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 NLSD, fill out the request form here.

The NLSD 1.0 is a near-census of all public and private schools and districts in the United States from school years 1990-91 to 2019-20. It comprises three files:

TOTAL DOWNLOADS AS OF DECEMBER 2025: 147

We will release the NLSD 2.0 with more recent data, additional relevant data, and other methodological improvements. More information about the data and the codebook are available here.

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

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?