NCES 2013-311 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Characteristics of Public School

Districts in the United States:

Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey

First Look
Characteristics of Public School

Districts in the United States:

Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey

First Look

JULY 2013 

Lucinda Gray

Amy Bitterman

Rebecca Goldring

Westat

Stephen Broughman

Project Officer

National Center for Education Statistics

NCES 2013-311

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

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Suggested Citation

Gray, L., Bitterman, A., and Goldring, R. (2013). Characteristics of Public School Districts in the United States: Results 

From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES 2013–311). 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 ............................................................................................................................ 5 

Estimate Tables .................................................................................................................... 6 

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. Number and percentage distribution of public school districts, by selected 

public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ....................................................... 7 

2. Percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for teachers 

and among those that had salary schedules, the average yearly teacher 

base salary, by various levels of degrees and experience and selected 

public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ....................................................... 8 

3. Average and median lowest and highest yearly base salaries paid to fulltime teachers among all districts, by selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 9 

4. Percentage of public school districts that offered various benefits to 

teachers, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ..................... 10 

5. Percentage of public school districts that used pay incentives for various 

reasons, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ...................... 11 

6. Percentage of public school teachers who were newly hired for grades 

K–12 and comparable ungraded levels, percentage of districts that offered 

free training for district staff to prepare them to teach in fields with 

current or anticipated shortages, and percentage of districts that used 

various practices to recruit teachers, by selected public school district 

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

7. Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement 

with teachers’ associations or unions and selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 13 

8. Average number of teachers per public school district in 2011–12, average 

number of teachers per district in the previous year (2010–11) who were 

dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed for any reason, and as a 

result of poor performance, by tenure status of teachers and selected 

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

9. Percentage of public school districts that grant high school diplomas, and 

among those that grant diplomas, graduation requirements for standard 

diplomas, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 .................... 15 

10. Among districts with more than one school, percentage of public school 

districts that had salary schedules for principals, and average and median 

lowest and highest yearly base salaries paid to all full-time principals, 

by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 .................................... 16 

11. Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement 

with principals’ associations or unions and selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... 17 

iv
Table Page

12. Percentage of public school district principals who were newly hired, 

average number of days in the normal contract year for principals, 

percentage of districts that had a tenure system for principals, percentage 

of districts that used any incentives for recruiting principals, and 

percentage of districts that had a training program for aspiring school 

administrators, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ............ 18 

13. Number of public school districts with more than one school, and among 

those districts, percentage that offer various school “choice” programs to 

students within or outside of the district, by selected public school district 

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

Appendix A: Standard Error Tables

A-1. Standard errors for Table 1: Number and percentage distribution of public 

school districts, by selected public school district characteristics: 

2011–12 ................................................................................................................... A-2 

A-2. Standard errors for Table 2: Percentage of public school districts that had 

salary schedules for teachers and among those that had salary schedules, 

the average yearly teacher base salary, by various levels of degrees and 

experience and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ................ A-3 

A-3. Standard errors for Table 3: Average and median lowest and highest 

yearly base salaries paid to full-time teachers among all districts, 

by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 .................................... A-4 

A-4. Standard errors for Table 4: Percentage of public school districts that 

offered various benefits to teachers, by selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... A-5 

A-5. Standard errors for Table 5: Percentage of public school districts that used 

pay incentives for various reasons, by selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... A-6 

A-6. Standard errors for Table 6: Percentage of public school teachers who 

were newly hired for grades K–12 and comparable ungraded levels, 

percentage of districts that offered free training for district staff to prepare 

them to teach in fields with current or anticipated shortages, and 

percentage of districts that used various practices to recruit teachers, 

by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 .................................... A-7 

A-7. Standard errors for Table 7: Percentage distribution of public school 

districts, by type of agreement with teachers’ associations or unions and 

selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ......................................... A-8 

v 
Table Page

A-8. Standard errors for Table 8: Average number of teachers per public school 

district in 2011–12, average number of teachers per district in the previous 

year (2010–11) who were dismissed or did not have their contracts 

renewed for any reason, and as a result of poor performance, by tenure 

status of teachers and selected public school district characteristics: 

2011–12 ................................................................................................................... A-9 

A-9. Standard errors for Table 9: Percentage of public school districts that 

grant high school diplomas, and among those that grant diplomas, 

graduation requirements for standard diplomas, by selected public school 

district characteristics: 2011–12 .............................................................................. A-10 

A-10. Standard errors for Table 10: Among districts with more than one school, 

percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for 

principals, and average and median lowest and highest yearly base salaries 

paid to all full-time principals, by selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12 .......................................................................................... A-11 

A-11. Standard errors for Table 11: Percentage distribution of public school 

districts, by type of agreement with principals’ associations or unions and 

selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ......................................... A-12 

A-12. Standard errors for Table 12: Percentage of public school district 

principals who were newly hired, average number of days in the normal 

contract year for principals, percentage of districts that had a tenure 

system for principals, percentage of districts that used any incentives for 

recruiting principals, and percentage of districts that had a training 

program for aspiring school administrators, by selected public school 

district characteristics: 2011–12 .............................................................................. A-13 

A-13. Standard errors for Table 13: Number of public school districts with more 

than one school, and among those districts, percentage that offer various 

school “choice” programs to students within or outside of the district, by 

selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12 ......................................... A-14 

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. Indication of potential sources of bias for district data at the national level 

based on comparisons between frame distribution and base-weighted or 

nonresponse-adjusted respondent distributions: 2011–12 ...................................... B-8 

B-3. Summary of weighted item response rates, by survey: 2011–12 ............................ B-8 

vi
Table Page

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 

Appendix D: Description of Variables

D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public School Districts in the 

United States: Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey report: 

2011–12 ................................................................................................................... D-2 

vii
Introduction 

This report presents selected findings from the Public School District Data File 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 District Data File. 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 district survey. Findings from the school, 

principal, teacher, and library media center data files will be presented in four companion First Look 

reports:

• 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);

• 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);

1 Public schools include traditional public and charter schools.

1 

 
• 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); 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

• Of the estimated 16,990 public school districts in the United States, about 8,300 were in rural 

communities, 3,310 in suburban areas, 2,840 in towns, and 2,540 in cities (table 1). 

• A large proportion of districts (89 percent) had salary schedules for teachers in 2011–12 (table 2). The

salary schedules for these districts showed the average yearly base salary for teachers with a 

bachelor’s degree and no teaching experience was $35,500, while teachers with the same degree but 

10 years of teaching experience had an average yearly base salary of $44,900. 

• Among all districts, the average yearly base salary for full-time teachers was $35,800 for the lowest 

paid and $62,700 for the highest paid in 2011–12 (table 3). The median base salary for full-time 

teachers was $34,300 for the lowest paid and $60,400 for the highest paid. 

• Almost all (98 percent) of districts offered general medical insurance benefits to teachers, while 87 

percent offered dental insurance, and 81 percent offered group life insurance (table 4). 

• Districts used pay incentives to reward teachers who attained certification from the National Board 

for Professional Teaching Standards (25 percent), to recruit or retain teachers to teach in fields of 

shortage (13 percent), to reward excellence in teaching (11 percent), and to recruit or retain teachers 

to teach in a less desirable location (6 percent) (table 5).

• Districts reported that 7 percent of K–12 teachers were newly hired for the 2011–12 school year 

(table 6). Among all districts, 27 percent offered free training to district staff members to prepare 

them to teach in fields with current or anticipated shortages.

• Half (50 percent) of districts had a collective bargaining agreement with teachers’ associations or 

unions, 8 percent had meet-and-confer agreements with these groups, 1 percent had another type of 

agreement, and 40 percent had no agreement (table 7).2

• In the 2011–12 school year, the average number of teachers per district was 187. In the 2010–11 

school year, an average of 3.5 teachers per district were dismissed or did not have their contracts 

renewed, and an average of 1.1 of these teachers were dismissed as a result of poor performance 

(table 8). 

