NCES 2013-314 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Characteristics of Public and Private 

Elementary and Secondary School 

Teachers in the United States:

Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey

First Look
Characteristics of Public and Private 

Elementary and Secondary School

Teachers in the United States:

Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey

First Look

AUGUST 2013 

Rebecca Goldring

Lucinda Gray

Amy Bitterman 

Westat

Stephen Broughman

Project Officer

National Center for Education Statistics

NCES 2013-314

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
U.S. Department of Education

Arne Duncan

Secretary

Institute of Education Sciences

John Q. Easton

Director

National Center for Education Statistics

Jack Buckley

Commissioner

Elementary/Secondary and Library Studies Division

Jeffrey Owings

Associate Commissioner

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing, and reporting data related 

to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report full and 

complete statistics on the condition of education in the United States; conduct and publish reports and specialized analyses of the 

meaning and significance of such statistics; assist state and local education agencies in improving their statistical systems; and review 

and report on education activities in foreign countries.

NCES activities are designed to address high-priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable, complete, and accurate 

indicators of education status and trends; and report timely, useful, and high-quality data to the U.S. Department of Education, the 

Congress, the states, other education policymakers, practitioners, data users, and the general public. Unless specifically noted, all 

information contained herein is in the public domain.

We strive to make our products available in a variety of formats and in language that is appropriate to a variety of audiences. You, as 

our customer, are the best judge of our success in communicating information effectively. If you have any comments or suggestions 

about this or any other NCES product or report, we would like to hear from you. Please direct your comments to

NCES, IES, U.S. Department of Education

1990 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006-5651

August 2013

The NCES Home Page address is http://nces.ed.gov. 

The NCES Publications and Products address is http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch. 

This publication is only available online. To download, view, and print the report as a PDF file, go to the NCES Publications and 

Products address shown above.

This report was prepared for the National Center for Education Statistics under Contract No. ED-IES-12-D-005 with Westat. Mention 

of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Suggested Citation

Goldring, R., Gray, L., and Bitterman, A. (2013). Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Teachers in 

the United States: Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013-314). U.S. Department of Education. 

Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved [date] from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch. 

Content Contact

Stephen Broughman

(202) 502-7315

stephen.broughman@ed.gov
Contents 

Page

List of Tables ....................................................................................................................... iv

Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 

Selected Findings ................................................................................................................. 3 

References ............................................................................................................................ 4 

Estimate Tables .................................................................................................................... 5 

Appendix A: Standard Error Tables .................................................................................... A-1 

Appendix B: Methodology and Technical Notes.................................................................. B-1 

Appendix C: Description of Data Files ................................................................................. C-1 

Appendix D: Description of Variables ................................................................................. D-1 

iii
List of Tables

Table Page

1. Total number of school teachers and percentage distribution of school 

teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 6 

2. Average and median age of school teachers and percentage distribution of 

teachers, by age category, sex, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 8 

3. Percentage distribution of school teachers based on years of teaching 

experience, average total years of teaching experience, percentage 

distribution of teachers based on years teaching at current school, and 

average years teaching at current school, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12 ............................................................................... 10 

4. Percentage distribution of school teachers, by highest degree earned, 

school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ..................................... 12 

5. Number and percentage of teachers who are regular full-time teachers and 

average number of hours per week that regular full-time teachers spent on 

selected activities during a typical full week, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12 .............................................................................. 14 

6. Among regular full-time school teachers, average base salary and earnings 

from all sources, percentage of teachers with earnings from various salary 

supplements, and among those teachers, the average amount earned from 

the supplement during the current school year, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12 .............................................................................. 16 

7. Average class size in public primary schools, middle schools, high 

schools, and schools with combined grades, by classroom type and 

selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ................................................................ 18 

8. Percentage of teachers who participated in various types of professional 

development in the past 12 months, by school type and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 19 

Appendix A: Standard Error Tables

A-1. Standard errors for Table 1: Total number of school teachers and 

percentage distribution of school teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, 

and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................... A-2 

A-2. Standard errors for Table 2: Average and median age of school teachers 

and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, sex, school type, 

and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ........................................................... A-4 

iv
Table Page

A-3. Standard errors for Table 3: Percentage distribution of school teachers 

based on years of teaching experience, average total years of teaching 

experience, percentage distribution of teachers based on years teaching at 

current school, and average years teaching at current school, by school 

type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ................................................... A-6 

A-4. Standard errors for Table 4: Percentage distribution of school teachers, 

by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 

2011–12 ................................................................................................................... A-8 

A-5. Standard errors for Table 5: Number and percentage of teachers who are

regular full-time teachers and average number of hours per week that 

regular full-time teachers spent on selected activities during a typical full 

week, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ....................... A-10 

A-6. Standard errors for Table 6: Among regular full-time school teachers, 

average base salary and earnings from all sources, percentage of teachers 

with earnings from various salary supplements, and among those teachers, 

the average amount earned from the supplement during the current school 

year, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ......................... A-12 

A-7. Standard errors for Table 7: Average class size in public primary schools, 

middle schools, high schools, and schools with combined grades, 

by classroom type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ............................ A-14 

A-8. Standard errors for Table 8: Percentage of teachers who participated in 

various types of professional development in the past 12 months, 

by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12 ................................. A-15 

Appendix B: Methodology and Technical Notes

B-1. Weighted unit and overall response rates using initial base weight, by 

survey: 2011–12 ....................................................................................................... B-6 

B-2. Summary of weighted item response rates, by survey: 2011–12 ............................. B-9 

Appendix C: Description of Data Files

C-1. Names of data files and the questionnaires from which the data were 

drawn: 2011–12 ....................................................................................................... C-2 

C-2. The number of cases in the Public School District Data File, 

by respondent and source of data: 2011–12 ............................................................. C-3 

v 
Table Page

Appendix D: Description of Variables

D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary 

and Secondary School Teachers in the United States: Results From the 

Schools and Staffing Survey report: 2011–12 .......................................................... D-2 

vi
Introduction 

This report presents selected findings from the Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data 

Files of the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). SASS is a nationally representative sample 

survey of public1 and private K–12 schools, principals, and teachers in the 50 states and the District of 

Columbia. School districts associated with public schools and library media centers in public schools are 

also part of SASS. Developed by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the Institute of 

Education Sciences within the U.S. Department of Education and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 

SASS was first conducted in school year 1987–88. Since then, SASS has been conducted six times: in 

school years 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and, most recently, 2011–12. 

The purpose of SASS is to collect information that can provide a detailed picture of U.S. elementary and 

secondary schools and their staff. This information is collected through the following surveys: district, 

school, principal, teacher, and library media center. Information from all the surveys can be linked. For 

more information about surveys and data files, see appendix C. The SASS questionnaires can be found at 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/questionnaire.asp. 

The 2011–12 SASS uses a school-based sample of public and private schools. Because SASS uses a 

school-based sample design, districts, principals, and library media centers associated with public schools 

were included, as were principals associated with private schools. Teachers associated with a selected 

school were sampled from a teacher list provided by the school or district. The selected samples include 

about 11,000 traditional and charter public schools, public school principals, and public school library 

media centers; 5,800 public school districts; 51,100 public school teachers; 3,000 private schools and 

their principals; and 7,100 private school teachers. The samples were drawn to support estimates by 

geography, grade span, and charter school status for public schools, and by geography, grade span, and 

affiliation group for private schools for a wide range of topics. The reader is referred to the Survey 

Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming) for details

about these estimation domains and their precision criteria. 

The data were collected via mailed questionnaires with telephone and in-person field follow-up. The first 

questionnaires were mailed in October 2011, and data collection ended in June 2012. The weighted unit 

response rates varied from 65 percent for private school principals to 81 percent for public school 

districts. For information about response rates, bias analysis results, methodology, and design of the 

2011–12 SASS, please see the technical notes of this report in appendix B or the Survey Documentation 

for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming). 

The purpose of this First Look is to introduce new data through the presentation of tables containing 

descriptive information. Selected findings chosen for this report demonstrate the range of information 

available on the 2011–12 SASS Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files. The 

selected findings do not represent a complete review of all observed differences in the data and are not 

meant to emphasize any particular issue. This First Look report highlights findings from the SASS public 

and private school teacher surveys. Findings from the district, school, principal, and library media center 

data files will be presented in four companion First Look reports: 

• Characteristics of Public School Districts in the United States: Results From the 2011–12 

Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013-311); 

• Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States: 

Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013-312);

1 Public schools include traditional public and charter schools.

1 

 
• Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary School Principals in the 

United States: Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013-313); and 

• Characteristics of Public Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Centers in the 

United States: Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013-315).

The tables in this report contain counts and percentages demonstrating bivariate relationships. All of the 

results have been weighted to reflect the sample design and to account for nonresponse and other 

adjustments. Comparisons drawn in the selected findings have been tested for statistical significance at 

the .05 level using Student’s t statistics to ensure that the differences are larger than those that might be 

expected due to sampling variation. No adjustments were made for multiple comparisons. Many of the 

variables examined are related to one another, and complex interactions and relationships have not been 

explored. Statistical Analysis Software (SAS 9.3) and SUDAAN (10.0) were used to compute the 

statistics for this report. Tables of standard errors are provided in appendix A. Detailed information about 

the survey methodology is provided in appendix B. Appendix C contains a description of the survey data 

files, and appendix D contains a description of the variables used in this report. 

More information about the SASS can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass. 

2 
Selected Findings

• In the 2011–12 school year, there were an estimated 3,850,100 teachers in elementary and secondary 

schools in the United States (table 1). About 3,385,200 taught in public schools and about 464,900 

taught in private schools.

• About 82 percent of all public school teachers were non-Hispanic White, 7 percent were nonHispanic Black, and 8 percent were Hispanic (table 1). Among private school teachers, about 

88 percent were non-Hispanic White, 4 percent were non-Hispanic Black, and 5 percent were 

Hispanic.

• The average age of teachers in traditional public schools (43 years) was greater than the average age 

of teachers in public charter schools (37 years) (table 2). The average age of teachers in private 

schools (44 years) was greater than the average age of teachers in all public schools (42 years). 

• Overall, schools had a larger percentage of female teachers (76 percent) than male teachers 

(24 percent) (table 2). In public schools, a larger percentage of teachers were female in primary 

schools (89 percent) than in high schools (58 percent). In private schools, 86 percent of elementary 

school teachers were female and 56 percent of secondary school teachers were female. 

• On average, both public and private school teachers had about 14 years of experience (table 3). On 

average, teachers in traditional public schools had more teaching experience (14 years) than teachers 

in public charter schools (9 years).

• The percentage of public school teachers with a master’s degree as their highest degree was larger in 

traditional public schools (48 percent) than in public charter schools (37 percent) and private schools 

(36 percent) (table 4). 

• On average, regular full-time teachers in both public and private schools spent 52 hours per week on 

all school-related activities, including 31 hours per week that they were paid to deliver instruction to 

students during a typical full week (table 5). Both groups of teachers were required to work 38 hours 

per week to receive their base pay.

• In 2011–12, the average base salary of regular full-time teachers was higher in public schools 

($53,100) than in private schools ($40,200) (table 6).2 The percentage of regular full-time teachers

who earned additional pay from their school system for extracurricular or additional activities during 

the school year was 42 percent in public schools and 29 percent in private schools. The average 

amount earned for these activities was $2,500 for public school teachers and $2,700 for private school 

teachers.

• The average class size for public school teachers of self-contained classes was 22 students in primary 

schools, 17 students in middle schools, and 18 students in high schools (table 7). For public school 

teachers of departmentalized classes, the average class size was 26 students in primary schools, 25 

students in middle schools, and 24 students in high schools. 

• In 2011–12, the percentage of teachers that participated in any professional development in the 

previous 12 months was 99 percent for public school teachers and 95 percent for private school 

teachers (table 8). About 85 percent of public school teachers and 67 percent of private school 

teachers participated in professional development focused on the subject(s) they taught.

2 Average base salary is for the school year; summer earnings are not included. Teachers who reported a base salary of zero are excluded.

3 

 
References

Chambers, L., Graham, S., Parmer, R., Stern, S., Strizek, G., and Thomas, T. (forthcoming). Survey 

Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey. U.S. Department of Education. Washington, 

DC: National Center for Education Statistics. 

Cochran, W.G. (1977). Sampling Techniques. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 

Goldring, R., Taie, S., Rizzo, L., Colby, D., and Fraser, A. (2013). User’s Manual for the 2011–12 

Schools and Staffing Survey Volumes 1–6. (NCES 2013-330 through 2013-335). U.S. Department of 

Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.

U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2003). NCES Statistical 

Standards (NCES 2003-601). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.

4
Estimate Tables

5
6

Table 1. Total number of school teachers and percentage distribution of school teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Total number of 

teachers

Percent of teachers by race/ethnicity

Hispanic, 

regardless 

of race

White, nonHispanicBlack, nonHispanicAsian, nonHispanic

Native 

Hawaiian/

Pacific 

Islander, 

nonHispanic

American 

Indian/Alaska 

Native, nonHispanic

Two or more 

races, nonHispanic

All schools 3,850,100 7.5 82.7 6.4 1.8 0.1 0.4 1.0

All public schools 3,385,200 7.8 81.9 6.8 1.8 0.1 0.5 1.0

School classification

Traditional public 3,269,500 7.6 82.3 6.6 1.8 0.1 0.5 1.0

Charter school 115,600 13.1 69.9 11.8! 2.8 ‡ 0.6! 1.7!

