The Common Core of Data (CCD) is a universe collection of public elementary and secondary education data that is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The CCD is a system of five surveys, three nonfiscal and two fiscal.  

The nonfiscal surveys are the  

•  Public Elementary/Secondary School Universe Survey,  
•  Local Education Agency Universe Survey, and  
•  State Nonfiscal Survey of Public Elementary/Secondary Education.  

The fiscal surveys are the 

•  School District Finance Survey (F-33) and  
•  National Public Education Financial Survey (NPEFS). 

The data for these surveys are provided by state education agencies (SEAs) through the CCD survey system. The universe for the nonfiscal surveys and each of the fiscal surveys is as follows: 

• Nonfiscal surveys universe. Includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of Defense dependents schools (overseas and domestic), Puerto Rico, and the other jurisdictions of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  
• NPEFS universe. Includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the other jurisdictions of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  
• F-33 universe. Includes the 50 states and the District of Columbia.  

This report provides an overview of data from the CCD. Nonfiscal data are presented for school year 2004–05 (except high school completion data, which are for school year 2003–04), and fiscal data are presented for school year 2003–04 (fiscal year 2004).1 For all surveys, the U.S. totals presented in the tables and in the text include only the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

Below are Selected Findings, followed by two appendixes: appendix A, which includes technical notes; and appendix B, which includes a glossary of key terms used in this report.