• Among the 76 percent of districts that granted high school diplomas, the average number of years of 

instruction required for a standard diploma was 4.0 in English or language arts, 3.3 in mathematics, 

3.3 in social sciences and social studies, 3.0 in science, 1.7 in foreign languages, and 1.1 in computer 

science (table 9).3

• Among the districts with more than one school (66 percent of the 16,990 districts), the average yearly 

base salary was $77,500 for the lowest paid full-time principal in the district and $93,700 for the 

highest paid full-time principal in the district in 2011–12 (table 10). The median base salary was 

$74,400 for the lowest paid full-time principal in the district and $90,400 for the highest paid fulltime principal in the district. 

• About 11 percent of districts had a collective bargaining agreement with principals’ associations or 

unions, 8 percent had meet-and-confer agreements with these groups, 3 percent had another type of 

agreement, and 79 percent had no agreement (table 11).

• Among all districts, 21 percent had a tenure system for principals, and 21 percent had a training 

program for aspiring school administrators (table 12). 

2 Collective bargaining agreements are legally binding agreements and meet-and-confer discussions are for the purpose of reaching nonlegally 

binding agreements. 3 Districts that did not have a graduation requirement for a subject area were excluded from the calculation of the average for that subject area.

3 

 
• Among the 66 percent of districts with more than one school, 45 percent offered a school “choice” 

program that involved accepting students from another district at no tuition cost to the students or 

families (table 13). About 29 percent of the districts with more than one school offered a school 

“choice” program that allowed their students to enroll in either their assigned school or another school 

within the district.

4 
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. 

5 
Estimate Tables

6 
7

Table 1. Number and percentage distribution of public school districts, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic Number of public school districts

Percentage distribution 

of public school districts

All public school districts 16,990 100.0

District size

1 school 5,710 33.6

2–3 schools 4,310 25.4

4–5 schools 2,690 15.9

6–9 schools 2,310 13.6

10–19 schools 1,220 7.2

20 or more schools 740 4.3

Community type

City 2,540 15.0

Suburban 3,310 19.5

Town 2,840 16.7

Rural 8,300 48.9

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 3,430 20.2

250–999 5,820 34.3

1,000–1,999 2,900 17.0

2,000–4,999 2,860 16.9

5,000–9,999 1,080 6.4

10,000 or more 890 5.2

Percent of K–12 students in district who were approved for 

free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 4,180 24.6

35–49 3,660 21.5

50–74 4,850 28.5

75 or more 3,060 18.0

District did not participate in free or reduced-price lunch program 1,230 7.3

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 District Data File,” 2011–12.
8

Table 2. Percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for teachers and among those that had salary schedules, the average yearly teacher base salary, by various 

levels of degrees and experience and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Percent with 

salary 

schedules for 

teachers

Among districts that had salary schedules, average yearly teacher base salary

Bachelor’s 

degree and no 

teaching 

experience

Bachelor’s 

degree and 

10 years of 

teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and no 

teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and 10 years

of teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and 15 years 

of teaching 

experience

Highest 

possible 

step on the 

salary 

schedule

All public school districts 89.2 $35,500 $44,900 $38,700 $49,500 $55,000 $65,100

District size

1 school 72.2 34,700 42,900 37,600 46,700 51,100 59,100

2–3 schools 97.6 34,400 43,800 37,500 47,900 53,700 62,700

4–5 schools 96.8 35,700 45,500 38,900 50,400 56,500 67,700

6–9 schools 98.6 37,100 47,900 40,400 53,000 59,300 71,000

10–19 schools 98.5 37,500 47,500 41,000 53,400 59,300 72,300

20 or more schools 98.7 38,200 47,100 41,500 52,800 58,100 72,700

Community type

City 68.6 37,900 47,300 40,900 51,700 56,500 67,000

Suburban 92.1 40,500 53,500 44,400 59,500 67,700 81,100

Town 95.7 35,000 43,900 38,300 48,500 53,700 64,000

Rural 92.1 33,200 41,300 36,000 45,300 50,000 58,700

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 73.7 32,700 39,900 35,700 44,000 47,800 54,800

250–999 87.4 34,600 43,600 37,600 47,500 52,600 61,000

1,000–1,999 96.0 35,900 46,000 39,000 50,500 56,900 67,800

2,000–4,999 97.8 37,200 48,000 40,600 53,100 59,600 71,700

5,000–9,999 98.5 38,600 49,500 42,400 55,600 62,300 76,600

10,000 or more 98.8 38,700 47,900 42,100 53,900 59,500 74,700

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 95.7 37,400 48,400 40,800 53,700 60,600 72,100

35–49 92.6 34,900 44,100 38,100 48,700 54,300 64,500

50–74 93.4 34,100 42,800 36,900 46,800 51,500 60,900

75 or more 79.9 35,500 43,700 38,700 48,000 52,400 61,700

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 63.6 36,800 46,300 40,300 51,200 56,700 66,300

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
9

Table 3. Average and median lowest and highest yearly base salaries paid to full-time teachers among all districts, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Average base salary 

of the lowest paid 

teacher in the district

Median base salary 

of the lowest paid

teacher in the district

Average base salary 

of the highest paid 

teacher in the district

Median base salary 

of the highest paid 

teacher in the district

All public school districts $35,800 $34,300 $62,700 $60,400

District size

1 school 35,100 33,200 53,900 50,000

2–3 schools 35,100 33,200 62,100 59,000

4–5 schools 35,900 34,500 68,000 65,000

6–9 schools 37,100 36,100 70,900 67,900

10–19 schools 37,500 36,000 72,200 69,000

20 or more schools 37,900 37,200 73,200 71,800

Community type

City 36,700 35,000 59,000 55,000

Suburban 40,500 39,900 78,600 78,200

Town 35,400 34,000 62,300 62,600

Rural 33,800 32,600 57,600 56,900

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 34,000 32,000 50,000 47,400

250–999 35,100 33,400 58,600 56,800

1,000–1,999 36,100 34,700 67,900 65,300

2,000–4,999 37,200 36,100 71,600 68,900

5,000–9,999 38,600 37,200 76,600 73,300

10,000 or more 38,500 38,000 75,600 74,200

Percent of K–12 students in district who were

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 37,800 36,500 72,200 69,800

35–49 35,100 33,700 63,400 62,900

50–74 34,500 33,400 60,100 58,500

75 or more 35,300 33,500 56,100 53,300

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 37,100 35,100 54,900 51,800

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

Table 4. Percentage of public school districts that offered various benefits to teachers, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

General medical 

insurance

Dental 

insurance

Group life 

insurance

Retirement plan1

Tuition 

reimbursement

Housing, rent 

assistance, or 

subsidized 

housing, meals,

or transportation

Defined

benefit

Defined

contribution

All public school districts 98.5 86.8 81.4 83.6 68.9 45.0 6.8

District size

1 school 96.6 83.2 75.2 75.7 65.2 42.2 8.1

2–3 schools 99.2 82.5 79.0 84.3 68.0 47.5 8.7

4–5 schools 99.6 89.8 84.5 86.8 72.4 46.8 6.0

6–9 schools 99.6 92.8 88.5 91.0 70.5 49.5 2.9

10–19 schools 99.3 95.0 90.2 91.5 73.8 41.1 5.7

20 or more schools 99.8 96.8 95.7 93.3 77.1 38.4 3.9

Community type

City 98.2 91.2 84.2 75.0 71.5 41.5 6.1

Suburban 99.5 94.8 86.7 86.4 74.6 57.6 3.0

Town 99.4 89.9 81.4 85.0 70.1 45.4 6.3

Rural 97.8 81.2 78.5 84.7 65.4 40.9 8.8

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 94.8 77.9 70.6 75.6 60.3 40.1 11.1

250–999 99.1 83.9 78.7 81.2 67.6 44.2 8.5

1,000–1,999 99.8 90.5 85.4 86.9 74.2 51.6 3.8

2,000–4,999 99.5 92.7 88.2 89.0 72.7 50.1 3.9

5,000–9,999 99.4 96.5 91.5 92.1 71.9 41.4 3.2

10,000 or more 99.9 97.2 94.3 92.3 78.0 36.1 3.8

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 99.5 88.8 83.7 84.3 70.4 54.9 4.7

35–49 99.6 83.4 81.1 86.6 73.1 46.0 7.5

50–74 98.9 88.5 82.2 85.1 66.8 37.2 7.5

75 or more 96.8 86.4 83.4 82.4 66.2 43.0 7.5

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 93.6 84.5 66.6 69.9 66.8 44.3 7.9 !

