Terminology
Glossary of Terms
Education data is full of acronyms and jargon. Use this glossary to understand the technical terms used throughout our profiles.
NCES ID
A unique 12-digit identification number assigned to every public school by the National Center for Education Statistics. The first 7 digits represent the district (LEA ID), and the last 5 digits represent the specific school.
LEA (Local Education Agency)
The official government term for a school district or a charter management organization that operates public schools.
Title I
A federal education program that provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families.
Chronic Absenteeism
Typically defined as a student missing 10 percent or more of the school year (approximately 18 days) for any reason, excused or unexcused.
FRL (Free and Reduced-Price Lunch)
A federal program that provides low-cost or free lunches to children from low-income households. Often used as a proxy for measuring the socioeconomic status of a school's student body.
Proficiency Rate
The percentage of students who scored at or above the "proficient" level on state standardized assessments. Proficiency cut-scores vary by state.