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 1,098,400 7.6 83.6 5.7 1.5 ‡ 0.3! 1.2

Town 411,400 5.6 87.7 3.6 1.6! 0.1! 0.6 0.8

Rural 916,600 4.7 88.7 4.2 0.7 ‡ 0.8 0.8

School level 

Primary 1,626,800 8.7 81.2 7.1 1.7 ‡ 0.4 0.8

Middle 592,100 7.0 81.6 7.7 1.7 0.2! 0.4 1.3

High 961,300 6.8 83.6 5.6 2.1 0.2! 0.5! 1.2

Combined 205,000 7.4 80.9 7.9! 1.2! ‡ 1.1 1.3

Student enrollment

Less than 100 57,900 4.3! 84.5 7.1 1.4 # ‡ 1.4!

100–199 103,600 4.3 88.0 5.0 1.0! ‡ 1.0! ‡

200–499 1,022,200 5.2 84.4 7.0 1.7 ‡ 0.6 1.0

500–749 876,500 7.7 82.7 6.8 1.2! 0.2! 0.4! 0.9

750–999 495,200 10.9 78.4 7.1 2.2 ‡ 0.2! 1.2

1,000 or more 829,700 10.0 79.2 6.7 2.3 0.2! 0.5! 1.1

Percent of K–12 students who were

 approved for free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 1,109,700 4.0 91.0 2.3 1.3 0.2! 0.2! 1.1

35–49 573,200 4.8 88.4 4.1 1.3 ‡ 0.5 0.8

50–74 881,000 7.4 82.2 7.2 1.4 0.1! 0.8! 0.9!

75 or more 757,400 16.5 63.0 15.2 3.2 0.2! 0.7 1.2

School did not participate in free 

or reduced-price lunch program 63,900 4.4! 86.2 5.3! 2.6! ‡ ‡ 1.2!

See notes at end of table. 
7

Table 1. Total number of school teachers and percentage distribution of school teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Total number of 

teachers

Percent of teachers by race/ethnicity

Hispanic, 

regardless 

of race

White, nonHispanicBlack, nonHispanicAsian, nonHispanic

Native 

Hawaiian/

Pacific 

Islander, 

nonHispanic

American 

Indian/Alaska 

Native, nonHispanic

Two or more 

races, nonHispanic

All private schools 464,900 5.2 88.3 3.6 1.8 ‡ ‡ 0.8

School classification

Catholic 143,100 6.3 87.6 3.9 1.3! ‡ ‡ 0.7!

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 197,300 6.0 86.5 4.4 2.3 ‡ ‡ 0.6!

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 27,200 ‡ 94.1 ‡ ‡ # ‡ ‡

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 201,000 7.1 85.6 4.3 2.2 ‡ ‡ 0.6!

Secondary 72,000 3.4! 88.8 4.4 ‡ ‡ ‡ 1.0!

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 177,800 5.6 89.6 2.7 1.7 ‡ # 0.4!

500–749 50,600 5.4! 88.5 3.6! ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

# Rounds to zero.

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the 

estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate) or the response rate is 

below 50 percent. 

NOTE: Black includes African American and Hispanic includes Latino. Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because some 

data are not shown. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
8

Table 2. Average and median age of school teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, sex, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average age of 

teachers

Median age of 

teachers

Age category Sex

Less than 

30 years 30–49 years 50–54 years

55 years or 

more Male Female

All schools 42.6 41.2 15.5 53.3 11.6 19.7 23.9 76.1

All public schools 42.4 41.0 15.3 54.0 11.9 18.8 23.7 76.3

School classification

Traditional public 42.6 41.2 14.7 54.1 12.1 19.1 23.6 76.4

Charter school 37.4 34.2 31.0 51.5 6.8 10.7 25.1 74.9

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 42.2 40.6 15.0 55.4 10.8 18.8 23.0 77.0

Town 42.4 41.3 15.2 53.9 12.8 18.1 24.2 75.8

Rural 42.3 41.0 15.4 54.7 12.0 17.9 24.5 75.5

School level 

Primary 42.4 41.0 14.9 54.3 12.3 18.5 10.7 89.3

Middle 42.2 40.8 15.5 55.1 11.4 18.0 27.4 72.6

High 42.6 41.1 15.1 53.7 11.6 19.6 41.7 58.3

Combined 42.1 40.7 18.8 50.4 10.8 20.0 31.2 68.8

Student enrollment

Less than 100 43.9 43.4 15.5 47.3 12.8 24.5 32.1 67.9

100–199 43.7 42.8 14.6 50.5 12.6 22.4 26.2 73.8

200–499 42.3 41.1 16.4 53.2 11.6 18.8 17.6 82.4

500–749 42.4 41.0 15.2 54.7 12.9 17.2 18.1 81.9

750–999 42.3 40.7 14.6 54.3 11.3 19.8 22.7 77.3

1,000 or more 42.4 40.8 14.5 55.1 11.3 19.0 36.8 63.2

Percent of K–12 students who were

 approved for free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 42.5 41.3 15.3 54.4 11.8 18.5 25.0 75.0

35–49 42.5 41.2 15.0 54.8 11.7 18.6 25.8 74.2

50–74 42.4 40.7 15.0 53.8 12.5 18.8 21.8 78.2

75 or more 42.2 40.6 16.0 53.3 11.4 19.2 21.5 78.5

School did not participate in free 

or reduced-price lunch program 43.1 41.6 14.0 52.0 12.7! 21.4 32.4 67.6

See notes at end of table. 
9

Table 2. Average and median age of school teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, sex, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—

Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average age of 

teachers

Median age of 

teachers

Age category Sex

Less than 

30 years 30–49 years 50–54 years

55 years or 

more Male Female

All private schools 43.8 42.7 16.7 47.8 9.5 25.9 25.2 74.8

School classification

Catholic 45.3 45.7 17.0 40.2 11.6 31.2 21.5 78.5

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 44.1 42.9 15.2 48.2 10.1 26.4 27.1 72.9

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 44.3 43.3 18.8 43.8 8.4! 28.9 18.9 81.1

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 44.4 43.5 17.8 42.8 11.2 28.2 14.0 86.0

Secondary 44.3 43.6 16.2 46.2 10.4 27.2 44.4 55.6

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 44.4 44.0 15.8 46.6 10.8 26.8 21.7 78.3

500–749 44.3 44.2 14.9 48.1 8.7 28.3 31.9 68.1

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the 

estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate) or the response rate is 

below 50 percent. 

NOTE: Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because some data are not shown. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
10

Table 3. Percentage distribution of school teachers based on years of teaching experience, average total years of teaching experience, percentage distribution of teachers based on 

years teaching at current school, and average years teaching at current school, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Years of teaching experience Years teaching at current school1

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years 

teaching

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years at 

current 

school

All schools 11.9 28.4 20.3 39.4 13.8 35.9 31.2 15.7 17.2 8.0

All public schools 11.3 28.6 20.9 39.3 13.8 35.4 31.8 15.8 17.0 8.0

School classification

Traditional public 10.7 28.2 21.0 40.1 14.0 34.4 31.9 16.1 17.5 8.1

Charter school 26.3 39.9 16.9 16.9 8.7 62.6 28.0 6.9 2.5 3.6

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 9.7 29.1 22.3 38.9 13.8 32.0 33.0 18.2 16.9 8.2

Town 12.2 26.6 18.7 42.5 14.2 34.2 29.3 15.2 21.2 8.8

Rural 11.6 26.7 20.8 40.9 14.0 35.7 30.9 14.8 18.6 8.3

School level 

Primary 10.5 28.2 20.7 40.6 14.0 35.0 32.5 15.6 16.9 7.9

Middle 11.5 28.8 21.2 38.6 13.6 35.8 32.5 15.9 15.8 7.7

High 11.3 28.8 21.8 38.1 13.7 34.1 31.2 16.8 17.9 8.3

Combined 16.2 30.0 16.8 37.0 13.0 43.0 26.5 12.6 18.0 7.7

Student enrollment

Less than 100 16.1 27.9 20.2 35.7 13.4 46.3 24.8 12.4 16.5 7.2

100–199 14.3 23.6 18.5 43.7 14.5 39.0 25.8 13.5 21.7 8.7

200–499 11.3 28.0 19.7 41.1 14.0 36.5 29.2 15.1 19.2 8.2

500–749 11.8 27.0 21.6 39.7 13.9 35.1 31.6 16.3 17.0 7.9

750–999 10.7 30.6 20.1 38.6 13.6 35.1 35.3 15.7 13.9 7.5

1,000 or more 10.4 30.4 22.3 36.9 13.5 33.2 34.2 16.8 15.7 7.9

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 9.3 26.2 22.7 41.8 14.4 30.8 33.0 17.8 18.4 8.6

35–49 10.5 27.0 20.2 42.3 14.4 33.7 30.5 16.2 19.6 8.5

50–74 11.8 29.8 19.2 39.3 13.7 37.3 30.3 15.1 17.3 7.9

75 or more 13.9 31.6 20.6 33.9 12.7 40.7 32.7 13.7 12.9 6.8

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 14.8 31.8 19.8 33.6 12.8 41.1 32.8 11.7 14.4 7.0

See notes at end of table. 
11

Table 3. Percentage distribution of school teachers based on years of teaching experience, average total years of teaching experience, percentage distribution of teachers based on 

years teaching at current school, and average years teaching at current school, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Years of teaching experience Years teaching at current school1

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years 

teaching

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years at 

current 

school

All private schools 16.1 27.3 16.6 40.0 14.2 39.4 27.4 14.7 18.5 8.3

School classification

Catholic 13.8 25.3 15.9 45.0 15.6 35.9 26.5 15.0 22.6 9.5

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 14.4 26.4 17.4 41.7 14.5 38.0 25.5 16.1 20.4 8.6

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 18.1 23.5 14.8 43.5 15.3 40.6 23.1 14.8 21.4 9.2

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 16.1 26.9 16.7 40.3 14.6 39.8 28.0 13.4 18.9 8.4

Secondary 14.7 25.8 18.8 40.7 15.0 35.2 25.9 17.1 21.8 9.3

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 13.7 26.5 17.7 42.1 14.7 36.3 26.7 16.9 20.1 8.9

500–749 12.0 25.7 21.3 41.0 15.0 32.1 31.4 15.9 20.7 9.4

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

‡ Reporting standards not met. The response rate is below 50 percent. 1 Based on the school year the teacher started teaching at the current school. Caution should be used in comparing to the 2007–08 survey results because 2007–08 teachers were instructed, “If 

you had a break in service of one year or more, please report the year that you returned to this school,” whereas no such instruction was given in the 2011–12 survey.

NOTE: Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because some data are not shown. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
12

Table 4. Percentage distribution of school teachers, by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic No bachelor’s Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree

Higher than a master’s 

degree1

All schools 4.4 40.9 46.2 8.5

All public schools 3.8 39.9 47.7 8.7

School classification

Traditional public 3.8 39.4 48.0 8.8

Charter school 4.1 52.3 37.3 6.3

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 3.3 34.7 52.2 9.8

Town 3.8 44.0 45.0 7.2

Rural 4.6 45.5 42.3 7.6

School level 

Primary 3.2 41.2 47.3 8.4

Middle 3.5 38.8 48.5 9.2

High 4.8 36.8 49.6 8.8

Combined 5.1 46.9 39.4 8.6

Student enrollment

Less than 100 4.7 49.1 36.9 9.3

100–199 5.2 48.8 39.3 6.7

200–499 3.2 40.5 48.5 7.9

500–749 3.7 40.1 47.3 8.8

750–999 3.3 41.6 46.4 8.8

1,000 or more 4.7 36.1 49.5 9.7

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 3.5 33.3 54.1 9.1

35–49 4.1 39.5 47.3 9.1

50–74 3.9 46.0 42.1 8.1

75 or more 3.5 42.9 45.2 8.4

School did not participate in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 9.0 36.3 45.5 9.2

See notes at end of table. 
13

Table 4. Percentage distribution of school teachers, by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic No bachelor’s Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree

Higher than a master’s 

degree1

All private schools 8.4 48.5 35.8 7.3

School classification

Catholic 5.8 51.7 36.5 6.1

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 8.5 44.9 38.7 7.9

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 10.3 53.7 29.7 6.3!

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 8.4 52.8 32.7 6.1

Secondary 5.4 40.9 45.0 8.7

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 5.1 48.5 39.0 7.5

500–749 ‡ 46.7 40.7 5.8

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the 

estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate) or the response rate is 

below 50 percent.

1 Higher than a master’s degree is defined as a teacher who completed any of the following: an educational specialist or professional diploma, a certificate of advanced graduate studies, or a 

doctorate or first professional degree.