! 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).

1 Districts can offer both defined-benefit and defined-contribution retirement plans. A defined-benefit retirement plan is a plan in which benefits are invested in a group trust fund that employees do 

not control. Benefits are based on a formula that takes into account employee’s length of employment and earnings. Most state retirement plans are defined benefit. A defined contribution 

retirement plan is a plan where contributions are paid into an individually controlled retirement account. Funds available at retirement depend on the nature of the investment and its returns. 403(b) 

plans are defined contribution. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
11

Table 5. Percentage of public school districts that used pay incentives for various reasons, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

To reward teachers who 

have attained National Board 

for Professional Teaching 

Standards certification

To reward excellence in 

teaching

To recruit or retain teachers to 

teach in a less desirable 

location

To recruit or retain teachers 

to teach in fields of shortage

All public school districts 24.5 11.3 5.6 13.5

District size

1 school 19.8 22.9 8.8 15.8

2–3 schools 17.0 3.8 2.4 7.6

4–5 schools 22.6 5.8 3.6 13.9

6–9 schools 32.8 4.9 2.6 11.2

10–19 schools 44.0 7.5 7.1 18.1

20 or more schools 54.0 10.5 15.0 28.3

Community type

City 27.1 34.8 11.3 20.6

Suburban 25.5 9.0 4.2 10.2

Town 26.9 6.1 3.8 12.1

Rural 22.6 6.7 5.1 13.1

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 17.5 16.3 8.3 16.1

250–999 18.8 14.3 5.4 11.2

1,000–1,999 22.3 6.5 2.9 9.6

2,000–4,999 32.7 5.6 3.0 12.6

5,000–9,999 41.2 7.1 6.5 18.6

10,000 or more 50.1 10.5 13.0 27.5

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 22.2 3.7 2.6 8.2

35–49 23.0 6.7 3.0 9.8

50–74 25.9 7.9 5.8 16.0

75 or more 29.7 26.8 12.4 20.1

District did not participate in free or 

reduced-price lunch program 18.9 24.9 6.2! 16.3

! 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).

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

Table 6. Percentage of public school teachers who were newly hired for grades K–12 and comparable ungraded levels, percentage of districts that offered free training for district 

staff to prepare them to teach in fields with current or anticipated shortages, and percentage of districts that used various practices to recruit teachers, by selected public 

school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of 

teachers who 

were newly hired 

for grades K–12 

and comparable 

ungraded levels 

Percent of 

districts that 

offered free 

training for district 

staff to prepare 

them to teach in

fields with current 

or anticipated 

shortages

Percent of districts that used various practices to recruit teachers

Signing 

bonuses

Forgiveness of 

student loan(s) 

funded by the 

district

Relocation 

assistance

Finder’s fee to 

existing staff for 

new teacher 

referrals

All public school districts 6.9 27.1 3.9 2.4 2.5 1.5

District size

1 school 12.0 30.6 3.4 3.0 3.0 3.8

2–3 schools 6.7 22.4 2.2 1.6 2.4 ‡

4–5 schools 6.6 26.8 5.5 1.4 1.3 0.2!

6–9 schools 6.6 25.7 4.0 1.8 1.7 0.3!

10–19 schools 6.7 27.9 6.5 4.1 3.3 0.8

20 or more schools 6.6 32.6 8.2 6.0 5.0 1.5

Community type

City 7.5 35.7 5.9 3.9 3.5 6.3

Suburban 6.0 21.5 1.5 1.3 ‡ ‡

Town 7.3 25.9 5.5 3.5 2.5 0.5!

Rural 7.4 27.2 3.7 2.1 2.8 0.6!

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 12.3 29.0 4.2 2.6 3.3 1.9!

250–999 9.3 29.3 2.7 2.1 3.0 2.6

1,000–1,999 6.7 23.0 3.1 1.7 0.9 ‡

2,000–4,999 6.6 24.6 4.8 2.4 2.1 ‡

5,000–9,999 6.6 25.4 5.6 3.4 1.8 1.5

10,000 or more 6.6 29.8 8.3 4.9 3.8 1.3

Percent of K–12 students in district

 who were approved

for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 6.3 20.3 1.6 1.3 1.4 ‡

35–49 6.7 22.4 4.7 1.1 2.0 1.1!

50–74 6.9 28.8 4.5 1.9 2.5 0.7!

75 or more 8.3 40.6 6.4 6.5 3.6 4.3

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 9.6 24.2 ‡ 2.0! 4.9! ‡

! 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).

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12. 
13

Table 7. Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement with teachers’ associations or unions and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Type of agreement with a teachers’ association or union

Meet-and-confer1 Collective bargaining2 Other type of agreement3 No agreement

All public school districts 8.4 50.2 1.4 40.0

District size

1 school 4.2 29.3 1.5! 65.1

2–3 schools 11.5 60.7 1.6 26.1

4–5 schools 9.9 60.5 1.1 28.5

6–9 schools 9.4 64.4 1.0 25.3

10–19 schools 9.5 58.6 1.7 30.2

20 or more schools 11.7 53.9 1.8 32.5

Community type

City 3.7 21.0 2.1! 73.3

Suburban 8.6 68.0 0.6 22.8

Town 8.1 57.0 0.8 34.1

Rural 9.8 49.7 1.8 38.8

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 5.2 27.9 2.0! 64.8

250–999 8.6 48.1 1.4 41.9

1,000–1,999 9.0 62.9 1.0 27.1

2,000–4,999 9.0 62.4 1.1 27.4

5,000–9,999 11.3 60.7 1.4 26.6

10,000 or more 11.5 55.8 1.5 31.2

Percent of K–12 students in district who were approved

for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 8.3 73.1 1.3 17.3

35–49 10.3 62.8 0.8 26.1

50–74 10.1 44.9 1.5 43.5

75 or more 4.5 23.5 2.8 69.3

District did not participate in free or reduced-price

lunch program 5.9 21.8 # 72.4

# 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).

1 Meet-and-confer discussions are for the purpose of reaching nonlegally binding agreements. 2 Collective bargaining agreements are legally binding agreements. 3 This category includes other agreements that do not meet the precise legal definitions of collective bargaining or meet-and-confer agreements.

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 District Data File,” 2011–12.
14

Table 8. Average number of teachers per public school district in 2011–12, average number of teachers per district in the previous year (2010–11) who were dismissed or did not 

have their contracts renewed for any reason, and as a result of poor performance, by tenure status of teachers and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Average 

number of 

teachers per 

district in 

2011–12

During the 2010–11 school year, 

average number of teachers per 

district who were dismissed or 

did not have their contracts 

renewed for any reason

During the 2010–11 school year, average number of teachers per district who were 

dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed as a result of poor performance

Teachers with all 

tenure statuses Nontenured teachers1 Tenured teachers2

All public school districts 187.0 3.5 1.1 1.0 0.2

District size

1 school 27.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 #

2–3 schools 61.0 1.1 0.4 0.4 0.1

4–5 schools 129.3 1.9 0.7 0.6 0.1

6–9 schools 228.5 3.3 1.1 1.0 0.1

10–19 schools 466.3 7.8 2.5 2.3 0.3

20 or more schools 1,779.4 35.8 9.1 7.2 1.9

Community type

City 316.4 7.1 2.1 1.6 0.4

Suburban 363.6 6.6 2.1 1.9 0.2

Town 147.2 2.3 0.8 0.7 0.1

Rural 90.7 1.5 0.5 0.5 0.1

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 14.4 0.6 0.3 0.2 #

250–999 43.1 1.1 0.5 0.5 0.1

1,000–1,999 104.4 1.6 0.5 0.4 0.1

2,000–4,999 221.5 3.3 1.2 1.1 0.1

5,000–9,999 460.4 7.9 2.8 2.5 0.2

10,000 or more 1,619.2 31.2 8.1 6.4 1.7

Percent of K–12 students in district who

 were approved for free or reducedprice lunches

0–34 217.7 2.9 0.9 0.8 0.1

35–49 178.7 3.2 1.0 0.8 0.1

50–74 236.8 4.6 1.4 1.2 0.3

75 or more 138.7 3.8 1.4 1.2 0.2

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 32.3 1.1 0.5 0.4 ‡

# Rounds to zero.

‡ 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). 1

Teachers who are often relatively inexperienced or novices. This includes teachers in their initial induction year, teachers who are on year-to-year contracts, and those teachers who have not 

entered a more permanent status, traditionally referred to as tenure.

