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The Census for School Districts:

American Community Survey from the Census Bureau

and School District Tabulations from the

US Department of Education

The Census for School Districts:

American Community Survey from the Census Bureau

and School District Tabulations from the

US Department of Education

Bettie Landauer-Menchik, DirectorData Services Unit, K-12 OutreachCollege of Education, MSUmenchikb@msu.edu www.educ.msu.edu/k12out

School District demographic School District demographic information is a tremendous tool information is a tremendous tool

for applying for grants, driving for applying for grants, driving school improvement, and school improvement, and

allocating resources. allocating resources.

School District demographic School District demographic information is a tremendous tool information is a tremendous tool

for applying for grants, driving for applying for grants, driving school improvement, and school improvement, and

allocating resources. allocating resources.

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OverviewOverview

• What is the American Community Survey?

• Content

• Survey Methodology

• Data Products

• How is it different from Census 2000?

• What happens when Census data goes to the Department of Education?

www.census.gov: Lots of stuff you want to know about your district without the cost of a survey www.census.gov: Lots of stuff you want to know about your district without the cost of a survey

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What is the American

Community Survey?

What is the American

Community Survey?

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Decennial Census Decennial Census

•In Census 2000, the census used 2 forms

1.“short” form – asked for basic demographic and housing information, such as age, sex, race, how many people lived in the housing unit, and if the housing unit was owned or rented by the resident

2.“long” form – collected the same information as the short form but also collected more in-depth information such as income, education, and language spoken at home

•Only a small portion of the population, asample of 1 in 7 households, received the long form.

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Since 2000, the Census Bureau has collected long form data as a sample

and releases it as the American Community Survey (ACS)

Since 2000, the Census Bureau has collected long form data as a sample

and releases it as the American Community Survey (ACS)

• The 2010 Census will focus only on counting the entire U.S. population – the short form data

• The sample data from the long form are now collected every year and reported in ACS.

What’s in ACS?What’s

in ACS?

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American Community Survey Demographic Characteristics

• Sex• Age• Race• Hispanic Origin

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American Community Survey Social Characteristics

• Education

• Marital Status• Fertility• Grandparent

Caregivers• Veterans• Disability

Status

• Place of Birth

Citizenship

Year of Entry

Language Spoken at Home

Ancestry / Tribal

Affiliation

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American Community Survey Economic Characteristics

• Income• Benefits• Employment Status• Occupation• Industry• Commuting to Work• Place of Work

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American Community Survey Housing Characteristics

• Tenure• Occupancy & Structure• Housing Value• Taxes & Insurance• Utilities• Mortgage/Monthly Rent

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American Community Survey Period Estimates

American Community Survey Period Estimates

• ACS estimates are period estimates, describing the average characteristics over a specified period

• Contrast with point-in-time estimates that describe the characteristics of an area on a specific date (like 2000 Census)

• 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year estimates are released for geographic areas that meet specific population thresholds

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American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000

• The goal of ACS is to produce data comparable to the Census 2000 long form data

• These estimates will cover the same small areas as Census 2000 but with smaller sample sizes

• Smaller sample sizes for 5-year ACS estimates results in reductions in the reliability of estimates

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American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000American Community SurveyKey Differences from Census 2000

• Beginning in 2010, data for small geographic areas will be produced every year versus once every 10 years

• Census 2000 data described the population and housing as of April 1, 2000 while ACS data describe a period of time and require data for 12 months, 36 months, or 60 months

ACS Data Products Release ScheduleACS Data Products Release Schedule

Five-year estimates will be available for areas as small as census tracts and block groups from the Census Bureau

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All districts

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The newest data is 2006-2008 ACS Social, Economic, Housing, and Demographic 3-Year Estimates

On October 28, 2009, the Census Bureau released the 2006-2008 ACS 3-year estimates. These estimates are based on data collected from January 2006 through December 2008. The estimates are published for geographic areas with populations of 20,000 or more, 131 Michigan school districts.

Using the ACS 3-Year DataUsing the ACS 3-Year Data

• Comparing 2006-2008 ACS 3-Year Data with Census 2000 Data - The Census Bureau supports comparisons made between the 2006-2008 ACS 3-year data and Census 2000 data but cautions users about important differences between the two data sets. Item by item guidance is provided http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/compACS2006-2008.htm

• Comparing 2006-2008 ACS 3-Year Data with 2008 ACS 1-Year Data - When comparing estimates across geographies or small population groups, users should compare the same period length for each estimate. Whenever you are comparing state-level data with sub-state data for an area with a population below 65,000 you should use the 3-year estimates for the state to compare with the 3-year estimates for the sub-state area.

• Comparing 2006-2008 ACS 3-Year Data with 2005-2007 ACS 3-Year Data - Because of the complexities of interpretation, the Census Bureau discourages direct comparisons between estimates for overlapping periods. Ideally comparisons should be made based on non-overlapping periods (e.g. comparing a 2005-2007 ACS 3-year estimate with a 2008-2010 ACS 3-year estimate).