NOTE: Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding and because some data are not shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
14

Table 5. Number and percentage of teachers who are regular full-time teachers and average number of hours per week that regular full-time teachers spent on selected activities 

during a typical full week, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Number of 

regular full-time 

teachers1

Percent of 

teachers who are 

regular full-time 

teachers1

Average hours per week

Required to work to receive 

base pay during a typical full 

week

Paid to deliver

instruction to a class of 

students2

Total hours spent on all teaching 

and other school-related activities 

during a typical full week3

All schools 3,507,700 91.1 37.9 30.8 52.2

All public schools 3,139,200 92.7 37.9 30.8 52.2

School classification

Traditional public 3,034,000 92.8 37.8 30.7 52.2

Charter school 105,200 91.0 39.4 32.0 53.5

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 1,016,900 92.6 37.5 30.2 51.9

Town 382,900 93.1 38.5 31.3 52.2

Rural 853,000 93.1 38.3 31.1 52.6

School level 

Primary 1,478,300 90.9 37.8 31.5 51.8

Middle 559,100 94.4 37.9 30.2 52.0

High 913,000 95.0 37.9 29.8 53.0

Combined 188,800 92.1 38.4 31.3 51.8

Student enrollment

Less than 100 49,200 84.9 38.0 31.7 50.3

100–199 91,700 88.5 38.6 31.8 51.8

200–499 926,100 90.6 37.9 31.1 52.0

500–749 807,600 92.1 37.8 30.9 52.1

750–999 468,600 94.6 38.1 30.8 52.4

1,000 or more 796,200 96.0 37.8 30.0 52.7

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 1,012,500 91.2 37.6 29.9 52.3

35–49 532,600 92.9 38.0 30.6 52.3

50–74 830,200 94.2 38.1 31.3 52.4

75 or more 708,900 93.6 37.8 31.6 51.8

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 55,000 86.2 38.5 31.3 52.2

See notes at end of table. 
15

Table 5. Number and percentage of teachers who are regular full-time teachers and average number of hours per week that regular full-time teachers spent on selected activities 

during a typical full week, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Number of 

regular full-time 

teachers1

Percent of 

teachers who are 

regular full-time 

teachers1

Average hours per week

Required to work to receive 

base pay during a typical full 

week

Paid to deliver

instruction to a class of 

students2

Total hours spent on all teaching 

and other school-related activities 

during a typical full week3

All private schools 368,400 79.2 38.3 30.9 52.1

School classification

Catholic 118,100 82.5 37.8 31.0 52.7

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 157,900 80.0 38.3 30.7 51.9

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 20,700 76.2 37.6 31.4 51.6

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 157,900 78.6 38.1 31.5 51.4

Secondary 55,000 76.4 37.9 29.3 52.6

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 146,500 82.4 38.1 30.5 52.6

500–749 41,900 82.8 38.8 30.0 53.0

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

‡ Reporting standards not met. The response rate is below 50 percent. 1 A regular full-time teacher is any teacher whose primary position in a school is not an itinerant teacher, a long-term substitute, a short-term substitute, a student teacher, a teacher aide, an 

administrator, a library media specialist or librarian, another type of professional staff (e.g., counselor, curriculum coordinator, social worker) or support staff (e.g., secretary), or part-time teacher. 2 Hours paid to deliver instruction to a class of students in this school is a portion of hours per week required to work for regular base pay. 3 Includes hours spent during the school day, before and after school, and on weekends.

NOTE: Detail may not sum totals because of rounding and because some data are not shown.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
16

Table 6. Among regular full-time school teachers, average base salary and earnings from all sources, percentage of teachers with earnings from various salary supplements, and 

among those teachers, the average amount earned from the supplement during the current school year, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average base 

teaching salary of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average school 

year earnings 

from all sources1

Salary supplements

Extracurricular or 

additional activities in 

same school system

Additional 

compensation based 

on students’ 

performance

Other school system sources 

(state supplement, etc.)

Job outside the school 

system

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

All schools $51,700 $53,700 40.4 $2,500 4.0 $1,400 7.3 $2,100 16.5 $4,900

All public schools 53,100 55,100 41.8 2,500 4.4 1,400 7.9 2,100 16.1 4,800

School classification

Traditional public 53,400 55,400 42.0 2,500 4.0 1,400 8.0 2,100 16.1 4,800

Charter school 44,500 46,300 34.9 2,000 15.8 1,300 5.8 1,900 16.5 4,900

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 58,500 60,500 42.4 2,800 4.0 1,400 6.6 1,900 15.6 4,300

Town 47,800 49,900 43.6 2,600 3.0 1,100 7.4 1,900 16.3 4,900

Rural 47,100 49,400 44.3 2,500 3.7 1,400 10.0 2,100 16.3 5,300

School level 

Primary 52,800 54,000 31.0 1,500 4.1 1,300 7.6 1,700 12.9 4,000

Middle 53,400 55,800 49.9 2,600 4.4 1,400 8.2 2,300 17.3 4,900

High 54,500 57,700 53.9 3,400 4.4 1,600 8.7 2,500 20.6 5,300

Combined 47,000 49,500 44.2 2,800 6.8 1,100 ! 6.7 2,400 16.6 6,000

Student enrollment

Less than 100 45,800 47,900 30.3 2,600 2.8 1,100 8.8 2,300 ! 19.6 5,100

100–199 46,000 48,100 43.2 2,400 4.9 2,000 5.8 2,000 16.3 5,100

200–499 51,900 53,600 39.2 2,200 2.7 1,400 6.7 2,100 14.6 4,800

500–749 52,600 54,300 38.7 2,000 4.9 1,300 8.1 1,900 15.1 4,700

750–999 53,000 54,900 40.7 2,300 5.0 1,500 9.7 1,800 15.3 4,300

1,000 or more 56,200 59,100 49.2 3,400 5.5 1,500 8.5 2,400 19.2 5,100

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 57,200 59,400 45.4 2,700 2.6 1,300 6.3 2,300 17.4 4,600

35–49 51,700 53,900 44.4 2,800 4.4 1,200 8.0 2,300 16.8 4,200

50–74 49,700 51,600 39.7 2,300 4.9 1,400 9.8 1,900 14.8 5,400

75 or more 52,000 53,900 37.7 2,200 6.5 1,500 8.2 1,900 15.0 4,900

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 54,800 57,300 36.6 3,300 4.7 ! 1,700 ! 6.2 2,100 20.3 5,400

See notes at end of table. 
17

Table 6. Among regular full-time school teachers, average base salary and earnings from all sources, percentage of teachers with earnings from various salary supplements, and 

among those teachers, the average amount earned from the supplement during the current school year, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—

Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average base 

teaching salary of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average school 

year earnings 

from all sources1

Salary supplements

Extracurricular or 

additional activities in 

same school system

Additional 

compensation based 

on students’ 

performance

Other school system sources 

(state supplement, etc.)

Job outside the school 

system

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

All private schools $40,200 $41,900 28.9 $2,700 0.5! $1,100! 1.8 $2,000! 19.6 $5,400

School classification

Catholic 39,700 41,300 31.1 2,800 ‡ 2,000! 2.0! ‡ 18.5 5,100

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 44,800 46,700 29.3 3,000 ‡ 1,400 1.6! 1,500 19.2 6,000

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 30,000 31,200 20.8 1,200 ‡ 2,500 ‡ ‡ 18.4 5,600

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 37,200 38,400 19.7 1,900 0.8! 800! 1.9! ‡ 18.8 4,800

Secondary 46,800 49,200 46.6 3,400 ‡ 1,900! 2.6! 1,500! 22.3 6,300

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 41,300 43,000 29.6 2,600 0.6! ‡ 1.8! 1,700 19.7 5,300

500–749 45,000 47,000 45.2 2,700 ‡ 2,000 ‡ ‡ 22.2 6,900

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the 

estimate). 

‡ Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate) or the response rate is 

below 50 percent. 1 Average earnings from all sources is defined as the weighted mean of the amount that regular full-time teachers earned from all sources during the school year. It does not include income from a 

retirement pension.

NOTE: For average base salary, teachers who reported zero are excluded from the table. Summer earnings are not included. A regular full-time teacher is any teacher whose primary position in a 

school is not an itinerant teacher, a long-term substitute, a short-term substitute, a student teacher, a teacher aide, an administrator, a library media or librarian, another type of professional staff 

(e.g., counselor, curriculum coordinator, social worker) or support staff (e.g., secretary), or a part-time teacher. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
18

Table 7. Average class size in public primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and schools with combined grades, by classroom type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

Selected

school characteristic

Primary schools Middle schools High schools Combined grade schools

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

All public schools 21.6 26.2 16.7 25.5 17.7 24.2 16.6 19.0

School classification

Traditional public 21.6 26.2 16.7 25.5 17.6 24.2 15.3 18.2

Charter school 22.5 26.9 21.9 24.0 23.7 22.2 22.6 22.7

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 22.0 28.7 15.9 26.1 17.1 25.3 17.1 21.7

Town 21.3 27.4 16.1 24.1 21.3 22.1 13.3 17.5

Rural 20.8 23.1 17.8 25.1 15.4 22.4 16.7 17.5

Student enrollment

Less than 100 14.1 10.3 21.7 16.4 19.8 11.5 11.1 10.7

100–199 18.3 18.3 22.3 20.2 17.1 15.0 11.6 11.1

200–499 21.0 25.9 16.6 23.4 16.0 19.6 16.4 17.9

500–749 22.5 28.9 17.5 25.4 23.3 ! 22.1 18.9 20.0

750 or more 22.4 23.9 14.3 26.2 19.1 22.8 20.2 24.1

1,000 or more 22.1 31.7 17.1 27.3 16.6 26.5 22.0 24.8

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved 

 for free or reducedprice lunches

0–34 23.1 27.3 17.5 26.3 16.5 24.7 16.7 19.5

35–49 21.3 27.2 19.1 25.8 15.8 24.4 18.3 19.9

50–74 20.2 24.3 15.9 25.1 20.0 23.7 15.9 18.8

75 or more 21.8 27.5 15.7 24.2 19.2 23.7 15.7 18.1

School did not 

 participate in free 

 or reduced-price 

lunch program 20.3 16.9 12.0 ! 23.8 18.4 19.9 18.8 19.1

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate). 

‡ Reporting standards not met. The response rate is below 50 percent. 

NOTE: Self-contained classes are defined as instruction to the same group of students all or most of the day in multiple subjects, and departmentalized instruction is defined as instruction to several classes of 

different students most or all of the day in one or more subjects. Among all public school teachers, 27 percent teach self-contained classes in primary schools, 1 percent in middle schools, 1 percent in high 

schools, and 1 percent in combined schools; 7 percent teach departmentalized classes in primary schools, 14 percent in middle schools, 25 percent in high schools, and 4 percent in combined schools; 14 

percent teach other types of classes, such as elementary subject specialist classes, team-taught classes, and “pull-out” or “push-in” classes in primary schools, 3 percent in middle schools, 2 percent in high 

schools, and 1 percent in combined schools.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher Data File,” 2011–12.
19

Table 8. Percentage of teachers who participated in various types of professional development in the past 12 months, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Percent of teachers who participated in professional development focused on

Any 

professional 

development

Content of 

subject(s) 

taught

Uses of 

computers for

instruction

Reading 

instruction

Student 

discipline and 

classroom 

management

Teaching 

students with 

disabilities

Teaching 

limited-English 

proficient 

students or 

Englishlanguage 

learners Other

All schools 98.5 82.7 65.8 53.3 42.1 36.2 24.3 35.2

All public schools 99.0 84.8 67.2 56.7 42.5 37.4 26.8 35.7

School classification

Traditional public 99.0 85.1 67.6 56.7 42.2 37.3 26.7 35.7

Charter school 98.3 78.0 55.7 55.5 52.1 41.4 29.6 35.6

Community type

City ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Suburban 99.2 85.9 69.3 56.1 40.1 37.1 25.8 36.1

Town 99.0 82.0 66.9 56.3 41.7 36.4 21.6 35.4

Rural 98.7 82.2 67.0 52.4 41.7 37.3 18.3 34.4

School level 

Primary 99.4 91.2 68.3 70.7 44.7 35.9 30.4 36.8

Middle 98.9 81.3 66.6 47.9 43.0 40.2 26.9 33.5

High 98.5 77.7 66.3 40.4 37.7 36.8 22.2 35.6

Combined 98.5 78.0 64.1 47.4 46.2 44.4 18.7 34.2

Student enrollment

Less than 100 98.1 79.3 62.1 49.5 52.2 45.0 16.0 35.0

100–199 97.7 80.0 62.4 50.2 47.4 41.1 15.3 33.3

200–499 99.1 86.7 66.0 64.0 45.3 38.5 22.8 35.9

500–749 99.2 86.8 67.3 60.9 41.1 35.0 28.9 36.1

750–999 99.2 85.4 70.9 55.9 43.9 37.9 33.2 37.1

1,000 or more 98.7 81.1 67.3 45.1 38.5 37.3 27.7 34.8

 Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 99.0 84.0 68.7 52.2 36.5 36.4 19.6 36.3

35–49 99.0 83.4 67.5 54.3 40.2 36.0 21.7 35.2

50–74 99.0 85.3 66.8 57.6 45.4 38.0 29.3 36.0

75 or more 99.0 86.8 65.7 65.2 50.2 39.0 38.8 35.1

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 98.3 82.5 62.3 42.3 37.3 41.1 19.7 35.2

See notes at end of table.
20

Table 8. Percentage of teachers who participated in various types of professional development in the past 12 months, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—

Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Percent of teachers who participated in professional development focused on

Any 

professional 

development

Content of 

subject(s) 

taught

Uses of 

computers for

instruction

Reading 

instruction

Student 

discipline and 

classroom 

management

Teaching 

students with 

disabilities

Teaching 

limited-English 

proficient 

students or 

Englishlanguage 

learners Other

All private schools 94.7 67.0 55.2 28.6 38.9 27.7 6.6 31.6

School classification

Catholic 97.5 73.4 67.0 33.0 37.5 26.3 6.1 34.8

Other religious ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Nonsectarian ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Community type

City 95.2 69.4 56.9 28.2 37.2 27.7 7.0 32.1

Suburban ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Town 95.7 62.3 48.2 33.2 43.9 24.2 4.6! 32.4

Rural ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

School level

Elementary 95.6 71.8 57.2 36.5 42.0 28.9 5.6 34.9

Secondary 93.9 65.0 59.1 13.2 28.2 21.5 6.7 27.4

Combined ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

Student enrollment

Less than 100 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

100–199 ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

200–499 97.1 72.5 62.1 29.3 36.0 25.2 5.3 33.6

500–749 98.3 66.9 69.2 27.2 41.5 36.9 7.5! 31.0

750 or more ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the 

estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. The response rate is below 50 percent. 

