- Introduction
- Adult Literacy and Lifeskills Survey (ALL)
- Academic Libraries Survey (ALS)
- Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B) Longitudinal Study
- Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) Longitudinal Study
- Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Study(BTLS)
- Common Core of Data (CCD)
- Current Population Survey (CPS)
- Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (ECLS-B)
- Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998‑99 (ECLS‑K)
- Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010–11 (ECLS‑K:2011)
- Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS 2002)
- Quick Response Information System (FRSS/PEQIS)
- High School and Beyond (HS&B) Longitudinal Study
- High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09)
- High School Transcript Studies (HSTS)
- International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS)
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- Middle Grades Longitudinal Study of 2017– 18 (MGLS:2017)
- National Assessment of Adulty Literacy (NAAL)
- National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
- National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS)
- National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS 88)
- National Household Education Survey Program (NHES)
- National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1982 (NLS 72)
- National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS)
- National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF)
- National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS)
- Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
- Progress In International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)
- Program For International Student Assessment (PISA)
- Private School Universe Survey (PSS)
- School and Staffing Survey (SASS)
- SASS Principal Follow-Up Survey (PFS)
- SASS School Library Media Center Survey (SLS)
- SASS Teacher Follow-up Survey (TFS)
- Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)
- Crime and Safety Surveys (SCS & SSOCS)
- Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)
- Trends In International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)
Private School Universe Survey (PSS)
3. KEY CONCEPTS
Some key concepts related to the PSS are described below
Private school. A school that is not supported primarily by public funds. It must provide classroom instruction for one or more of grades K–12 (or comparable ungraded levels) and have one or more teachers. Organizations or institutions that provide support for home schooling but do not offer classroom instruction for students are not included. Private schools are assigned to one of three major categories and, within each major category, to one of three subcategories:
- Catholic: parochial, diocesan, private;
- Other religious: affiliated with a conservative Christian school association, affiliated with a national denomination, unaffiliated; and
- Nonsectarian: regular program emphasis, special program emphasis, special education.
Schools with kindergarten, but no grade higher than kindergarten, are referred to as kindergarten-terminal (k-terminal) schools; these schools were first included in the 199596 PSS. Schools meeting the pre-1995 definition of a private school (i.e., including any of grades 112) are referred to as traditional schools.
Elementary school. A school with one or more of grades K6 and no grade higher than grade 8. For example, schools with grades PKK, K6, 13, or 68 are classified as elementary schools.
Secondary school. A school with one or more of grades 712 and no grade lower than grade 7. For example, schools with grades 912, 78, 1012, or 79 are classified as secondary schools.
Combined school. A school with one or more of grades K6 and one or more of grades 912. For example, schools with grades K12, 612, 69, or 112 are classified as combined schools. Schools in which all students are ungraded (i.e., not classified by standard grade levels) are also classified as combined schools.
Teacher. Includes any full-time or part-time school staff member who teaches one or more regularly scheduled classes in any of grades K12 (or comparable ungraded levels). Short-term substitute teachers, student teachers, and teacher aides are not included