2 Teachers who have satisfactorily completed a probationary period and were given a contract as a career or permanent employee.

NOTE: 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 District Data File,” 2011–12.
15

Table 9. Percentage of public school districts that grant high school diplomas, and among those that grant diplomas, graduation requirements for standard diplomas, by selected 

public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of 

districts that 

grant high 

school diplomas

Among districts that grant high school diplomas, the average number of years of instruction in various subject areas needed for a 

standard diploma by high school graduates of the class of 20121

English or 

language arts Mathematics

Computer 

science

Social sciences

and social 

studies 

(e.g., history, 

geography, 

economics) Science

Foreign 

languages

All public school districts 75.8 4.0 3.3 1.1 3.3 3.0 1.7

District size

1 school 48.2 4.0 3.4 1.2 3.3 3.1 1.8

2–3 schools 85.6 4.0 3.2 1.1 3.3 3.0 1.6

4–5 schools 91.4 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.3 3.1 1.7

6–9 schools 92.3 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.7

10–19 schools 92.8 4.0 3.3 0.9 3.3 3.0 1.6

20 or more schools 95.5 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.2 3.0 1.7

Community type

City 54.3 4.0 3.4 1.2 3.3 3.1 1.9

Suburban 73.9 4.0 3.2 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.7

Town 83.4 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.6

Rural 80.5 4.0 3.3 1.1 3.3 3.1 1.6

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 54.5 4.0 3.3 1.2 3.3 3.1 1.7

250–999 66.9 4.0 3.3 1.1 3.3 3.0 1.7

1,000–1,999 88.7 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.4 3.1 1.6

2,000–4,999 94.3 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.7

5,000–9,999 91.7 4.0 3.3 0.9 3.3 3.0 1.6

10,000 or more 95.2 4.0 3.3 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.6

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 82.8 4.0 3.2 1.0 3.3 2.9 1.6

35–49 85.0 4.0 3.2 1.0 3.3 3.0 1.5

50–74 81.9 4.0 3.4 1.1 3.3 3.1 1.8

75 or more 58.4 4.0 3.5 1.2 3.3 3.1 1.7

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 43.9 4.0 3.4 1.0 3.3 3.0 2.3

1

Districts that did not have a graduation requirement for a particular subject area were excluded from the computation of the average for that particular subject area. This resulted in the exclusion 

of 0.2 percent of diploma-granting districts in English or language arts; 0.2 percent in mathematics; 50.4 percent in computer science; 0.3 percent in social sciences and social studies; 0.3 percent 

in science; and 58.2 percent in foreign languages.

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

Table 10. Among districts with more than one school, percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for principals, and average and median lowest and highest 

yearly base salaries paid to all full-time principals, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Number of

public school

districts

Percent with 

salary schedules

for principals

Average base salary 

of the lowest paid 

principal in the 

district

Median base salary 

of the lowest paid 

principal in the 

district

Average base salary 

of the highest paid 

principal in the 

district

Median base salary 

of the highest paid 

principal in the 

district

All districts with more 

than one school 11,280 47.4 $77,500 $74,400 $93,700 $90,400

District size

2–3 schools 4,310 26.5 74,400 71,200 83,500 80,000

4–5 schools 2,690 43.9 77,400 74,500 93,700 90,100

6–9 schools 2,310 59.6 80,800 78,000 101,000 98,900

10–19 schools 1,220 80.0 81,400 79,300 105,500 105,200

20 or more schools 740 90.4 79,300 78,000 110,900 110,900

Community type

City 760 84.3 83,300 82,000 109,300 108,200

Suburban 2,640 59.1 94,200 90,200 117,600 113,500

Town 2,380 49.6 74,400 72,900 91,400 90,600

Rural 5,500 35.8 70,000 69,300 81,100 80,000

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 610 20.2 63,400 63,600 67,600 65,000

250–999 3,200 23.1 71,600 69,900 79,500 77,200

1,000–1,999 2,700 42.4 77,900 74,600 93,900 90,400

2,000–4,999 2,810 60.6 82,000 79,100 102,300 99,800

5,000–9,999 1,070 78.7 86,400 84,000 111,600 109,000

10,000 or more 880 89.6 82,100 80,200 113,600 113,200

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 3,280 41.4 87,400 84,800 106,600 103,600

35–49 2,840 40.0 75,500 73,000 91,500 89,600

50–74 3,670 53.1 70,600 69,000 85,000 82,600

75 or more 1,290 65.4 73,500 70,000 88,200 84,400

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 200 31.3 95,500 89,800 109,700 103,900

NOTE: Districts with only one school, including single traditional public schools and public charter schools that operate independently of a regular school district, were not asked about principal 

salary schedules. Estimates in this table are based on 66 percent of all districts. 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 Data File,” 2011–12.
17

Table 11. Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement with principals’ associations or unions and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent distribution of districts by type of agreement with a principals’ association or union

Meet-and-confer1 Collective bargaining2 Other type of agreement3 No agreement

All public school districts 7.7 10.8 2.9 78.6

District size

1 school 3.4 4.5 0.6! 91.5

2–3 schools 6.6 12.1 4.8 76.5

4–5 schools 9.2 14.0 2.7 74.0

6–9 schools 11.6 15.7 4.7 68.0

10–19 schools 14.0 17.3 3.4 65.3

20 or more schools 19.6 14.8 3.2 62.5

Community type

City 5.7 5.3 1.3! 87.7

Suburban 11.4 24.7 4.8 59.1

Town 8.8 9.4 2.5 79.2

Rural 6.5 7.5 2.7 83.3

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 2.5 4.1 1.2! 92.2

250–999 4.5 6.4 2.2 86.9

1,000–1,999 11.4 15.2 4.0 69.4

2,000–4,999 10.5 18.6 4.9 66.1

5,000–9,999 13.9 21.4 4.0 60.7

10,000 or more 20.0 14.1 2.5 63.4

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 12.7 19.8 4.1 63.4

35–49 9.5 12.7 3.3 74.6

50–74 6.7 6.6 3.3 83.4

75 or more 3.1 4.9 1.3 90.8

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 1.2 6.5 # 92.3

# 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).

1 Meet-and-confer discussions are for the purpose of reaching nonlegally binding agreements. 2 Collective bargaining agreements are legally binding agreements. 3 This category includes other agreements that do not meet the precise legal definitions of collective bargaining or meet-and-confer agreements.

