and how this may differ by gender, race/ethnicity, and nativity or generation. The early-transition cohort (18 to 24) is compared to the older cohorts (25 to 29 and 30 to 34). (2/08)

Rankings & Estimates: Rankings of the States 2006 and Estimates of School Statistics 2007
The National Education Association has released its 2006 rankings of the states and its estimates for 2007 school statistics. Part I of the report provides state-level data on an array of topics relevant to public education, including enrollment and attendance, faculty, and revenue and expenditures. Part II provides projections of public school enrollment, employment and compensation of personnel, and finances, as reported by individual state departments of education. (1/08)

Projections of Education Statistics to 2016
This annual publication from the National Center for Education Statistics provides projections for key education statistics, including enrollment, graduates, teachers, and expenditures in elementary and secondary schools; and enrollment, earned degrees conferred, and current-fund expenditures of degree-granting institutions. (1/08)

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007
This annual series of data tables from the U.S. Census Bureau summarizes information on educational trends and attainment levels. Data are shown by characteristics, such as age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Highlighted findings include:        

• About 33 percent of young women 25 to 29 had a bachelor’s degree or more education in 2007, compared with 26 percent of their male counterparts.
• More than half of Asians 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more (52 percent), compared with 32 percent of non-Hispanic whites, 19 percent of blacks and 13 percent of Hispanics.
• Workers 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $82,320 in 2006, while those with less than a high school diploma earned $20,873.
• Workers 18 and older with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $56,788 in 2006, while those with a high school diploma earned $31,071. (1/08)

The American Freshman: National Norms for Fall 2007
The Higher Education Research Institute has released results of its 2007 survey of college freshmen. The survey covers a wide range of student characteristics, including parental income and education; ethnicity and other demographic items; financial aid; secondary school achievement and activities; educational and career plans; and values, attitudes, beliefs, and self-concept. The 2007 survey also includes information about students’ perceptions of parental involvement in their college search process as well as information about students’ use of social networking sites. A research brief summarizing the results is available online. The full report is available for purchase. (1/08)

A Child’s Day: 2004 (Selected Indicators of Child Well-Being)
A series of tables published by the U.S. Census Bureau addresses a variety of issues related to the lives of children, including their living arrangements, family characteristics, school enrollment, parental expectations of educational attainment, academic experiences, and extracurricular activities. (11/07)

Perceptions and Expectations of Youth With Disabilities
A report from the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) provides a picture of the self-representations and expectations of youth with disabilities , how they differ across disability categories and demographic groups, and how they compare with youth in the general population. The report addresses questions such as how youth with disabilities describe their feelings about themselves and their lives, their secondary school experiences, their personal relationships, and their expectations for the future.  (10/07)

Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Minorities
A National Center for Education Statistics report examines the educational progress and challenges that racial and ethnic minorities face in the United States. This report shows that over time larger numbers of minorities have completed high school and continued their education in college. Despite these gains, progress has varied, and differences persist among racial/ethnic groups on key indicators of educational performance. The report is divided into the following sections: demographics; preprimary, elementary, and secondary education; achievement; persistence; student behaviors; postsecondary participation; and outcomes of education. (9/07)

Public Elementary and Secondary School Student Enrollment, High School Completions, and Staff from the Common Core of Data: School Year 2005–06 
The National Center for Education Statistics summarizes the numbers of students enrolled in public elementary/secondary education by grade; the number of diplomas and other completion credentials awarded for the 2004–05 school year; the averaged freshman graduation rate for the 2004–05 school year; pupil/teacher ratios; and the number of teaching, administrative and support staff employed in public education. The information is presented by state and for the United States as a whole. (7/07)

Part-Time Undergraduates in Postsecondary Education: 2003–04
The National Center for Education Statistics profiles part-time undergraduates enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions in 2003–04. Just over half (51 percent) of undergraduates were enrolled either exclusively part time or had mixed enrollment intensity. Part-time undergraduates, especially exclusively part-time students, were at a distinct disadvantage relative to those who were enrolled full time: they came from minority and low-income family backgrounds; they were not as well-prepared for college as their full-time peers; they were highly concentrated in two-year colleges and non-degree/certificate programs; and many of them worked full time while enrolled and were not enrolled continuously. The study also found that, regardless of whether they resembled full-time students, part-time students (especially exclusively part-time students) lagged behind their full-time peers in terms of their postsecondary outcomes even after controlling for a variety of related factors. (7/07)

First in My Family: A Profile of First Generation College Students at Four-Year Institutions Since 1971
The Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, in partnership with the Foundation for Independent Higher Education, has released a report on trends for first-generation college students from 1971 to 2005. The report covers a range of topics including the changing demographics of first-generation students, parental encouragement, work and financial considerations, college choice, academic preparation, and degree objectives. The executive summary of the report can be viewed online, and the report is available to order. (7/07)

America’s Perfect Storm: Three Forces Changing our Nation's Future
ETS examines the convergence of three powerful forces that are changing our nation's future: divergent skill distributions, the changing economy, and demographic trends. (3/07)