NOTES: Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Teachers were asked about professional development participation during the 12 months prior to responding to the Schools and 

Staffing Survey. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
Appendix A: Standard Error Tables

A-1
A-2

Table A-1. Standard errors for Table 1: Total number of school teachers and percentage distribution of school teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Total number of 

teachers

Percent of teachers by race/ethnicity

Hispanic, 

regardless 

of race

White, nonHispanicBlack, nonHispanicAsian, nonHispanic

Native 

Hawaiian/

Pacific 

Islander, 

nonHispanic

American 

Indian/Alaska 

Native, nonHispanic

Two or more 

races, nonHispanic

All schools 44,670 0.32 0.48 0.25 0.19 0.04 0.07 0.10

All public schools 41,420 0.37 0.53 0.31 0.21 0.04 0.08 0.11

School classification

Traditional public 38,610 0.36 0.47 0.24 0.21 0.04 0.09 0.11

Charter school 7,410 1.90 4.80 5.48 0.81 † 0.24 0.57

Community type

City † † † † † † † †

Suburban 31,320 0.71 0.82 0.43 0.28 † 0.11 0.28

Town 14,380 0.78 1.11 0.64 0.71 0.05 0.16 0.21

Rural 21,820 0.63 0.84 0.45 0.15 † 0.17 0.15

School level 

Primary 20,100 0.69 0.90 0.41 0.42 † 0.10 0.20

Middle 8,450 0.50 0.74 0.50 0.29 0.09 0.07 0.19

High 25,920 0.53 0.68 0.42 0.27 0.09 0.18 0.15

Combined 21,350 1.22 2.75 3.09 0.47 † 0.29 0.31

Student enrollment

Less than 100 8,610 1.79 3.33 1.91 0.41 † † 0.48

100–199 6,270 1.05 1.61 1.16 0.40 † 0.30 †

200–499 21,070 0.60 0.88 0.54 0.44 † 0.13 0.26

500–749 23,230 0.85 1.03 0.58 0.40 0.08 0.14 0.20

750–999 20,710 1.29 1.68 1.41 0.61 † 0.05 0.27

1,000 or more 29,070 0.80 1.05 0.58 0.36 0.11 0.22 0.17

Percent of K–12 students who were

 approved for free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 20,800 0.35 0.51 0.30 0.27 0.07 0.07 0.17

35–49 17,180 0.68 1.01 0.74 0.36 † 0.12 0.14

50–74 23,540 0.72 0.88 0.61 0.35 0.04 0.26 0.28

75 or more 25,830 1.37 1.38 1.03 0.62 0.09 0.15 0.26

School did not participate in free 

or reduced-price lunch program 6,920 1.50 2.72 2.02 1.03 † † 0.41

See notes at end of table. 
A-3

Table A-1. Standard errors for Table 1: Total number of school teachers and percentage distribution of school teachers, by race/ethnicity, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Total number of 

teachers

Percent of teachers by race/ethnicity

Hispanic, 

regardless 

of race

White, nonHispanicBlack, nonHispanicAsian, nonHispanic

Native 

Hawaiian/

Pacific 

Islander, 

nonHispanic

American 

Indian/Alaska 

Native, nonHispanic

Two or more 

races, nonHispanic

All private schools 11,150 0.51 0.69 0.54 0.31 † † 0.19

School classification

Catholic 4,060 1.06 1.11 0.78 0.43 † † 0.32

Other religious † † † † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † † † † †

Community type

City 9,630 1.06 1.27 0.65 0.63 † † 0.21

Suburban † † † † † † † †

Town 2,860 † 2.30 † † † † †

Rural † † † † † † † †

School level

Elementary 7,990 0.75 0.99 0.68 0.55 † † 0.21

Secondary 6,510 1.07 1.73 0.86 † † † 0.48

Combined † † † † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † † † † †

100–199 † † † † † † † †

200–499 9,240 0.93 1.07 0.56 0.37 † † 0.13

500–749 6,680 1.65 1.98 1.21 † † † †

750 or more † † † † † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-4

Table A-2. Standard errors for Table 2: Average and median age of school teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, sex, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average age of 

teachers

Median age of 

teachers

Age category Sex

Less than 

30 years 30–49 years 50–54 years

55 years or 

more Male Female

All schools 0.16 0.21 0.44 0.53 0.26 0.50 0.42 0.42

All public schools 0.15 0.20 0.44 0.59 0.30 0.49 0.49 0.49

School classification

Traditional public 0.15 0.20 0.44 0.56 0.32 0.48 0.51 0.51

Charter school 0.78 1.16 3.82 4.77 1.78 2.61 2.81 2.81

Community type

City † † † † † † † †

Suburban 0.25 0.34 0.78 0.91 0.59 0.84 0.92 0.92

Town 0.35 0.55 1.02 1.48 1.12 0.98 0.86 0.86

Rural 0.22 0.31 0.71 0.79 0.49 0.81 0.72 0.72

School level 

Primary 0.24 0.37 0.72 1.04 0.57 0.78 0.61 0.61

Middle 0.24 0.31 0.70 0.77 0.52 0.74 0.66 0.66

High 0.25 0.31 0.63 0.78 0.53 0.71 0.74 0.74

Combined 0.48 0.72 2.35 2.87 1.20 1.57 1.56 1.56

Student enrollment

Less than 100 0.72 1.45 2.27 3.10 2.26 2.73 2.48 2.48

100–199 0.59 0.95 1.97 1.95 1.53 1.93 2.30 2.30

200–499 0.26 0.34 0.73 0.97 0.67 0.80 0.69 0.69

500–749 0.24 0.39 0.82 1.19 0.72 0.90 0.78 0.78

750–999 0.47 0.75 1.73 1.86 1.07 1.33 1.48 1.48

1,000 or more 0.27 0.33 0.70 0.91 0.58 0.93 0.96 0.96

Percent of K–12 students who were

 approved for free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 0.18 0.24 0.56 0.95 0.58 0.60 0.81 0.81

35–49 0.39 0.60 0.91 1.21 0.77 1.25 0.99 0.99

50–74 0.23 0.33 0.76 1.04 0.73 0.80 0.91 0.91

75 or more 0.38 0.57 1.25 1.61 0.90 1.21 1.15 1.15

School did not participate in free 

or reduced-price lunch program 0.96 1.98 2.32 3.26 4.06 2.65 2.64 2.64

See notes at end of table. 
A-5

Table A-2. Standard errors for Table 2: Average and median age of school teachers and percentage distribution of teachers, by age category, sex, school type, and selected school 

characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average age of 

teachers

Median age of 

teachers

Age category Sex

Less than 

30 years 30–49 years 50–54 years

55 years or 

more Male Female

All private schools 0.55 0.84 1.48 1.24 0.63 1.45 1.33 1.33

School classification

Catholic 0.83 1.09 2.05 1.36 0.96 2.60 1.45 1.45

Other religious † † † † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † † † † †

Community type

City 0.64 1.04 1.68 1.65 0.94 2.24 1.95 1.95

Suburban † † † † † † † †

Town 1.31 1.95 3.46 4.23 2.57 4.20 3.49 3.49

Rural † † † † † † † †

School level

Elementary 0.58 0.85 1.42 1.30 0.91 1.56 1.18 1.18

Secondary 0.93 1.27 2.68 2.28 1.37 3.16 2.79 2.79

Combined † † † † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † † † † †

100–199 † † † † † † † †

200–499 0.69 0.90 1.83 2.21 1.03 2.02 1.75 1.75

500–749 1.12 2.12 3.90 3.84 1.67 3.12 4.75 4.75

750 or more † † † † † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-6

Table A-3. Standard errors for Table 3: Percentage distribution of school teachers based on years of teaching experience, average total years of teaching experience, percentage 

distribution of teachers based on years teaching at current school, and average years teaching at current school, by school type and selected school characteristics: 

2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Years of teaching experience Years teaching at current school

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years

teaching

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years at 

current 

school

All schools 0.42 0.46 0.47 0.70 0.14 0.53 0.53 0.32 0.36 0.08

All public schools 0.36 0.52 0.51 0.68 0.12 0.65 0.59 0.35 0.36 0.08

School classification

Traditional public 0.36 0.53 0.51 0.65 0.11 0.63 0.59 0.37 0.37 0.08

Charter school 2.47 3.96 2.21 4.73 0.69 3.04 2.57 1.31 0.74 0.35

Community type

City † † † † † † † † † †

Suburban 0.55 0.88 0.75 0.96 0.18 0.97 1.08 0.73 0.64 0.13

Town 0.95 1.32 1.03 1.68 0.31 1.30 1.24 1.00 1.04 0.21

Rural 0.51 0.85 0.81 0.96 0.16 1.01 0.90 0.62 0.71 0.15

School level 

Primary 0.58 1.02 0.91 1.07 0.18 1.01 0.96 0.68 0.69 0.15

Middle 0.61 0.63 0.80 1.03 0.21 0.91 0.83 0.60 0.69 0.14

High 0.46 0.66 0.71 0.94 0.18 0.74 0.69 0.54 0.74 0.14

Combined 1.40 1.95 1.36 2.03 0.34 2.59 1.63 0.99 1.78 0.44

Student enrollment

Less than 100 1.49 3.36 3.29 3.27 0.66 3.45 3.04 1.70 2.36 0.55

100–199 1.79 2.10 1.85 2.49 0.53 2.23 2.24 1.67 1.78 0.40

200–499 0.76 1.03 0.84 1.09 0.20 1.03 0.93 0.77 0.81 0.16

500–749 0.78 1.13 0.99 1.22 0.24 1.07 1.10 0.82 0.82 0.17

750–999 1.20 1.92 1.38 1.99 0.42 2.64 1.85 1.31 1.10 0.29

1,000 or more 0.62 0.87 0.80 1.07 0.19 1.00 0.93 0.66 0.78 0.16

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 0.55 0.77 0.66 0.74 0.14 0.78 0.92 0.51 0.66 0.12

35–49 0.74 1.10 1.01 1.40 0.28 1.20 1.09 0.81 0.99 0.19

50–74 0.61 1.10 0.88 1.14 0.21 1.28 1.11 0.93 0.80 0.19

75 or more 0.92 1.37 1.31 1.58 0.27 1.45 1.39 0.96 0.91 0.17

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 2.11 2.89 2.79 4.82 0.96 4.28 3.95 1.50 2.68 0.54

See notes at end of table. 
A-7

Table A-3. Standard errors for Table 3: Percentage distribution of school teachers based on years of teaching experience, average total years of teaching experience, percentage 

distribution of teachers based on years teaching at current school, and average years teaching at current school, by school type and selected school characteristics: 

2011–12—Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Years of teaching experience Years teaching at current school

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years

teaching

Less than 

4 years

4–9 

years

10–14 

years

15 or more 

years

Average 

years at 

current 

school

All private schools 1.87 0.98 1.19 1.67 0.51 2.00 1.30 0.98 1.33 0.39

School classification

Catholic 2.26 1.62 1.27 3.65 0.89 2.99 1.60 1.21 2.03 0.60

Other religious † † † † † † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † † † † † † †

Community type

City 1.83 1.49 1.93 2.14 0.60 2.78 2.46 1.91 1.93 0.45

Suburban † † † † † † † † † †

Town 4.39 3.40 3.31 4.09 1.26 4.91 3.01 3.58 4.36 1.15

Rural † † † † † † † † † †

School level

Elementary 1.75 1.59 1.04 1.95 0.58 1.83 1.32 0.85 1.24 0.36

Secondary 2.72 2.28 1.81 3.36 0.91 3.65 2.14 2.84 3.31 0.81

Combined † † † † † † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † † † † † † †

