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Why We Ask Questions About...
School Enrollment

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American Community Survey (ACS)
Within About the ACS
graphical representation of house in a community with schoolal attainment highlighted

We ask questions about whether a person is attending school or college to create statistics about enrollment.

Local, state, tribal, and federal agencies use enrollment data to analyze the characteristics and needs of school-aged children and understand the continuing education needs of adults.

Your privacy concerns

We use your confidential survey answers to create statistics like those in the results below and in the full tables that contain all the data—no one is able to figure out your survey answers from the statistics we produce. The Census Bureau is legally bound to strict confidentiality requirements. Individual records are not shared with anyone, including federal agencies and law enforcement entities. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone—not the IRS, not the FBI, not the CIA, and not with any other government agency.

Question as it appears on the form

We ask one question that covers school or college attendance.

Results from this question

The results from this question are compiled to provide communities with important statistics to understand the educational needs of children and adults, as well as ensure equal opportunity. You can see some of these published statistics here for the nation, states, and your community.

United States

View Results for a State

View Results for a County or City / Town in (↑ change state using menu above ↑)

School enrollment data help communities:

Educate Children and Adults

We ask about school enrollment in combination with other information, such as disability status, language spoken at home, and poverty status, to help schools understand the needs of their students and qualify for grants that help fund programs for those students (Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965). Information on how many children and adults depend on services through schools helps school districts make long-term building, staffing, and funding decisions.

Ensure Equal Opportunity

We ask about the characteristics of people enrolled or not enrolled in school to help government and communities enforce laws, regulations, and policies against discrimination in education (Civil Rights Act of 1964).

Data Visualization: State Facts for Students

Click the image to view this dynamic data visualization.

Image link leading to data visualization focusing on State Facts for Students

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1910-2020 decennial censuses; 2010 and 2019 American Community Survey, 1-year estimates; 2019 Population Estimates; 2019 County Business Patterns; and the 2010 and 2019 Puerto Rico Community Survey, 1-year estimates.]

History of school enrollment question

School enrollment originated with the 1850 Census. It was transferred to the ACS in 2005 when it replaced the decennial census long form.

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