ACS numbering system ACS numbering system

• 1,358 detailed tables • Base tables are denoted with a “B” in the

unique table ID, e.g.. B02001• Collapsed versions of base tables are

identified with a “C,” e.g. C02001.• Collapsed tables are sometimes available

when base tables are suppressed.• Collapsed tables are not available for all

ACS base tables.

Examples of B and C tablesExamples of B and C tables

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American Community Survey Comparing Data

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http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/compACS.htm

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American Community SurveyData Products

American Community SurveyData Products

• Profiles– Data Profiles– Narrative Profiles– Comparison Profiles– Selected Population Profiles

• Tables– Detailed Tables– Subject Tables– Ranking Tables– Geographic Comparison Tables

• Thematic Maps

Let’s Try it out ….Let’s Try it out ….

What happens to ACS when it goes to NCES?What happens to ACS when it goes to NCES?

It becomes the School District Demographic System (SDDS)

with some very nice features…..

Note, when you select ACS 2007, you’ll get the 2005-2007 3 year dataNote, when you select ACS 2007, you’ll get the 2005-2007 3 year data

Use Data Viewer: for single district, couple of tables.

Use Download Data for multiple districts (and other geographies) and multiple tables

Snapshot Reports:

there are 5 topics with 3-5 tables in each.

Still need to be

crunched.

Snapshot Reports:

there are 5 topics with 3-5 tables in each.

Still need to be

crunched.

A Profiles Comparison gives you just that – 2 districts, very cursory information. Fast and easy.

A Profiles Comparison gives you just that – 2 districts, very cursory information. Fast and easy.

ACS morphs into School District Demographics

ACS morphs into School District Demographics

ACS School District Tabulation unique characteristics

ACS School District Tabulation unique characteristics

• 61 tables exist with an alphabetic suffix – indicating they are repeated for nine major race and Hispanic/Latino groups. These selected tables are repeated by the following: White alone, Black alone, etc.

• Unlike ACS data, SDT includes iterations for race and ethnicity together; Black alone, not Hispanic or Latino and Black Hispanic or Latino.

Child Specific UniversesChild Specific Universes

• Total Children• Relevant Children Enrolled and Not

Enrolled• Relevant Children-Not Enrolled• Relevant Children-Enrolled • Relevant Children-Enrolled Public• Relevant Children-Enrolled Private

What’s a Relevant Child? you ask……. One who lives within the territory of the district and whose assigned grade falls within the grade range for which a district is financially responsible

Let’s Try it out ….Let’s Try it out ….http://www.nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/about.asp

If your district isn’t yet reported,

use the 2000 School District Demographics until the 5 year data is released for all districts.

If your district isn’t yet reported,

use the 2000 School District Demographics until the 5 year data is released for all districts.

Lots of Tables –Where to start?Lots of Tables –Where to start?

• Population tables begin with letter P• Housing tables begin with letter H• Some tables begin with PCT or HCT.• Tables become more complex as

numbers get larger.• Print out the table outlines if you prefer

to view tables (I always use the table outlines)

Tables are organized by topicsTables are organized by topics

• Educational Attainment• Income• Poverty• Employment• Families and Households etc.

But there’s lots of repetition in the different files.

For Example: Tables on Educational Attainment

• P37: Sex by Educational Attainment for P37: Sex by Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and overthe Population 25 Years and over (25 variables)

• P148A-I: Sex by Educational Attainment P148A-I: Sex by Educational Attainment for the Population 25 years and overfor the Population 25 years and over for White alone, Black alone, American Indian alone, Hispanic, Asian alone, 2+races, White alone and non Hispanic. (17 x 9)

The same SDD table can be used for different

perspectives. For example: P37: Sex by Educational Attainment for the P37: Sex by Educational Attainment for the

Population 25 Years and over Population 25 Years and over

PC: PC: How many Parents with Children did not graduate from high school?

ororCPCP: How many Children have Parents who did

not graduate from high school?

• Two Choices:– One table for a single school district –

easy to print out or download ….. OR

– Download 10 tables at a time for all districts in a state or all school districts in the US

a. Files are zipped b. Numeric files and text labels are

in separate files.

The Nuts and BoltsThe Nuts and Bolts

What happens with School District Tabulation when the 5 year average

is available?

What happens with School District Tabulation when the 5 year average

is available?

• Then only the 5 year data will be available on the NCES website.The Universes from the 2000 data will probably all be available.

• The enrollment categories will remain the same.

• Not clear how many longitudinal files will be maintained by NCES as the size (read, cost) increases.

Let’s Try it

out ….

Let’s Try it

out ….

Key Documents for Census junkees

• Using the ACS data compared to the 2000 SF3 Census data: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/UseData/compACS2006-2008.htm

• The technical documentation for the School District Tabulation – call Bettie. It’s not on the web.

• Or just call me…..517 432-9470

or email: menchikb@msu.edu