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 District Data File,” 2011–12.
18

Table 12. Percentage of public school district principals who were newly hired, average number of days in the normal contract year for principals, percentage of districts that had a 

tenure system for principals, percentage of districts that used any incentives for recruiting principals, and percentage of districts that had a training program for aspiring 

school administrators, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of principals 

who were newly 

hired1 

Average number of 

days in the normal 

contract year for 

principals2 

Percent of districts 

that had a tenure 

system for principals

Percent of districts 

that used any 

incentives for 

recruiting principals 

Percent of districts 

that had a training 

program for aspiring 

school administrators

All public school districts 8.6 230 21.1 2.2 21.3

District size

1 school † 230 14.8 3.7 20.5

2–3 schools 11.6 230 25.7 1.1! 13.0

4–5 schools 10.1 230 23.1 1.3 18.4

6–9 schools 10.1 230 22.2 1.6 20.6

10–19 schools 7.8 230 25.9 1.9 36.8

20 or more schools 6.7 230 23.4 3.0 63.4

Community type

City 7.7 240 12.9 5.8 37.5

Suburban 7.5 230 33.0 0.9 27.8

Town 9.2 230 19.3 1.4 19.6

Rural 10.2 230 19.4 1.9 14.4

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 21.3 230 13.7 3.5 12.0

250–999 11.7 230 19.3 2.4 20.4

1,000–1,999 10.7 230 24.8 1.2 15.8

2,000–4,999 9.3 230 26.4 1.6 21.8

5,000–9,999 8.0 230 28.2 1.3! 36.6

10,000 or more 6.7 230 23.4 2.5 61.1

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 8.4 230 31.5 1.5 17.0

35–49 8.7 230 25.6 1.5 20.5

50–74 8.4 220 16.7 1.4 22.1

75 or more 9.2 230 12.7 5.2 28.4

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 8.8 240 10.5 2.3! 17.9

† Not applicable.

! 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).

1 Districts with only one school, including single traditional public schools and public charter schools that operate independently of a regular school district, were not included in this column. 

Estimates in this column are based on 66 percent of all districts.

2 Includes professional development, student contact days, and other days covered in a typical principal’s contract.

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

Table 13. Number of public school districts with more than one school, and among those districts, percentage that offer various school “choice” programs to students within or 

outside of the district, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Number of public 

school districts

Percent of districts that offer a school “choice” program in which

Students can enroll in 

either their assigned 

school or another 

school within the 

district

Students from this 

district can enroll in a 

school in another 

district at no tuition 

cost to themselves or 

their families

Students from this 

district can choose 

to enroll in 

a private school using 

state or district funds

Students from other 

districts can enroll in a 

school within this 

district at no tuition 

cost to themselves or 

their families

All districts with more 

than one school 11,280 29.3 40.5 7.3 45.3

District size

2–3 schools 4,310 10.8 40.4 7.1 45.9

4–5 schools 2,690 21.5 43.3 6.4 49.1

6–9 schools 2,310 41.1 38.5 7.3 43.0

10–19 schools 1,220 62.1 39.1 8.0 40.1

20 or more schools 740 74.6 39.0 11.2 44.7

Community type

City 760 73.8 44.3 9.2 47.2

Suburban 2,640 33.9 36.3 6.0 33.8

Town 2,380 28.3 44.7 7.0 51.1

Rural 5,500 21.4 40.1 7.9 48.1

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 610 10.8 33.4 ‡ 46.1

250–999 3,200 13.1 43.6 8.1 50.9

1,000–1,999 2,700 19.4 44.0 7.6 47.2

2,000–4,999 2,810 37.9 37.8 6.2 41.2

5,000–9,999 1,070 55.9 34.6 6.9 36.7

10,000 or more 880 71.5 39.1 10.8 42.8

Percent of K–12 students in district who 

 were approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 3,280 22.3 40.0 6.0 41.3

35–49 2,840 27.1 44.2 8.2 48.8

50–74 3,670 35.0 39.2 7.4 48.6

75 or more 1,290 39.4 39.6 8.9 43.0

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 200 8.7 24.1 7.1! 19.1

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 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).

NOTE: Districts with only one school, including single traditional public schools and public charter schools that operate independently of a regular school district, were not asked about school 

choice. Estimates in this table are based on 66 percent of all districts. 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 Data File,” 2011–12.
Appendix A: Standard Error Tables

A-1 
A-2

Table A-1. Standard errors for Table 1: Number and percentage distribution of public school districts, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic Number of public school districts

Percentage distribution 

of public school districts

All public school districts 198 †

District size

1 school 186 1.29

2–3 schools 197 0.95

4–5 schools 114 0.55

6–9 schools 47 0.29

10–19 schools 39 0.17

20 or more schools 11 0.05

Community type

City 74 0.43

Suburban 91 0.38

Town 45 0.31

Rural 128 0.41

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 151 0.99

250–999 144 0.68

1,000–1,999 113 0.55

2,000–4,999 78 0.35

5,000–9,999 40 0.19

10,000 or more 17 0.07

Percent of K–12 students in district who were approved for 

free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 136 0.64

35–49 140 0.70

50–74 174 0.81

75 or more 136 0.92

District did not participate in free or reduced-price lunch program 81 0.51

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-3

Table A-2. Standard errors for Table 2: Percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for teachers and among those that had salary schedules, the average yearly 

teacher base salary, by various levels of degrees and experience and selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Percent with 

salary 

schedules for 

teachers

Among districts that had salary schedules, average yearly teacher base salary

Bachelor’s 

degree and no 

teaching 

experience

Bachelor’s 

degree and 

10 years of 

teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and no 

teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and 10 years

of teaching 

experience

Master’s degree 

and 15 years 

of teaching 

experience

Highest 

possible 

step on the 

salary 

schedule

All public school districts 0.68 110 130 110 140 170 200

District size

1 school 2.09 470 510 510 580 620 690

2–3 schools 0.49 190 270 220 320 370 410

4–5 schools 0.53 130 230 150 270 330 400

6–9 schools 0.25 120 230 130 250 300 310

10–19 schools 0.14 100 190 120 220 310 320

20 or more schools 0.06 50 80 40 110 130 140

Community type

City 2.62 570 490 570 560 620 830

Suburban 1.30 160 240 170 290 370 430

Town 0.97 170 280 190 270 340 320

Rural 1.05 100 140 110 160 180 190

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 2.43 530 680 590 720 850 1,030

250–999 1.25 180 210 180 250 290 360

1,000–1,999 0.74 150 230 180 270 340 430

2,000–4,999 0.38 110 190 120 210 260 330

5,000–9,999 0.23 140 270 170 330 410 480

10,000 or more 0.15 80 140 90 180 210 250

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.70 190 270 220 320 400 520

35–49 0.98 170 280 190 320 360 420

50–74 0.97 150 200 170 220 260 320

75 or more 2.72 510 560 590 620 690 830

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 4.14 630 980 710 1,140 1,450 1,570

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

Table A-3. Standard errors for Table 3: Average and median lowest and highest yearly base salaries paid to full-time teachers among all districts, by selected public school district 

characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Average base salary 

of the lowest paid 

teacher in the district

Median base salary 

of the lowest paid

teacher in the district

Average base salary 

of the highest paid 

teacher in the district

Median base salary 

of the highest paid 

teacher in the district

All public school districts 90 100 250 360

District size

1 school 330 290 480 690

2–3 schools 230 250 420 330

4–5 schools 140 180 440 570

6–9 schools 120 100 350 620

10–19 schools 110 90 350 390

20 or more schools 40 70 150 190

Community type

City 380 190 640 1,250

Suburban 220 230 610 470

Town 210 120 610 270

Rural 110 110 220 220

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 410 200 640 540

250–999 170 250 350 480

1,000–1,999 150 160 410 410

2,000–4,999 120 70 370 540

5,000–9,999 150 330 550 580

10,000 or more 80 90 230 250

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 210 250 530 910

35–49 200 130 440 380

50–74 160 120 370 220

75 or more 350 390 670 950

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 730 410 1,530 2,290

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-5

Table A-4. Standard errors for Table 4: Percentage of public school districts that offered various benefits to teachers, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

General medical 

insurance

Dental 

insurance

Group life 

insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition 

reimbursement

Housing, rent 

assistance, or 

subsidized 

housing, meals,

or transportation

Defined

benefit

Defined

contribution

All public school districts 0.29 0.52 0.68 0.44 0.80 0.59 0.47

District size

1 school 0.89 1.36 1.79 1.33 2.12 1.55 1.27

2–3 schools 0.18 1.10 1.21 1.03 1.33 1.51 0.77

4–5 schools 0.08 0.67 1.01 0.87 1.19 1.32 0.57

6–9 schools 0.13 0.67 0.80 0.61 1.05 1.92 0.25

10–19 schools 0.07 0.26 0.48 0.50 0.82 0.83 0.36

20 or more schools # 0.12 0.16 0.28 0.35 0.44 0.15

Community type

City 0.67 1.79 1.73 2.18 2.02 2.14 1.68

Suburban 0.33 0.64 1.03 1.15 1.38 1.49 0.48

Town 0.11 0.78 2.31 2.04 2.08 1.07 0.84

Rural 0.57 0.91 0.90 0.79 1.14 0.85 0.67

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 1.31 2.12 2.33 1.98 2.46 2.18 1.70