100–199 † † † † † † † † † †

200–499 2.38 1.78 1.64 2.49 0.60 2.95 1.83 1.24 1.95 0.56

500–749 3.32 3.66 4.81 4.09 0.94 4.98 5.30 4.32 3.29 0.84

750 or more † † † † † † † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-8

Table A-4. Standard errors for Table 4: Percentage distribution of school teachers, by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic No bachelor’s Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree

Higher than a master’s 

degree

All schools 0.24 0.52 0.52 0.24

All public schools 0.24 0.52 0.57 0.28

School classification

Traditional public 0.25 0.51 0.57 0.27

Charter school 0.99 4.22 4.37 1.45

Community type

City † † † †

Suburban 0.35 0.98 1.09 0.62

Town 0.57 1.50 1.44 0.61

Rural 0.45 1.01 1.11 0.45

School level 

Primary 0.39 0.87 0.95 0.50

Middle 0.26 0.68 0.57 0.57

High 0.41 0.81 0.82 0.48

Combined 0.79 2.50 2.77 0.94

Student enrollment

Less than 100 1.03 3.28 2.74 1.81

100–199 1.00 2.46 2.24 0.91

200–499 0.36 0.99 1.02 0.58

500–749 0.54 1.20 1.26 0.64

750–999 0.45 1.66 1.80 0.92

1,000 or more 0.42 0.96 0.97 0.52

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.37 0.86 0.89 0.45

35–49 0.47 1.17 1.30 0.64

50–74 0.39 1.23 1.20 0.56

75 or more 0.61 1.51 1.62 0.60

School did not participate in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 1.40 3.93 3.46 1.92

See notes at end of table. 
A-9

Table A-4. Standard errors for Table 4: Percentage distribution of school teachers, by highest degree earned, school type, and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic No bachelor’s Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree

Higher than a master’s 

degree

All private schools 1.07 1.37 1.16 0.58

School classification

Catholic 0.70 1.83 1.85 0.75

Other religious † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † †

Community type

City 2.44 2.22 1.91 1.04

Suburban † † † †

Town 2.46 4.34 4.91 2.39

Rural † † † †

School level

Elementary 0.72 1.47 1.53 0.72

Secondary 1.16 2.99 2.28 1.39

Combined † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † †

100–199 † † † †

200–499 0.72 1.97 2.36 0.92

500–749 † 4.57 4.49 1.35

750 or more † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-10

Table A-5. Standard errors for Table 5: Number and percentage of teachers who are regular full-time teachers and average number of hours per week that regular full-time teachers 

spent on selected activities during a typical full week, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Number of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Percent of 

teachers who are 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average hours per week

Required to work to receive 

base pay during a typical full 

week

Paid to deliver

instruction to a class of 

students

Total hours spent on all teaching 

and other school-related activities 

during a typical full week

All schools 40,970 0.34 0.06 0.06 0.11

All public schools 38,340 0.32 0.06 0.06 0.11

School classification

Traditional public 36,790 0.31 0.06 0.06 0.12

Charter school 6,430 2.68 0.51 0.41 0.52

Community type

City † † † † †

Suburban 30,460 0.53 0.10 0.13 0.19

Town 13,340 0.70 0.15 0.14 0.25

Rural 21,060 0.42 0.09 0.09 0.18

School level 

Primary 21,940 0.58 0.09 0.09 0.20

Middle 8,390 0.29 0.09 0.09 0.15

High 24,460 0.24 0.08 0.09 0.14

Combined 17,890 1.60 0.30 0.23 0.34

Student enrollment

Less than 100 6,680 2.67 0.34 0.36 0.56

100–199 5,570 1.47 0.35 0.36 0.56

200–499 19,920 0.59 0.13 0.10 0.22

500–749 23,530 0.78 0.12 0.10 0.24

750–999 19,860 0.72 0.21 0.17 0.31

1,000 or more 27,830 0.31 0.08 0.10 0.20

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 19,450 0.50 0.09 0.10 0.13

35–49 16,270 0.60 0.10 0.12 0.30

50–74 22,910 0.48 0.12 0.12 0.22

75 or more 23,680 0.81 0.22 0.17 0.31

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 5,860 2.63 0.31 0.48 0.65

See notes at end of table. 
A-11

Table A-5. Standard errors for Table 5: Number and percentage of teachers who are regular full-time teachers and average number of hours per week that regular full-time teachers 

spent on selected activities during a typical full week, by school type and selected school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Number of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Percent of 

teachers who are 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average hours per week

Required to work to receive 

base pay during a typical full 

week

Paid to deliver

instruction to a class of 

students

Total hours spent on all teaching 

and other school-related activities 

during a typical full week

All private schools 10,950 1.38 0.18 0.19 0.26

School classification

Catholic 4,120 1.20 0.23 0.25 0.38

Other religious † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † †

Community type

City 9,510 2.57 0.24 0.27 0.44

Suburban † † † † †

Town 2,540 3.90 0.45 0.53 0.66

Rural † † † † †

School level

Elementary 6,380 1.52 0.25 0.19 0.36

Secondary 4,760 5.00 0.38 0.42 0.58

Combined † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † †

100–199 † † † † †

200–499 7,350 1.67 0.23 0.32 0.41

500–749 5,380 4.89 0.80 0.55 0.87

750 or more † † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-12

Table A-6. Standard errors for Table 6: Among regular full-time school teachers, average base salary and earnings from all sources, percentage of teachers with earnings from 

various salary supplements, and among those teachers, the average amount earned from the supplement during the current school year, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average base 

teaching salary of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average school 

year earnings 

from all sources

Salary supplements

Extracurricular or 

additional activities in 

same school system

Additional 

compensation based on 

students’ performance

Other school system sources 

(state supplement, etc.)

Job outside the school 

system

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

All schools 210 230 0.50 70 0.22 80 0.28 100 0.36 160

All public schools 210 230 0.53 70 0.23 80 0.31 100 0.39 170

School classification

Traditional public 200 220 0.55 70 0.26 90 0.31 100 0.40 170

Charter school 1,500 1,480 3.05 440 2.74 130 1.12 360 2.34 740

Community type

City † † † † † † † † † †

Suburban 430 460 1.09 140 0.43 140 0.53 150 0.65 190

Town 430 450 1.43 100 0.55 190 0.72 170 0.93 470

Rural 240 260 1.07 80 0.42 150 0.71 140 0.61 390

School level 

Primary 320 350 0.96 110 0.41 160 0.46 130 0.67 290

Middle 290 320 0.95 80 0.41 130 0.39 170 0.64 320

High 370 370 0.77 100 0.36 110 0.56 150 0.61 250

Combined 740 720 2.34 220 1.50 330 0.99 420 1.64 1,050

Student enrollment

Less than 100 840 990 2.97 690 0.60 230 2.05 820 2.52 790

100–199 630 650 2.69 160 1.01 360 1.05 390 1.81 620

200–499 420 440 1.17 130 0.28 150 0.50 190 0.72 350

500–749 390 400 1.16 70 0.68 220 0.73 140 0.85 370

750–999 570 610 1.69 200 0.65 190 1.08 150 1.05 330

1,000 or more 470 490 0.98 110 0.50 110 0.60 190 0.72 320

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 360 380 0.90 100 0.25 120 0.46 160 0.63 220

35–49 460 480 1.05 130 0.56 130 0.68 200 0.93 220

50–74 380 400 1.03 90 0.62 170 0.74 140 0.72 410

75 or more 540 570 1.29 180 0.72 190 0.72 240 1.17 450

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 1,800 1,840 3.68 520 2.16 550 1.24 600 2.73 800

See notes at end of table. 
A-13

Table A-6. Standard errors for Table 6: Among regular full-time school teachers, average base salary and earnings from all sources, percentage of teachers with earnings from 

various salary supplements, and among those teachers, the average amount earned from the supplement during the current school year, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected

school characteristic

Average base 

teaching salary of 

regular full-time 

teachers

Average school 

year earnings 

from all sources

Salary supplements

Extracurricular or 

additional activities in 

same school system

Additional 

compensation based on 

students’ performance

Other school system sources 

(state supplement, etc.)

Job outside the school 

system

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

Percent of 

teachers 

Average 

amount

All private schools 730 770 1.30 170 0.18 320 0.48 620 1.08 370

School classification

Catholic 660 720 1.79 250 † 720 0.68 † 1.45 440

Other religious † † † † † † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † † † † † † †

Community type

City 1,440 1,480 1.75 310 † 400 0.63 450 1.59 550

Suburban † † † † † † † † † †

Town 1,130 1,320 3.66 260 † # † † 3.49 1,530

Rural † † † † † † † † † †

School level

Elementary 450 480 1.31 160 0.38 370 0.83 † 1.18 550

Secondary 1,010 1,350 3.17 450 † 650 1.07 650 2.72 640

Combined † † † † † † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † † † † † † †

100–199 † † † † † † † † † †

200–499 850 920 2.14 250 0.22 † 0.75 340 1.61 500

500–749 2,450 2,930 3.91 370 † # † † 3.49 1,550

750 or more † † † † † † † † † †

† Not applicable.

# Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
A-14

Table A-7. Standard errors for Table 7: Average class size in public primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and schools with combined grades, by classroom type and 

selected school characteristics: 2011–12

Selected

school characteristic

Primary schools Middle schools High schools Combined grade schools

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

Average class

size for 

teachers in 

self-contained 

classes

Average class 

size for 

teachers in 

departmentalized 

instruction

All public schools 0.18 0.76 0.71 0.18 1.21 0.20 0.82 0.54

School classification

Traditional public 0.19 0.78 0.72 0.19 1.23 0.20 0.48 0.47

Charter school 0.61 2.41 6.53 1.67 4.98 0.76 3.31 1.90

Community type

City † † † † † † † †

Suburban 0.32 1.67 1.25 0.30 1.46 0.30 1.92 1.58

Town 0.37 2.37 1.68 0.40 3.20 0.37 1.46 2.19

Rural 0.37 0.93 1.41 0.40 1.10 0.43 0.46 0.53

Student enrollment

Less than 100 1.18 1.03 1.87 1.37 4.44 0.72 1.51 1.61

100–199 0.66 1.02 1.99 1.11 2.65 0.62 0.73 0.55

200–499 0.26 1.04 1.20 0.35 1.33 0.56 0.85 0.44

500–749 0.35 1.76 1.38 0.29 7.56 0.53 1.07 1.01

750 or more 0.53 1.58 1.34 0.36 3.34 0.44 1.68 3.31

1,000 or more 0.91 3.70 2.34 0.51 1.15 0.19 3.37 0.92

Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved

 for free or reducedprice lunches

0–34 0.34 1.21 1.64 0.30 1.19 0.26 1.11 1.02

35–49 0.32 1.71 1.68 0.36 1.57 0.34 3.65 1.06

50–74 0.29 1.22 1.48 0.39 3.42 0.39 0.90 0.72

75 or more 0.45 1.91 1.49 0.47 3.22 0.67 1.11 0.91

School did not 

 participate in free 

 or reduced-price 

lunch program 1.03 2.36 3.94 1.29 3.28 1.32 2.25 3.75

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data File,” 2011–12.
A-15

Table A-8. Standard errors for Table 8: Percentage of teachers who participated in various types of professional development in the past 12 months, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Percent of teachers who participated in professional development focused on

Any 

professional 

development

Content of 

subject(s) 

taught

Uses of 

computers for 

instruction

Reading 

instruction

Student 

discipline and 

classroom 

management

Teaching 

students with

disabilities

Teaching 

limited-English 

proficient 

students or 

Englishlanguage 

learners Other

All schools 0.11 0.34 0.50 0.51 0.52 0.54 0.54 0.50

All public schools 0.09 0.34 0.52 0.61 0.57 0.60 0.59 0.56

School classification

Traditional public 0.08 0.32 0.52 0.59 0.56 0.61 0.56 0.58

Charter school 0.58 3.17 3.57 3.82 3.32 3.17 4.65 4.41

Community type

City † † † † † † † †

Suburban 0.12 0.58 1.03 0.91 1.01 0.99 1.01 1.07

Town 0.21 0.93 1.38 1.46 1.30 1.45 1.31 1.30

Rural 0.17 0.64 0.88 1.11 0.96 0.85 0.78 0.94

School level 

Primary 0.13 0.56 0.95 0.93 0.98 1.04 1.00 0.99

Middle 0.15 0.53 0.91 0.86 0.85 0.80 0.76 0.78

High 0.19 0.68 0.74 0.74 0.62 0.69 0.93 0.72

Combined 0.34 1.63 2.50 2.35 2.16 2.00 3.10 2.63

Student enrollment

Less than 100 0.70 2.28 2.88 2.83 3.76 3.18 2.42 2.97

100–199 0.72 1.97 2.47 2.11 2.07 2.34 1.84 2.21

200–499 0.15 0.71 1.06 1.01 1.16 1.06 0.96 0.88

500–749 0.15 0.69 1.17 1.06 1.31 0.98 1.23 1.09

750–999 0.16 0.96 1.94 1.76 1.58 1.72 1.65 2.01

1,000 or more 0.20 0.69 0.85 1.01 0.91 0.88 1.00 0.80

 Percent of K–12 students 

 who were approved for 

 free or reduced-price 

 lunches

0–34 0.11 0.54 0.85 0.86 0.93 0.91 0.73 0.82

35–49 0.19 0.71 1.33 1.24 1.16 1.00 1.08 1.14

50–74 0.20 0.70 1.09 1.33 1.13 1.18 1.20 1.08

75 or more 0.21 0.77 1.42 1.49 1.49 1.34 1.56 1.38

School did not participate 

 in free or reduced-price 

lunch program 0.64 2.02 3.47 3.77 3.80 3.16 2.37 2.68

See notes at end of table.
A-16

Table A-8. Standard errors for Table 8: Percentage of teachers who participated in various types of professional development in the past 12 months, by school type and selected 

