Data - NLSD

The National Longitudinal School Database (NLSD) was created by the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice (REACH) to allow researchers to examine various aspects of traditional public schools, charter schools, magnet schools, and private schools.

If you are interested in accessing the newest NLSD, fill out the request form here.

The NLSD is a near-census of all public and private schools and districts in the United States starting in 1990-91. Our last update made in July 2026 included:

• Additional years of data for the public school file

• Improvements to school location information and closure indicator in the public school file

• Removal of past versions of the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA). Researchers can download the latest data files from https://edopportunity.org/

It comprises three files:

TOTAL DOWNLOADS AS OF JULY 2026: 173

We will release the NLSD 2.0 with more recent data, additional relevant data, and other methodological improvements.

More information about the initial data and codebook are available here: https://reachcentered.org/publications/national-longitudinal-school-database

For questions, please email nlsd.reach.info@gmail.com.

If you are interested in accessing the NLSD, fill out the request form here.

Publications Using the NLSD:

• Charter School Expansion, Catholic School Enrollment, & the Equity Implications of School Choice
• Extreme Measures: A National Descriptive Analysis of Closure and Restructuring of Traditional Public, Charter, and Private Schools
• The Bigger Picture of Charter School Results A National: Analysis of System-Level Effects on Test Scores and Graduation Rates
• How Should the Government Regulate Charter Schools? State Policy Patterns and Causal Effects
• Can User Reviews Like Those on GreatSchools Improve Information for Schooling Choices?
• Who Leaves? Interdistrict Magnet School Openings and Enrollment Dynamics in Nearby Schools