250–999 0.40 1.04 1.30 1.29 1.45 1.26 0.95

1,000–1,999 0.08 0.73 0.97 1.06 1.55 1.24 0.72

2,000–4,999 0.08 0.38 0.54 0.60 0.85 1.22 0.44

5,000–9,999 0.08 0.34 0.55 0.54 1.01 0.99 0.31

10,000 or more # 0.17 0.22 0.22 0.43 0.60 0.28

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.13 0.82 1.05 1.18 1.41 1.18 0.52

35–49 0.13 1.09 1.13 0.98 1.40 1.73 0.95

50–74 0.27 0.81 1.26 0.80 1.27 1.30 0.95

75 or more 1.46 1.94 1.77 2.00 2.32 2.35 1.20

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 1.75 3.35 5.29 4.61 4.89 4.80 2.55

# Rounds to zero.

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

Table A-5. Standard errors for Table 5: Percentage of public school districts that used pay incentives for various reasons, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

To reward teachers who 

have attained National Board 

for Professional Teaching 

Standards certification

To reward excellence in 

teaching

To recruit or retain teachers to 

teach in a less desirable 

location

To recruit or retain teachers 

to teach in fields of shortage

All public school districts 0.54 0.61 0.35 0.62

District size

1 school 1.40 1.70 1.08 1.62

2–3 schools 0.96 0.48 0.52 0.98

4–5 schools 0.96 0.71 0.42 0.90

6–9 schools 0.97 0.61 0.32 0.56

10–19 schools 0.79 0.47 0.53 0.95

20 or more schools 0.44 0.23 0.22 0.30

Community type

City 1.58 3.07 1.93 2.48

Suburban 1.07 0.99 0.74 0.81

Town 1.03 0.64 0.53 0.83

Rural 0.95 0.66 0.55 0.88

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 1.84 2.02 1.34 1.87

250–999 1.18 1.05 0.68 1.03

1,000–1,999 1.11 0.73 0.67 1.01

2,000–4,999 1.12 0.47 0.26 0.70

5,000–9,999 1.01 0.60 0.56 0.85

10,000 or more 0.53 0.38 0.22 0.54

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.93 0.46 0.42 0.61

35–49 1.40 0.90 0.71 0.75

50–74 0.96 0.74 0.74 0.99

75 or more 1.62 2.52 1.43 1.78

District did not participate in free or 

reduced-price lunch program 3.01 4.08 2.11 2.80

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-7

Table A-6. Standard errors for Table 6: Percentage of public school teachers who were newly hired for grades K–12 and comparable ungraded levels, percentage of districts that 

offered free training for district staff to prepare them to teach in fields with current or anticipated shortages, and percentage of districts that used various practices to 

recruit teachers, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of 

teachers who 

were newly hired 

for grades K–12 

and comparable 

ungraded levels

Percent of 

districts that

offered free 

training for district 

staff to prepare 

them to teach in

fields with current 

or anticipated 

shortages

Percent of districts that used various practices to recruit teachers

Signing 

bonuses

Forgiveness of 

student loan(s) 

funded by the 

district

Relocation 

assistance

Finder’s fee to 

existing staff for 

new teacher 

referrals

All public school districts 0.03 0.76 0.30 0.22 0.25 0.29

District size

1 school 0.44 1.95 0.68 0.60 0.68 0.94

2–3 schools 0.17 1.00 0.28 0.22 0.35 †

4–5 schools 0.13 1.12 0.62 0.25 0.23 0.09

6–9 schools 0.09 0.81 0.42 0.15 0.26 0.11

10–19 schools 0.12 0.77 0.53 0.62 0.33 0.18

20 or more schools 0.01 0.35 0.19 0.15 0.16 0.14

Community type

City 0.08 2.58 1.22 1.15 0.92 1.50

Suburban 0.05 1.53 0.14 0.27 † †

Town 0.10 1.73 0.59 0.49 0.32 0.17

Rural 0.07 1.09 0.28 0.27 0.30 0.24

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 0.49 2.74 0.70 0.60 0.64 0.82

250–999 0.21 1.35 0.46 0.51 0.58 0.65

1,000–1,999 0.16 1.14 0.48 0.31 0.20 †

2,000–4,999 0.08 1.11 0.49 0.29 0.24 †

5,000–9,999 0.12 0.99 0.56 0.46 0.26 0.34

10,000 or more 0.03 0.43 0.27 0.21 0.14 0.11

Percent of K–12 students in district

 who were approved

for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.06 1.30 0.19 0.24 0.23 †

35–49 0.09 1.11 0.53 0.19 0.43 0.46

50–74 0.06 1.35 0.41 0.31 0.45 0.22

75 or more 0.13 2.48 1.02 1.01 0.58 1.20

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 0.57 4.04 † 0.92 2.08 †

† Not applicable.

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

Table A-7. Standard errors for Table 7: Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement with teachers’ associations or unions and selected public school 

district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Type of agreement with a teachers’ association or union

Meet-and-confer Collective bargaining Other type of agreement No agreement

All public school districts 0.45 0.77 0.17 0.90

District size

1 school 0.84 1.73 0.49 2.10

2–3 schools 1.02 1.57 0.33 1.22

4–5 schools 0.70 1.26 0.15 1.05

6–9 schools 0.58 1.73 0.16 1.49

10–19 schools 0.65 1.36 0.18 0.97

20 or more schools 0.20 0.43 0.09 0.41

Community type

City 0.59 1.33 0.73 1.85

Suburban 0.76 1.33 0.09 1.39

Town 0.58 2.17 0.13 2.25

Rural 0.71 0.91 0.28 0.88

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 0.93 2.35 0.79 2.82

250–999 0.92 1.31 0.28 1.20

1,000–1,999 0.67 1.21 0.18 0.98

2,000–4,999 0.55 1.15 0.13 0.99

5,000–9,999 0.93 1.33 0.19 0.86

10,000 or more 0.34 0.63 0.07 0.56

Percent of K–12 students in district who were approved

for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.46 1.00 0.26 1.00

35–49 0.99 1.46 0.20 1.34

50–74 0.91 1.15 0.21 1.14

75 or more 0.89 1.91 0.78 2.48

District did not participate in free or reduced-price

lunch program 1.64 2.80 † 3.36

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-9

Table A-8. Standard errors for Table 8: Average number of teachers per public school district in 2011–12, average number of teachers per district in the previous year (2010–11) who 

were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed for any reason, and as a result of poor performance, by tenure status of teachers and selected public school 

district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Average number 

of teachers per 

district in 2011–12

During the 2010–11 school 

year, average number of 

teachers per district who 

were dismissed or did not 

have their contracts 

renewed for any reason

During the 2010–11 school year, average number of teachers per district who were 

dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed as a result of poor performance

Teachers with all 

tenure statuses Nontenured teachers Tenured teachers

All public school districts 1.74 0.05 0.03 0.03 #

District size

1 school 0.90 0.06 0.05 0.05 †

2–3 schools 1.08 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.01

4–5 schools 1.83 0.11 0.04 0.03 0.01

6–9 schools 3.01 0.14 0.07 0.06 0.01

10–19 schools 3.43 0.27 0.11 0.10 0.02

20 or more schools 13.20 0.38 0.14 0.13 0.02

Community type

City 10.34 0.23 0.11 0.10 0.02

Suburban 6.05 0.16 0.06 0.05 0.01

Town 3.18 0.12 0.04 0.04 0.01

Rural 1.24 0.05 0.02 0.02 #

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 0.48 0.05 0.03 0.03 †

250–999 0.47 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.01

1,000–1,999 0.69 0.09 0.03 0.03 0.01

2,000–4,999 1.45 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.01

5,000–9,999 2.67 0.30 0.12 0.12 0.02

10,000 or more 15.23 0.41 0.14 0.13 0.02

Percent of K–12 students in district

 who were approved

for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 5.00 0.08 0.03 0.03 0.01

35–49 4.02 0.11 0.04 0.03 0.01

50–74 5.24 0.12 0.05 0.04 0.01

75 or more 8.06 0.19 0.10 0.09 0.02

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 3.23 0.15 0.08 0.08 †

† Not applicable.