school characteristics: 2011–12—Continued

School type and selected 

school characteristic

Percent of teachers who participated in professional development focused on

Any 

professional 

development

Content of 

subject(s) 

taught

Uses of 

computers for 

instruction

Reading 

instruction

Student 

discipline and 

classroom 

management

Teaching 

students with 

disabilities

Teaching 

limited-English 

proficient 

students or 

Englishlanguage 

learners Other

All private schools 0.59 1.39 1.58 1.20 1.40 1.24 0.75 1.22

School classification

Catholic 0.44 1.47 1.87 1.67 2.12 1.87 0.84 1.90

Other religious † † † † † † † †

Nonsectarian † † † † † † † †

Community type

City 0.97 1.85 2.58 2.19 2.41 2.19 1.51 1.63

Suburban † † † † † † † †

Town 1.40 4.55 4.84 4.02 4.92 3.40 1.44 3.98

Rural † † † † † † † †

School level

Elementary 0.52 1.51 1.51 1.53 1.84 1.95 0.63 1.58

Secondary 1.65 2.42 4.12 1.67 2.23 2.05 1.50 1.94

Combined † † † † † † † †

Student enrollment

Less than 100 † † † † † † † †

100–199 † † † † † † † †

200–499 0.66 2.20 2.26 1.82 2.14 1.73 0.86 2.00

500–749 0.99 4.25 4.81 4.33 5.84 5.35 3.08 3.89

750 or more † † † † † † † †

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.
Appendix B: Methodology and Technical Notes

B-1
Overview of the Schools and Staffing Survey

The Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) is sponsored by the National Center for Education Statistics 

(NCES) of the Institute of Education Sciences within the U.S. Department of Education and is conducted 

by the U.S. Census Bureau. SASS is a nationally representative sample survey of public and private K–12 

schools, principals, and teachers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. School districts associated 

with public schools and library media centers in public schools are also part of SASS. SASS has been 

conducted seven times: in school years 1987–88, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 

2011–12. 

The 2011–12 SASS consisted of questionnaires for five types of respondents: school districts (public), 

schools (public and private), principals (public and private), teachers (public and private), and school 

library media centers (public). Modified versions of the public school principal, public school, and public 

school teacher questionnaires that incorporated wording and questions appropriate for private school 

settings were sent to private schools. Charter schools and schools in single-school districts received a 

modified public school questionnaire that included both district and school items. 

For public schools, information can be linked across teachers and their principals, schools, library media 

centers, and districts. For private schools, information can be linked across teachers and their principals 

and schools. For the content of the questionnaires, see http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass/questionnaire.asp. 

Appendix C of this report provides information about how the SASS data files used to produce this report 

were created.

SASS was designed to produce national, regional, and state estimates for public elementary and 

secondary schools, school districts, principals, teachers, and school library media centers; and national 

and regional estimates for public charter schools, as well as principals, teachers, and school library media 

centers within these schools. For private schools, the sample supports national, regional, and affiliation 

strata estimates for schools, principals, and teachers. Comparisons between public and private schools and 

their principals and teachers are possible only at the regional and national levels, because private schools 

were selected for sampling by affiliation strata and region rather than by state. 

The teacher survey was designed to support comparisons between new and experienced teachers (3 years 

or less of experience vs. more than 3 years of experience) at the state level for public school teachers and 

at the regional or affiliation strata level for private school teachers. 

This appendix includes information on all components of SASS. For additional information on the 

specific SASS-related topics discussed in this appendix, consult the Survey Documentation for the 

2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming) or the User’s Manual for the 

2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey Volumes 1–6 (Goldring et al. 2013). To access additional 

general information on SASS or for electronic copies of the questionnaires, go to the SASS home 

page (http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sass).

Sampling Frames and Sample Selection

Public schools. The starting point for the 2011–12 SASS public school sampling frame was the 

preliminary 2009–10 Common Core of Data (CCD) Nonfiscal School Universe data file.1 The sampling 

frame was adjusted from the CCD in order to fit the definition of a school eligible for SASS. To be 

eligible for SASS, a school was defined as an institution or part of an institution that provides classroom 

1 For more information about the CCD, see http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/. 

B-2 

 
instruction to students, has one or more teachers to provide instruction, serves students in one or more of 

grades 1–12 or the ungraded equivalent, and is located in one or more buildings apart from a private 

home. It was possible for two or more schools to share the same building; in that case, they were treated 

as different schools if they had different administrators (i.e., principal or school head).

The SASS 2011–12 universe of schools is confined to the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and 

excludes the other jurisdictions, Department of Defense overseas schools, Bureau of Indian Education 

schools, and CCD schools that do not offer teacher-provided classroom instruction in grades 1–12 or the 

ungraded equivalent. This last group includes schools that are essentially administrative units that may 

oversee entities that provide classroom instruction or may only provide funding and oversight. 

The SASS definition of a school is generally similar to the CCD definition, with some exceptions. 

Because SASS allows schools to define themselves, Census Bureau staff observed that schools generally 

report as one entity in situations where the administration of two or more schools reported separately on 

CCD is the same. Thus, CCD schools with the same location, address, and phone number were collapsed 

during the SASS frame building on the assumption that the respondent would consider them to be one 

school. A set of rules was applied in certain states to determine in which instances school records should 

be collapsed together. When school records were collapsed together, the student and teacher counts, grade 

ranges, and names as reported to CCD were all modified to reflect the change.

Finally, additional school records were added to the sampling frame. Most of these records were for 

alternative, special education, or juvenile justice facilities in California, Pennsylvania, and New York.2

For a detailed list of frame modifications, see the Survey Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and 

Staffing Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming). After deleting, collapsing, and adding school records, the 

SASS public school sampling frame consisted of about 90,530 traditional public schools and 5,080 public 

charter schools.

SASS uses a stratified, probability proportionate to size (PPS) sample (for an explanation of PPS 

sampling, see Cochran, 1977). The first level of stratification was school type: (1) schools in a subset of 

the states where counties are the school districts (Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and West Virginia) so that 

each of these districts had school(s) selected; (2) public charter schools; and (3) all other traditional public 

schools. The second-level stratification was state and school district for type 1 schools, and states or 

groups of states for type 2 and 3 schools. Each of the school types was then stratified by grade level 

(elementary, secondary, and combined for public charter schools; primary, middle, high, and combined 

for traditional public schools). Within each stratum, schools were sorted prior to sampling by state, 

community type (12 categories), collapsed ZIP code, percent free or reduced-price lunch (2 categories), 

highest grade in the school, percent minority enrollment (4 categories), and enrollment. The measure of 

size used for the schools was the square root of the number of full-time-equivalent teachers reported or 

imputed for each school during sampling frame development. If a school’s measure of size was greater 

than the sampling interval, the school was included in the sample with certainty. Each stratum was 

assigned a sample size to meet the defined precision goals of the survey. For example, for public primary 

schools, the goal was 15 percent or lower for coefficient of variation (CV) for national, regional, and state 

estimates for key characteristics. These sampling procedures resulted in a total public school sample of 

about 10,250 traditional public schools and 750 public charter schools. 

Private schools. The 2011–12 SASS private school frame was based on the 2009–10 Private School 

Universe Survey (PSS) as updated for the 2011–12 PSS.3

 That update is conducted prior to each 

2 In the 2007–08 SASS, records for Career Technical Centers (CTCs) were added to the frame because they were believed to be underrepresented 

in CCD. In 2011–12 SASS, special handling of CTCs was not deemed necessary. However, CTCs listed in CCD that met the SASS eligibility 

criteria were included on the SASS sampling frame.

3 For more information about the PSS, see http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss. 

B-3 

 
administration of PSS by collecting membership lists from private school associations and religious 

denominations, as well as private school lists from state education departments. The 2011–12 SASS 

private school frame was further augmented by the inclusion of additional schools that were identified 

through the 2009–10 PSS area frame data collection; these area frame schools were included in the SASS

sample survey with certainty. Schools with kindergarten as the highest grade level were deleted from the 

frame to fit the SASS definition. After these changes, the private school sampling frame consisted of 

about 28,490 private schools.

Private schools were stratified by affiliation strata, grade level (elementary, secondary, and combined), 

and Census region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West). The 11 affiliation strata included 3 strata for 

Catholic (parochial, diocesan, and private); Baptist; Jewish; Lutheran; Seventh-day Adventist; other 

religious; and 3 strata for nonsectarian (regular, special emphasis, and special education). Within each 

stratum, private schools in the list frame were sorted prior to sampling by: state, highest grade in the 

school, community type (12 categories), ZIP code, and enrollment. The measure of size and PPS 

procedures described for public schools were used for private schools as well. Of the 3,000 private 

schools sampled for the 2011–12 SASS, about 2,750 were from the list frame and about 250 were from 

the 2009–10 PSS area frame.

Public school districts. Since the SASS sample design calls for schools to be selected first, the public 

school district sample consists of the districts that were associated with the schools in the public school 

sample. This provides the linkage between the district and the school. In Florida, Maryland, Nevada, and 

West Virginia, school sampling was done in such a way that all districts were taken with certainty. About 

5,800 public school districts were pulled into the sample by being associated with sampled public schools. 

Teachers. Teachers are defined as staff members who teach regularly scheduled classes to students in any 

of grades K–12. Teacher Listing Forms (i.e., teacher rosters) were collected from sampled schools and 

districts, primarily by mail, and compiled at the Census Bureau. This compilation was done on an 

ongoing basis throughout the roster collection period. Along with the names of teachers, sampled schools 

were asked to provide information about each teacher’s teaching experience (1st year, 2–3 years, 4–19 

years, and 20 or more years), teaching status (full or part time), and subject matter taught (special 

education, general elementary, math, science, English/language arts, social studies, vocational/technical, 

or other). 

Sampling was also done on an ongoing basis throughout the roster collection period. The Census Bureau 

first stratified teachers into four teacher strata: (1) beginning teachers (in their first year of teaching); (2) 

early-career teachers (in their second or third years of teaching), (3) mid-career teachers (in their 4th 

through 19th years of teaching), and (4) experienced teachers (in their 20th or later years of teaching). 

Beginning and early-career teachers were oversampled to improve the survey estimates for this 

subpopulation. Teachers within a school were sorted by the teacher stratum code, the subject matter taught, and 

the teacher line number code. The teacher line number is a unique number assigned to identify the individual 

within the teacher list. Within each teacher stratum in each school, teachers were selected systematically with 

equal probability.

So that a school would not be overburdened by sampling too large a proportion of its teachers, the 

maximum number of teachers per school was set at 20. About 20 percent of the eligible public schools 

and 28 percent of the eligible private schools did not provide teacher lists that could be used for sampling 

teachers. For these schools, no teachers were selected. About 51,100 public schools teachers and 7,100 

private school teachers were sampled.

B-4 
Principals. The principal of each sampled school was selected. About 14,000 school principals were 

sampled (10,250 traditional public school principals, 750 public charter school principals, and 3,000 

private school principals).

Library media centers. A library media center in each sampled public school was also selected. Private 

schools were not included in the library media center survey. About 10,250 traditional public school and 

750 public charter school library media centers were sampled. 

For details on sampling at all levels, see the Survey Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing 

Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming).

Data Collection Procedures

In 2011–12, SASS employed a mail-based survey approach with subsequent telephone and in-person field 

follow-up. Prior to the beginning of data collection, research applications were submitted to public school 

districts that required applications to conduct research in their schools. Starting in June 2011, all districts 

were contacted by telephone to verify or collect the information about the district and sampled school(s) 

needed for data collection, identify the best person to receive the district questionnaire, and determine if 

the district would provide an electronic teacher list for sampled school(s). Survey packages were mailed 

to districts in October 2011.4

 Follow-up was conducted sequentially by mail, telephone, and in person to 

districts that did not provide the requested questionnaire and/or teacher list.

In preparation for school-level data collection, advance letters were mailed to the sampled schools in June 

2011 to verify their addresses. School packages were mailed in October 2011.5

 Next, schools were 

telephoned using a computer-assisted telephone-interviewing instrument to verify school information, 

establish a survey coordinator (who became the main contact person at the school for subsequent 

communication), and follow up on the Teacher Listing Form if the school district had not already 

provided an electronic teacher list. Teacher questionnaires were mailed to schools on a flow basis as 

teachers were sampled on an ongoing basis from the data provided on the Teacher Listing Form or 

electronic teacher list. The field follow-up period was preceded by phone calls from the telephone centers 

to remind the survey coordinators to have staff complete and return all forms. Individual survey 

respondents (principal, librarian, and teachers) were also called from the telephone centers and asked to 

complete the questionnaire by phone. Data collection ended in June 2012. 

