National Center for Education Statistics

"Aimed at educators, students, and the general public, this site 'is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the U.S. and other nations.' The site provides page-image or other full-text access to its major statistical reference publications, including The Digest of Education Statistics, the Projection of Education Data, and The Condition of Education. Other resources include Postsecondary Education Data (IPEDS), Information on Public Schools and School Districts in the United States; College Opportunities On-Line (COOL,) which can be used for searching and comparing colleges that match user selected criteria; and The Nation's Report Card, a national assessment of educational progress. The site also includes a search option to quickly locate information or publications. This comprehensive source site is indispensable for statistical information and reports about various aspects of education at all levels in the United States."--"Best Free Reference Web Sites 2003," RUSA Quarterly, Fall 2003; reviewed Apr. 12, 2003.