Most school records in America date from the early-nineteenth century, but not all school records have survived. When found, early school records can serve as a substitute to federal and state census records and missing or incomplete vital records. This is especially true in states where school records have been kept before 1850. Nicknames of students are sometimes used. Also, the signature of the parent or guardian is shown.
Some records show the occupation of the parent or guardian and the person's nationality.
Students' grades are sometimes recorded. Teachers' names and names of school board members are shown in many of these records. Some school records may also be found on the Internet. One of the first places to look for American school records on the Internet is to search the USGenWeb Project . Texas is one example of a state where scholastic family census records have been kept.