Census Bureau data on enrollment ask about elementary school, high school, college, or professional school. Public, private and homeschool are all included.  Non-degree programs and short-term career and technical courses, are also sometimes captured. 

Much of the Census Bureau data on enrollment relies on the concept of regular school.  A regular school advances a person towards an elementary school certificate, high school diploma, or college, university, or professional school.

In the American Community Survey (ACS), rather than asking about “regular school,” respondents are asked to include nursery or preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, homeschool, and schooling which leads to a high school diploma or a college degree.  Prior to 2008, in the ACS and the decennial Census from 1970 to 2000, similar instructions were given, with the omission of “homeschool” and, before 2000, “preschool.”   

Other types of enrollment, such as non-degree enrollment, and enrollment in short-term career and technical courses, are sometimes captured in specialized survey instruments.

For assistance, please contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll free) or visit ask.census.gov for further information.