Data Processing and Imputation

The Census Bureau used both central processing and headquarters staff to check returned questionnaires, 

key the data, and implement quality control procedures. Questionnaires that had a preliminary 

classification of a complete interview were submitted to a series of computer edits consisting of a range 

check, a consistency edit, a blanking edit,6

 and a logic edit. After these edits were run and reviewed by 

analysts, the records were put through another edit to make a final determination as to whether the case 

4 The SASS district package contained a cover letter, the School District Questionnaire, and postage-paid return envelope. Districts that indicated 

they would provide electronic list(s) of teachers for their selected school(s) received a letter that explained the purpose of the teacher list and 

provided instructions for uploading the file. In districts with only one school, the school received the Public School Questionnaire (With District 

Items) in lieu of the School District Questionnaire and School Questionnaire.

5 The SASS school package contained a cover letter to the principal, a cover letter to the survey coordinator, the Teacher Listing Form if the 

district could not provide it, the Public School Principal Questionnaire or Private School Principal Questionnaire, the Public School Questionnaire 

or Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) or Private School Questionnaire, the School Library Media Center Questionnaire (for public 

schools only), postage-paid return envelopes, and the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2011 CD. 6 Blanking edits delete answers to questions that should not have been filled in (e.g., if a respondent followed a wrong skip pattern).

B-5 

 
was eligible for the survey and whether sufficient data had been collected for the case to be classified as a 

complete interview.

After the final edits were run, cases with “not-answered” values for items remained. Values were imputed 

using two main approaches. Donor respondent methods, such as hot-deck imputation, were used. If no 

suitable donor case could be matched, the few remaining items were imputed using mean or mode from 

groups of similar cases to impute a value to the item with missing data. After each stage of imputation, 

computer edits were run again to verify that the imputed data were consistent with the existing 

questionnaire data. If that was not the case, an imputed value was blanked out by one of these computer 

edits due to inconsistency with other data within the same questionnaire or because it was out of the range 

of acceptable values. In these situations, Census Bureau analysts looked at the items and tried to 

determine an appropriate value. Edit and imputation flags, indicating which edit or imputation method 

was used, were assigned to each relevant survey variable. For further information, see the sections on data 

processing and imputation in the Survey Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey 

(Chambers et al. forthcoming). 

Response Rates

Unit response rates. The unit response rate indicates the percentage of sampled cases that met the 

definition of a complete interview. The weighted SASS unit response rate was produced by dividing the 

weighted number of respondents who completed questionnaires by the weighted number of eligible 

sampled cases, using the initial base weight (the inverse of the probability of selection).7 Table B-1 

summarizes the weighted unit response rates for each survey type. Because response rates vary between 

surveys, it is possible to not have information for all the components related to a particular school. For 

example, it is possible that a district does not have a corresponding school record or there may not be a 

principal record for every school.

Table B-1. Weighted unit and overall response rates using initial base weight, by survey: 

2011–12 

Survey

Unit response rate

(percent)

Overall response 

rate (percent)

Public School Teacher Listing Form 79.6 †

Private School Teacher Listing Form 71.6 †

Public School District 80.6 †

Public School 72.5 †

Private School 65.7 †

Public School Principal 72.7 †

Private School Principal 64.7 †

Public School Teacher 77.7 61.8

Private School Teacher 69.9 50.1

Public School Library Media Center 72.9 †

† Not applicable.

NOTE: Response rates were weighted using the inverse of the probability of selection (initial base weight). 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public 

School and Private School Teacher Listing Forms; Public School District, Public School, Private School, Public School Principal, 

Private School Principal, Public School Teacher, Private School Teacher, and Public School Library Media Center 

Documentation Data Files,” 2011–12.

7 For the formula used to calculate the unit response rate, see NCES Statistical Standards (U.S. Department of Education 2003).

B-6 

 
Overall response rates. The overall response rate represents the response rate to the survey taking into 

consideration each stage of the survey. For teachers, the overall response rate is calculated as the product 

of the response rate to two stages: the Teacher Listing Form and the teacher questionnaire.8 The weighted 

overall response rate using the initial base weight for public school teachers was 61.8 percent; and for 

private school teachers, 50.1 percent. For the other surveys, the overall and unit response rates are the 

same since these surveys have only one sampling stage.

Unit nonresponse bias analysis. Because the NCES Statistical Standards (4-4) require analysis of 

nonresponse bias for any survey stage with a base-weighted response rate less than 85 percent, all SASS 

files were evaluated for potential bias. For each survey, national-level estimates were first examined for 

potential bias. For public schools, principals, teachers, and library media centers, these national-level 

estimates were evaluated within charter and noncharter schools. Next, the base-weighted9

 unit response 

rate was calculated by state or affiliation strata depending on the sector (public and private, respectively). 

If the base-weighted response rate for any state or affiliation stratum was below 85 percent, a detailed 

comparison of respondents to the frame population was conducted by examining characteristics. These 

characteristics were teaching subject, community type, and school level for public school teachers; 

teaching subject, school level, and region for private school teachers. A difference between the frame and 

respondent population was considered noteworthy if the difference was statistically significant and the 

following three conditions were met:

• The relative difference between the frame and respondent population was greater than 

10 percent; 

• The absolute difference was greater than one percentage point; and 

• The cell for each subpopulation contained at least 30 interviews. 

As shown in table B-1, the weighted response rate using the initial base weight was 80.6 percent for 

public school districts. The weighted response rate using the initial base weight was 72.5 percent for 

public schools and 65.7 percent for private schools. The weighted response rate using the initial base 

weight was 72.7 percent for public school principals and 64.7 percent for private school principals. The 

weighted response rate using the initial base weight for the teacher listing form was 79.6 for public 

schools and 71.6 for private schools. The weighted questionnaire response rate using the initial base 

weight for the teacher survey was 77.7 percent for public school teachers and 69.9 percent for private 

school teachers. The weighted response rate using the initial base weight was 72.9 percent for public 

school library media centers. 

Given the low overall response rates for both public and private school teachers, a decision was reached 

to consider all significant differences observed in the comparisons conducted for the nonresponse bias 

analysis (i.e., disregarding the three conditions articulated above).

A comparison between the frame and the base-weighted estimates for the public school Teacher Listing 

Form showed evidence of bias in 8 percent of the characteristics compared at the national level and in 

16 percent of the characteristics compared at the state level. A comparison between the frame and the 

base-weighted estimates for the public school teacher estimates showed evidence of bias in 6 percent of 

the characteristics compared at the national level and in 11 percent of the characteristics compared at the 

state level. For the private school Teacher Listing Form, a comparison between the frame and the base8 For the formula used to calculate the overall response rate, see NCES Statistical Standards (U.S. Department of Education 2003). 9 Unit nonresponse bias analysis was conducted using the base weight, defined as the product of the initial base weight (the inverse of the 

probability of selection) and the sampling adjustment factor. The sampling adjustment factor is an adjustment that accounts for circumstances that 

affect the school’s probability of selection that are identified after the data collection has begun, such as a merger, duplication, or incorrect 

building-level collapsing (i.e., a junior high school and a senior high school merge to become a junior/senior high school).

B-7 

 
weighted estimates showed evidence of bias in 7 percent of the characteristics compared at the national 

level and in 10 percent of the characteristics compared at the affiliation level; and a comparison between 

the frame and the base-weighted estimates for the private school teacher estimates showed evidence of 

bias in 8 percent of the characteristics compared at the national level and in 9 percent of the 

characteristics compared at the affiliation level.

Nonresponse adjustments were designed to reduce or eliminate bias. When the estimates computed using 

the nonresponse-adjusted weights were compared to the frame estimates for the public school Teacher 

Listing Form, the estimates show that in the set of national estimates, bias remained in 4 percent of the 

characteristics compared, but in the state-level estimates, 15 percent were significantly biased after 

nonresponse adjustments were applied to the weights. The same comparison for the public school teacher 

data showed that after nonresponse adjustments were applied to the weights, the percentage of estimates 

with measurable bias decreased to 2 percent at the national level but remained at 9 percent at the state 

level. For the private school Teacher Listing Form, when the estimates computed using the nonresponseadjusted weights were compared to the frame estimates, the estimates showed that in the set of national 

estimates, bias remained in 2 percent of the characteristics compared, but in the affiliation-level estimates, 

9 percent were significantly biased after nonresponse adjustments were applied to the weights. The same 

comparison for the private school teacher data showed that after nonresponse adjustments were applied to 

the weights, the percentage of estimates with measurable bias decreased to 3 percent at the national level 

but remained at 9 percent at the affiliation level.

These analyses of nonresponse bias were limited to variables used in sampling; however, much more 

information is available at the universe level for the schools, districts for the sampled schools, and 

teachers. Given the extent of nonresponse in the overall response rates for teachers, NCES is taking a 

conservative approach of not publishing estimates where the overall response rate falls below 50 percent 

until such time as more extensive nonresponse bias analyses can be conducted using the more complete 

set of information available on the schools and districts in which the teachers work. For further 

information on unit response rates and nonresponse bias analysis, see the Survey Documentation for the 

2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (Chambers et al. forthcoming). 

Item response rates. The item response rate indicates the percentage of respondents who answered a 

given survey question or item. The weighted SASS item response rate is calculated by dividing the 

weighted number of respondents who provided an answer to an item by the weighted number of 

respondents who were eligible to answer that item.10 Table B-2 provides a brief summary of the weighted 

item response rates for each questionnaire. 

For the public school teacher data, four of the survey items used in this report have item response rates 

less than 85 percent. This includes three of the items used to calculate average class size for teachers in 

departmentalized instruction (T0137, T0138, and T0139) with item response rates of 83, 81, and 

78 percent, respectively. In addition, the amount of salary supplement from additional compensation 

based on students’ performance (T0512) has an item response rate of 83 percent. 

For the private school teacher data, five of the survey items used in this report have item response rates 

less than 85 percent. This includes two of the items used to calculate average class size for teachers in 

departmentalized instruction (T0138 and T0139) with item response rates of 85 (rounded) and 80 percent, 

respectively. In addition, the average hours per week paid to deliver instruction to a class of students 

(T0390), average hours required to receive base pay during a typical full week (T0391), and average 

amount of the salary supplement from additional compensation based on students’ performance (T0512) 

have item response rates of 82, 82, and 70 percent, respectively. For further information on item response 

10 For the formula to calculate the item response rate, see NCES Statistical Standards (U.S. Department of Education 2003).

B-8 

 
rates and bias analysis, see the Survey Documentation for the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey 

(Chambers et al. forthcoming). 

Table B-2. Summary of weighted item response rates, by survey: 2011–12 

Survey

Percent of items with a 

response rate of 

85 percent or more

Percent of items with a 

response rate of 

less than 85 percent

Public School District 100.0 0.0

Public School 96.2 3.8

Private School1 93.5 6.1

Public School Principal 98.9 1.1

Private School Principal 98.3 1.7

Public School Teacher 94.2 5.8

Private School Teacher 92.5 7.5

Public School Library Media Center 100.0 0.0

1 There was one item on the Private School Questionnaire that had 0 eligible respondents; thus, the response rate could not be 

calculated. For this reason, the percentages on this row do not sum to 100. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public 

School and Private School Teacher Listing Forms; Public School District, Public School, Private School, Public School Principal, 

Private School Principal, Public School Teacher, Private School Teacher, and Public School Library Media Center 

Documentation Data Files,” 2011–12.

Weighting

The general purpose of weighting is to scale up the sample estimates to represent the target survey 

population. For SASS, a base weight is used as the starting point. In some cases, this base weight is the 

simple reciprocal of the unit’s probability of selection on the frame (the initial base weight), and in other 

cases, adjustments are made to this frame base weight to reflect multiple chances of selection from the 

frame or other situations such as subsampling. 

Next, a series of nonresponse adjustment factors are calculated and applied based on a weighting cell 

adjustment. Weighting cells are developed using tree search algorithms. These cells are selected to be 

homogeneous in response propensity within cells and heterogeneous in response propensity across cells 

(response propensity is the underlying “chance” that a particular sample unit will respond by completing 

the questionnaire: its individual response rate). The adjustment is the inverse of the weighted response 

rate within each cell, and each respondent in the cell receives this adjustment. Nonrespondents are given 

weights of zero: the respondents are reweighted to represent the nonrespondents. 

Finally, for some files, a ratio-adjustment factor is calculated and applied to the sample to adjust the 

sample totals to the frame totals. This improves the precision of survey estimates. 

The product of these factors is the final weight for each SASS respondent, which appears as DFNLWGT 

on the SASS Public School District Data File, AFNLWGT on all SASS Principal Data Files, SFNLWGT 

on all SASS School Data Files, TFNLWGT on all SASS Teacher Data Files, and MFNLWGT on the 

SASS Library Media Center Data File.

B-9 
The counts in table 1 (in the Estimate Tables section) do not necessarily match the frame counts because 

some cases in the frame were found to be ineligible (i.e., out of scope) and because not all data files (e.g., 

principal or library media center) are post-stratified to match the frame counts.