# Rounds to zero.

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

Table A-9. Standard errors for Table 9: Percentage of public school districts that grant high school diplomas, and among those that grant diplomas, graduation requirements for 

standard diplomas, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of 

districts that 

grant high 

school diplomas

Among districts that grant high school diplomas, the average number of years of instruction in various subject areas needed for a 

standard diploma by high school graduates of the class of 2012

English or 

language arts Mathematics

Computer 

science

Social sciences

and social 

studies 

(e.g., history, 

geography, 

economics) Science

Foreign 

languages

All public school districts 0.88 # 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

District size

1 school 1.83 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.04

2–3 schools 1.34 # 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.03

4–5 schools 0.77 # 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.02

6–9 schools 0.80 # 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02

10–19 schools 0.54 # 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

20 or more schools 0.29 # 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

Community type

City 2.12 0.01 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.04

Suburban 1.46 # 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.04

Town 1.72 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.02 0.03

Rural 1.29 # 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 2.77 0.01 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03

250–999 1.33 # 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.04

1,000–1,999 0.88 # 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.02 0.03

2,000–4,999 0.58 # 0.01 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.02

5,000–9,999 0.71 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.02

10,000 or more 0.49 # 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 1.32 # 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02 0.02

35–49 1.70 # 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.02 0.03

50–74 1.61 # 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.02

75 or more 2.49 0.01 0.02 0.04 0.02 0.03 0.04

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 4.93 0.02 0.06 0.05 0.06 0.08 0.15

# Rounds to zero.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-11

Table A-10. Standard errors for Table 10: Among districts with more than one school, percentage of public school districts that had salary schedules for principals, and average and 

median lowest and highest yearly base salaries paid to all full-time principals, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Number of

public school

districts

Percent with 

salary schedules

for principals

Average base salary 

of the lowest paid 

principal in the 

district

Median base salary 

of the lowest paid 

principal in the 

district

Average base salary

of the highest paid 

principal in the 

district

Median base salary 

of the highest paid 

principal in the 

district

All districts with more 

than one school 321 0.83 240 320 330 340

District size

2–3 schools 197 1.35 530 480 680 610

4–5 schools 114 1.41 520 720 620 510

6–9 schools 47 2.30 410 760 520 1,010

10–19 schools 39 0.85 450 540 510 430

20 or more schools 11 0.43 120 120 190 400

Community type

City 42 1.28 560 700 600 710

Suburban 84 1.14 500 490 580 590

Town 83 1.81 340 460 570 500

Rural 160 1.13 290 400 380 350

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 70 3.47 1,320 900 1,470 3,120

250–999 119 1.59 460 410 600 660

1,000–1,999 119 1.62 510 550 600 490

2,000–4,999 72 1.49 400 430 430 540

5,000–9,999 39 0.91 570 1,320 600 530

10,000 or more 16 0.46 210 250 270 340

Percent of K–12 students in 

 district who were 

 approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 96 1.11 560 370 630 750

35–49 101 1.39 470 600 490 640

50–74 136 1.55 310 360 490 610

75 or more 72 2.37 1,000 870 1,230 1,190

District did not participate 

 in free or reducedprice lunch program 20 3.93 2,300 3,730 2,870 3,980

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

Table A-11. Standard errors for Table 11: Percentage distribution of public school districts, by type of agreement with principals’ associations or unions and selected public school 

district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent distribution of districts by type of agreement with a principals’ association or union

Meet-and-confer Collective bargaining Other type of agreement No agreement

All public school districts 0.35 0.34 0.21 0.46

District size

1 school 0.61 0.62 0.25 0.90

2–3 schools 0.85 0.88 0.58 1.22

4–5 schools 1.05 0.80 0.35 1.13

6–9 schools 0.76 0.70 0.64 0.87

10–19 schools 0.65 1.05 0.38 1.04

20 or more schools 0.33 0.28 0.14 0.38

Community type

City 0.40 0.46 0.50 0.94

Suburban 0.82 1.05 0.60 1.34

Town 0.75 0.72 0.34 1.06

Rural 0.51 0.54 0.31 0.73

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 0.68 0.67 0.41 1.03

250–999 0.50 0.65 0.40 0.83

1,000–1,999 1.29 1.19 0.63 1.25

2,000–4,999 0.68 0.83 0.54 0.77

5,000–9,999 0.72 0.95 0.54 1.24

10,000 or more 0.41 0.29 0.14 0.42

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.98 0.87 0.50 1.18

35–49 0.95 0.94 0.42 1.13

50–74 0.50 0.39 0.47 0.84

75 or more 0.65 0.62 0.38 1.04

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 0.34 1.52 † 1.50

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 2011–12.
A-13

Table A-12. Standard errors for Table 12: Percentage of public school district principals who were newly hired, average number of days in the normal contract year for principals, 

percentage of districts that had a tenure system for principals, percentage of districts that used any incentives for recruiting principals, and percentage of districts that 

had a training program for aspiring school administrators, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school

district characteristic

Percent of principals 

who were newly 

hired

Average number of 

days in the normal 

contract year for 

principals

Percent of districts 

that had a tenure 

system for principals

Percent of districts 

that used any 

incentives for 

recruiting principals 

Percent of districts 

that had a training 

program for aspiring 

school administrators

All public school districts 0.12 1 0.45 0.28 0.80

District size

1 school † 2 0.98 0.71 1.84

2–3 schools 0.66 1 1.12 0.37 1.05

4–5 schools 0.46 1 0.99 0.23 0.99

6–9 schools 0.27 1 1.01 0.28 1.45

10–19 schools 0.15 1 1.06 0.26 0.92

20 or more schools 0.03 # 0.29 0.09 0.46

Community type

City 0.12 3 1.34 1.56 2.67

Suburban 0.19 2 1.20 0.23 1.35

Town 0.30 1 0.97 0.28 1.64

Rural 0.28 1 0.79 0.32 0.89

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 2.78 2 1.50 1.03 1.63

250–999 0.73 1 0.88 0.52 1.38

1,000–1,999 0.50 1 1.20 0.29 1.17

2,000–4,999 0.24 # 0.92 0.23 0.92

5,000–9,999 0.23 1 1.09 0.39 1.13

10,000 or more 0.04 # 0.37 0.08 0.53

Percent of K–12 students in district who were 

approved for free or reduced-price lunches

0–34 0.26 1 1.14 0.33 0.90

35–49 0.34 1 1.19 0.43 1.23

50–74 0.17 1 0.95 0.25 1.10

75 or more 0.28 2 1.68 1.40 2.56

District did not participate in free or reducedprice lunch program 1.29 5 1.73 1.11 3.65

† Not applicable.

