NCES API
Contents
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides several ways to access its data, including a number of APIs. The specific API you would use depends on the type of data you are looking for.
Some of the key NCES APIs and data tools include:
| • | NCES Open Data API: This API provides programmatic access to a catalog of NCES datasets, particularly those related to the Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE) program. This can be useful for accessing data on public and private school locations, school district boundaries, and school neighborhood poverty estimates. The API follows the OGC API - Records specification and allows you to query, filter, and search the catalog. |
| • | NAEP Data Service API: This API is for accessing data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "the Nation's Report Card." It allows you to programmatically acquire data, including JSON results for student performance in subjects like mathematics and reading. You can use this API to get data on specific subjects, grades, and demographic groups. |
| • | IPEDS Data Tools: While not a traditional public API in the same way as the others, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) offers a range of online tools for creating custom data analyses and downloading data. These tools can be used to generate reports and tables on enrollment, graduation rates, and finances for postsecondary institutions. You can also download complete data files in various formats like CSV and Microsoft Access. |
| • | DataLab: NCES's DataLab offers a powerful set of tools for online analysis, including a Tables Library, PowerStats for creating custom analyses, and an Online Codebook for working with public-use datasets. |
General Use: To use these APIs, you typically need to formulate a URL request with specific parameters, which might include things like the year of the data, the subject, the grade level, or filters for specific demographic groups. The API will then return the data, often in a machine-readable format like JSON.
For the most up-to-date and specific instructions, it's always best to consult the official NCES API documentation for the particular dataset you are interested in.