Variance Estimation

In surveys with complex sample designs, such as SASS, direct estimates of sampling errors that assume a 

simple random sample typically underestimate the variability in the estimates. The SASS sample design 

and estimation include procedures that deviate from the assumption of simple random sampling, such as 

stratifying the school sample, oversampling new teachers, and sampling with differential probabilities.

One method of calculating sampling errors of complex sample designs is replication. Replication methods 

involve constructing a number of subsamples (i.e., replicates) from the full sample and computing the 

statistic of interest for each replicate. The mean square error of the replicate estimates around the full 

sample estimate provides an estimate of the variance of the statistic. Each SASS data file includes a set of 

88 replicate weights designed to produce variance estimates. The set of replicate weights for each file 

should be applied to the respondents in that file. The replicate weights for SASS respondents are 

DREPWT1–DREPWT88 for districts, AREPWT1–AREPWT88 for principals, SREPWT1–SREPWT88 

for schools, TREPWT1–TREPWT88 for teachers, and MREPWT1–MREPWT88 for library media 

centers.

Reliability of Data

SASS estimates are based on samples. The sample estimates may differ somewhat from the values that 

would be obtained from the universe of respondents using the same questionnaire, instructions, and field 

representatives. The difference occurs because a sample survey estimate is subject to two types of errors: 

nonsampling and sampling. Estimates of the magnitude of sampling error for SASS data can be derived or 

calculated. Nonsampling errors are attributed to many sources, including definitional difficulties, the 

inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct information, differences in the interpretation 

of questions, an inability to recall information, errors made in collection (e.g., in recording or coding the 

data), errors made in processing the data, and errors made in estimating values for missing data. Quality 

control and edit procedures were used to reduce errors made by respondents, coders, and interviewers. 

Caution Concerning Changes in Estimates

Care must be taken in estimating change over time in a SASS data element, because some of the 

measured change may not be attributable to a change in the education system.

Some of the change may be due to changes in the sampling frame, changes in questionnaire item wording, 

or other changes. For example, the definition of locale codes has undergone major changes since the 2000 

Decennial Census. The first major change was an improvement in geocoding technology, which improved 

the assignment of specific addresses to physical locations. In 2005, a new locale code for CCD was 

implemented based on the new urban-centric method of classifying locale. Changes in how areas and, 

thus, schools are categorized may account for at least some changes that are noted from previous 

administrations.

B-10 
Appendix C: Description of Data Files

C-1
Description of Data Files

The 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) data are being released in eight restricted-use data 

files. Those data files were created from nine survey questionnaires: the School District Questionnaire, 

School Questionnaire (public), Public School Questionnaire (With District Items),1 Private School 

Questionnaire, Principal Questionnaire (public), Private School Principal Questionnaire, Teacher 

Questionnaire (public), Private School Teacher Questionnaire, and Library Media Center Questionnaire 

(public). Table C-1 identifies each data file and the questionnaire data used to build the file. 

Table C-1. Names of data files and the questionnaires from which the data were drawn: 

2011–12 

Data file Questionnaire source

School district School District Questionnaire, Public School Questionnaire (With District Items)

Public school School Questionnaire, Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) 

Private school Private School Questionnaire 

Public school principal Principal Questionnaire 

Private school principal Private School Principal Questionnaire

Public school teacher Teacher Questionnaire 

Private school teacher Private School Teacher Questionnaire

Public school library media center Library Media Center Questionnaire 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), 

2011–12.

For the most part, there is a separate data file for each type of respondent (district, school, principal, 

teacher, and library media center) for each school sector (public2

 and private). There are two exceptions: 

1) there is no district file for private schools, and 2) there is no library media center file for private 

schools.

The Public School District Data File includes responses from school districts to the School District 

Questionnaire along with the “district items” taken from the Public School Questionnaire (With District 

Items) completed by the subset of public schools that were not associated with “traditional” school 

districts. These schools include state-run schools, traditional public schools in single-school districts, and 

independent charter schools. Rather than ask these public schools to complete two questionnaires, School 

and School District, the National Center for Education Statistics created the Public School Questionnaire 

(With District Items) to capture district data from these schools. Table C-2 shows the different 

respondents and questionnaires used to create the Public School District Data File. The “district items” 

gathered from the Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) were not placed on the Public 

School Data File.

1 The School Questionnaire (With District Items) is an expanded version of the Public School Questionnaire that includes items from the School

District Questionnaire. 2 Public includes traditional public and public charter.

C-2 

 
Table C-2. The number of cases in the Public School District Data File, by respondent and 

source of data: 2011–12 

Respondent Source of data in the district file Number of cases

Total 4,640

Regular districts School District Questionnaire 4,000

State-run schools1 Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) 50

Schools in single-school districts Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) 330

Independent charter schools Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) 200

Dependent charter schools in charter school 

districts Public School Questionnaire (With District Items) 60

1 These include schools for the blind, career and technical centers, and schools in detention centers run by a state. 

NOTE: Rounded, unweighted number of respondents in the data file. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), 

“Public School District and Public School Documentation Data Files,” 2011–12.

C-3 
Appendix D: Description of Variables

D-1
Description of Variables

The variables that are included in this report are listed in table D-1. Those with variable names that begin 

with “T” and are followed by four digits are survey variables that come from items on the teacher 

questionnaires. For survey variables, the numeric part of the variable name can be found in the 

questionnaires to the left of the corresponding question. The variables without the letter plus four digit 

names are “created variables,” meaning they were created using survey variables, frame variables 

(variables taken from the sampling frame), other created variables, or a combination of these. They are 

frequently used in National Center for Education Statistics publications and have been added to the data 

files to facilitate data analysis. The definitions for the created variables follow table D-1. The variables 

without a variable name were created for the analyses in this report and are not on the data files. 

Table D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary 

School Teachers in the United States: Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey

report: 2011–12 

Variable

Variable name 

in data file

Average amount of salary supplements from additional compensation based on students’ performance T0512

Average amount of salary supplements from extracurricular activities in same school system T0510

Average amount of salary supplements from jobs outside the school system T0516

Average amount of salary supplements from other school system sources T0514

Average class size for teachers in departmentalized instruction1 Not in file

Average class size for teachers in self-contained classes T0094

Average base teaching salary of regular full-time teachers T0508

Average school year earnings from all sources1 Not in file

Average hours per week paid to deliver instruction to a class of students T0390

Average hours required to receive base pay during a typical full week T0391

Average hours spent on all teaching and other school-related activities during a typical full week T0392

Charter school identifier1 CHARFLAG

Four-category school level1 SCHLEVE2

Highest degree earned HIDEGR

Number/percent of regular full-time teachers T0025

Number of years of experience as an elementary or secondary teacher in public and private schools T0042

Number of years teaching at current school1 Not in file

Percentage of students in the school approved for the National School Lunch Program1 NSLAPP_S

Percentage of teachers who participated in any professional development1 Not in file

See notes at end of table.

D-2 
Table D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary 

School Teachers in the United States: Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey 

report: 2011–12—Continued

Variable

Variable name in 

data file

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on content of subject(s) taught T0338

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on other subjects T0356

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on reading instruction T0344

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on student discipline and 

classroom management T0347

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on teaching students with 

disabilities T0350

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on teaching limited-English 

proficient students or English-language learners T0353

Percentage of teachers who participated in professional development focused on uses of computers for 

instruction T0341

Percentage of teachers with salary supplement from additional compensation based on students’ performance T0511

Percentage of teachers with salary supplement from extracurricular activities in same school system T0509

Percentage of teachers with salary supplement from jobs outside the school system T0515

Percentage of teachers with salary supplement from other school system sources T0513

Student enrollment in K–12 and ungraded1 SCHSIZE

Teacher’s age1 AGE_T

Teacher’s race/ethnicity1 Not in file

Teacher’s sex T0525

Three-category private school typology1 RELIG

Three-category school level1 SCHLEVEL

Urban-centric school locale code1 URBANS12

Way the teacher’s classes are organized T0092

1 The definition for this variable can be found below.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public 

School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files,” 2011–12.

Average school year earnings from all sources: A variable that combines the amount a teacher earned 

from all possible sources during the school year (T0508, T0510, T0512, T0514, T0516).

Average class size for teachers in departmentalized instruction: This variable is a combination of all 

possible class size responses for teachers with departmentalized instruction (T0130, T0131, T0132, 

T0133, T0134, T0135, T0136, T0137, T0138, T0139) divided by the number of classes taught.

D-3 
Charter school identifier (CHARFLAG): A flag variable taken from the Public School Data File that 

identifies charter schools. 1 = School is a public charter school, 2 = School is a traditional public school. 

A charter school is a public school that, in accordance with an enabling state statute, has been granted a 

charter exempting it from selected state or local rules and regulation. CHARFLAG is based on S0290 

from the public school. 

Four-category school level (SCHLEVE2): Taken from the Public School Data Files, SCHLEVE2 is a 

four-category variable based on grades reported by the school: primary, middle, high, and combined. 

Primary schools are those with at least one grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. Middle schools 

have no grade lower than 5 and no grade higher than 8. High schools have no grade lower than 7 and at 

least one grade higher than 8. Combined schools are those with at least one grade lower than 7 and at least 

one grade higher than 8, or with all students in ungraded classrooms. 

Highest degree earned (HIDEGR): A variable that indicates the highest degree a teacher has earned. 

Computed using the variables T0160, T0170, T0193, T0196, and T0199.

Number of years teaching at current school: A variable created by subtracting the first four digits of 

the school year when the teacher began teaching at the school (T0030) from the survey year (2011). 

Caution should be used in comparing these data to the 2007–08 survey results because 2007–08 teachers 

were instructed, “If you had a break in service of one year or more, please report the year that you 

returned to this school,” whereas no such instruction was given in the 2011–12 survey.

Percentage of teachers who participated in any professional development: A variable that indicates 

teacher participation in professional development of any type. Computed using the variables T0330, 

T0332, T0334, T0336, T0338, T0341, T0344, T0347, T0350, T0353, and T0356.

Percentage of students in school approved for the National School Lunch Program (NSLAPP_S):

Taken from the Public School Data File, NSLAPP_S is a continuous variable created by dividing the 

number of K–12 and ungraded students approved for free or reduced-price lunches (S0273) by the total 

number of K–12 and ungraded students enrolled (S0039) among schools that participated in the National 

School Lunch Program (NSLP) (S0272=1). Schools that did not participate in the NSLP have valid skip 

values. For this report, NSLAPP_S is recoded as a categorical variable describing the proportion of 

students approved for free or reduced-price lunches.

Student enrollment in K–12 and ungraded (SCHSIZE): Taken from the Public School and Private 

School Data Files, SCHSIZE is a categorical variable based on the number of K–12 and ungraded 

students enrolled in the school (S0039). For this report, SCHSIZE was recoded into six categories for 

public schools and five categories for private schools.

Teacher’s age (AGE_T): A variable based on a respondent’s reported year of birth. AGE_T is a 

continuous variable that was created by subtracting the teacher’s reported year of birth (T0534) from the 

year of data collection (2011).

Teacher’s race/ethnicity: A variable created for this analysis based on T0527—whether or not the 

teacher is of Hispanic or Latino origin and T0528–T0532—the teacher’s race. The following categories 

were created for analysis.

• Hispanic, regardless of race: the teacher indicates he/she is of Hispanic or Latino origin 

(T0527 = 1). 

• White, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is White (T0528 = 1), not of Hispanic or 

Latino origin (T0527=2), and does not consider him/herself to be any other race. 

D-4 
• Black or African American, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is Black or African

American (T0529 = 1), not of Hispanic or Latino origin (T0527=2), and does not consider 

him/herself to be any other race.

• Asian, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is Asian (T0530 = 1), not of Hispanic or 

Latino origin (T0527=2), and does not consider him/herself to be any other race. 

• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is Native 

Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (T0531 = 1), not of Hispanic or Latino origin (T0527=2), 

and does not consider him/herself to be any other race. 

• American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is American Indian 

or Alaska Native (T0532 = 1), not of Hispanic or Latino origin (T0527=2), and does not 

consider him/herself to be any other race. 

• Two or more races, non-Hispanic: the teacher indicates he/she is more than one race (more 

than one category T0528–T0532 = 1) and not of Hispanic or Latino origin (T0527=2). 

Three-category private school typology (RELIG): Taken from the Private School Data File, RELIG is 

a three-category variable based on the variables that identify the religious or nonreligious orientation of a 

private school (S0738–S0762): Catholic, other religious, or nonsectarian. 

Three-category school level (SCHLEVEL): Taken from the Public School and Private School Data 

Files, SCHLEVEL is a three-category variable based on grades reported by the school: elementary, 

secondary, and combined. Elementary schools are those with any of grades K–6 and none of grades 9–12. 

Secondary schools have any of grades 7–12 and none of grades K–6. Combined schools are those schools 

with grade levels in both elementary and secondary grade levels, or with all students in ungraded 

classrooms.

Urban-centric school locale code (URBANS12): Taken from the Public School and Private School Data 

Files, URBANS12 is a created variable collapsed from the 12-category urban-centric school locale code 

(SLOCP12) which was assigned using the 2000 Decennial Census data and recoded into four categories: 

city, suburban, town, and rural. 

D-5