# Rounds to zero.

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

Table A-13. Standard errors for Table 13: Number of public school districts with more than one school, and among those districts, percentage that offer various school “choice” 

programs to students within or outside of the district, by selected public school district characteristics: 2011–12

Selected public school 

district characteristic

Number of public 

school districts

Percent of districts that offer a school “choice” program in which

Students can enroll in 

either their assigned 

school or another 

school within the 

district

Students from this 

district can enroll in a 

school in another 

district at no tuition 

cost to themselves or 

their families

Students from this 

district can choose 

to enroll in 

a private school using 

state or district funds

Students from other 

districts can enroll in a 

school within this 

district at no tuition 

cost to themselves or 

their families

All districts with more 

than one school 321 0.48 0.57 0.33 0.61

District size

2–3 schools 197 0.80 1.31 0.74 1.46

4–5 schools 114 0.98 1.26 0.57 1.15

6–9 schools 47 1.14 0.84 0.46 1.11

10–19 schools 39 0.85 0.87 0.59 1.00

20 or more schools 11 0.31 0.43 0.34 0.43

Community type

City 42 1.39 1.25 0.68 1.40

Suburban 84 1.09 1.16 0.58 1.06

Town 83 0.99 1.30 0.87 1.36

Rural 160 0.70 0.90 0.48 1.02

District K–12 enrollment

Less than 250 70 1.56 3.33 † 4.29

250–999 119 0.99 2.00 0.63 1.77

1,000–1,999 119 1.07 1.43 0.94 1.27

2,000–4,999 72 0.87 0.92 0.47 0.86

5,000–9,999 39 1.10 0.89 0.71 1.04

10,000 or more 16 0.47 0.52 0.29 0.54

Percent of K–12 students in district who 

 were approved for free or

reduced-price lunches

0–34 96 0.91 1.08 0.57 1.17

35–49 101 1.05 1.36 0.82 1.13

50–74 136 1.10 1.12 0.72 1.21

75 or more 72 1.83 2.19 1.11 2.16

District did not participate in free

or reduced-price lunch program 20 2.11 4.53 2.18 4.28

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School District Data File,” 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. For the 

public school district survey, these characteristics were enrollment and community type. 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. Table B-2 contains a list of the comparisons between the frame and the weighted 

distribution where evidence of potential bias was found for national-level data on the district survey. 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. 

Nonresponse adjustments were designed to reduce or eliminate nonresponse bias. The nonresponseadjusted comparison to the frame shown in table B-2 reflects the nonresponse adjustment. This table 

shows that there is no evidence of potential bias after nonresponse adjustments were made for the 

national-level items included in the analysis. 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 

8 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 

 
respondents who were eligible to answer that item.10 Table B-3 provides a brief summary of the weighted 

item response rates for each questionnaire. All items on the public school district questionnaire had item 

response rates of 85 percent or more. 

Table B-2. Indication of potential sources of bias for district data at the national level based on 

comparisons between frame distribution and base-weighted or nonresponse-adjusted 

respondent distributions: 2011–12 

Potential source of bias

Baseweighted 

respondent 

Nonresponseadjusted 

respondent 

Estimate level Characteristic Value distribution distribution

National Agency type code (Charter agency) X

National Poverty rate1 (>= 28.2%) X

National Poverty rate1 (Missing) X

1 The poverty rate estimate is from the Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates program computed at the 

district level. The rate is based on the proportion of the population of 5- to 17-year-olds below the poverty level.

NOTE: x denotes comparisons that are a potential source of bias.

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

School District Documentation Data File,” 2011–12.

Table B-3. 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 

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

B-8 

 
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.

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 

B-9 
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 “D” and are followed by four digits are survey variables that come from items on the School District 

Questionnaire and/or Public School Questionnaire (With District Items). 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 School Districts in the United States: 

Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey report: 2011–12 

Variable

Variable name in 

data file

Average number of years of instruction in computer science needed for a standard diploma D0563

Average number of years of instruction in English or language arts needed for a standard 

diploma D0561

Average number of years of instruction in foreign languages needed for a standard diploma D0566

Average number of years of instruction in mathematics needed for a standard diploma D0562

Average number of years of instruction in science needed for a standard diploma D0565

Average number of years of instruction in social sciences or social studies (e.g., history, geography, 

economics) needed for a standard diploma D0564

Base salary for teachers with bachelor’s degree and 10 years of teaching experience D0506

Base salary for teachers with bachelor’s degree and no teaching experience D0505

Base salary for teachers with highest possible step on the salary schedule D0510

Base salary for teachers with master’s degree and 10 years of teaching experience D0508

Base salary for teachers with master’s degree and 15 years of teaching experience D0509

Base salary for teachers with master’s degree and no teaching experience D0507

Base salary of the highest paid full-time principal D0502

Base salary of the highest paid full-time teacher D0512

Base salary of the lowest paid full-time principal D0501

Base salary of the lowest paid full-time teacher D0511

See notes at end of table.

D-2 
Table D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public School Districts in the United States: 

Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey report: 2011–12—Continued

Variable

Variable name in 

data file

District enrollment D0418

District gives incentives to recruit or retain teachers to teach in a less desirable location D0526

District gives incentives to recruit or retain teachers to teach in fields of shortage D0527

District grants high school diplomas D0560

District has a training program for aspiring school administrators D0477

District has public school “choice” program in which students can enroll in either their assigned school or 

another school within the district D0540

District has public school “choice” program in which students from other districts can enroll in a school 

within the district at no tuition cost to themselves or their families, D0543

District has public school “choice” program in which students from the district can enroll in a school in 

another district at no tuition cost to themselves or their families, D0541

District has public school “choice” program in which students from the district can choose to enroll in a 

private school using state or district funds D0542

District has salary schedules for principals D0500

District has salary schedules for teachers D0503

District has tenure system for principals D0457

District offers defined-benefit retirement plan D0516

District offers defined-contribution retirement plan D0517

District offers dental insurance D0514

District offers free training in fields with current or anticipated shortages D0523

District offers general medical insurance D0513

District offers group life insurance D0515

District offers housing, rent assistance, or subsidized housing, meals, or transportation1 Not in file

District offers tuition reimbursement D0519

District rewards excellence in teaching D0525

District rewards teachers who have attained National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 

certification D0524

District uses finder’s fee to existing staff for new teacher referrals to recruit new teachers D0474

See notes at end of table.

D-3 
Table D-1. Variables used in the Characteristics of Public School Districts in the United States: 

Results From the Schools and Staffing Survey report: 2011–12—Continued

Variable

Variable name in 

data file

District uses incentives to recruit principals D0475

District uses forgiveness of student loan(s) funded by the district to recruit new teachers D0472

District uses relocation assistance to recruit new teachers D0473

District uses signing bonuses to recruit new teachers D0471

Number of days in the normal contract year for principals D0456

Number of newly hired principals D0476

Number of principals D0454

Number of schools per district1 AG_NOSC2

Number of all teachers who were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed D0480

Number of all teachers who were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed as a result of poor 

performance D0481

Number of teachers D0448

Number of teachers with tenure who were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed as a result of 

poor performance D0483

Number of teachers without tenure who were dismissed or did not have their contracts renewed as a result of 

poor performance D0482

Percentage of students in district approved for National School Lunch Program1 NSLAPP_D

Teachers who were newly hired for grades K–12 and comparable ungraded levels D0470

Type of agreement district has with a principals’ association or union D0455

Type of agreement district has with a teachers’ association or union D0452

Urban-centric district locale code1 URBAND12

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 District Data File,” 2011–12.

District offers housing, rent assistance, or subsidized housing, meals, or transportation. A variable 

created for this analysis based on whether the district offers housing, housing subsidies, or rent assistance 

(D0520), subsidized meals (D0521), or subsidized transportation (D0522).

Number of schools per district (AG_NOSC2). A created categorical variable based on the continuous 

variable that identifies the number of public schools per school district, after frame collapsing procedure.

D-4 
Percentage of students in district approved for the National School Lunch Program (NSLAPP_D). 

For districts approved for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), this is a continuous variable 

created by dividing the number of K–12 students approved for free or reduced-price lunches (D0433) by 

the total number of K–12 students enrolled (D0418). Districts that did not participate in the NSLP have 

valid skip values. For this report, NSLAPP_D is recoded as a categorical variable describing the 

proportion of students approved for free or reduced-price lunches.

Urban-centric district locale code (URBAND12). A created variable collapsed from the 12-category 

urban-centric district locale code (DLOCP12) that was assigned using the 2000 Decennial Census data 

and recoded into four categories: city, suburban, town, and rural. The district urban-centric locale codes 

are derived from the locale codes of the school buildings within the district, weighted by the number of 

students in each locale type. 

D-5