National Center for Education Statistics | Community Health

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing education data in the United States. Established in 1867 as the Office of Education, NCES is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data on education in the United States and other countries. With a budget of over $60 million and a staff of over 200, NCES provides data on student achievement, education demographics, and educational institutions. The center's data is used to inform education policy and improve education outcomes. NCES is part of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The center's work has been influential in shaping education policy, with its data and reports being cited by policymakers, educators, and researchers. For example, the NCES's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is often referred to as the 'nation's report card' and has been used to track student progress over time.