We recommend you start with the Basic Reports for Independent Schools, which include key demographic variables that we consider relevant for any school administrator. Once you get familiar with the variables and the site, feel free to explore the Additional Reports for Advanced Use that offer more sophisticated options.
NAIS has also created the Metropolitan Area Reports to help school officials understand the implications of demographic trends in specific metropolitan regions. These reports include strategic questions to consider related to the trends, as well as a list of NAIS resources. These reports are located on the left-hand navigation bar of the Demographic Center.
How to Get Started Using the NAIS Demographic Center
Before using the Demographic Center, you may want to read through some of the questions commonly asked by Demographic Center users (below).
Once you enter the Demographic Center, you will find additional intructions, definitions, and FAQs in the left-hand navigation bar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has access to the NAIS Demographic Center?
All staff members employed by NAIS member schools have access to this demographic tool.
I belong to a member school, but I do not have an NAIS Demographic Center account. How can I get access to this service?
The NAIS Demographic Center uses the same login information as the NAIS website. To access these services, all you need to do is register to receive your NAIS general username and password. This will allow you to access members-only areas of the website.
What are the data sources used in the reports?
- Bureau of the Census - 2010 Census and other related sources like Annual Demographic Survey, Current Population Reports, and numerous special Census reports.
- ZIP and County Business Patterns (US Department of Commerce-Economics and Statistics Administration-Bureau of the Census.)
- US Department of Justice-Federal Bureau of Investigation (2006)
- National Center for Education Statistics-Common Core of Data (CCD)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service-National Climatic Data Center.
- United States Department of the Interior-Geological Survey-Office of Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Engineering.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics-Department of Labor.
How is "Total Population" determined?
"Total Population" is the sum of White Population + Black Population + Asian Population + Other Population. Hispanic population refers, by Census definition, to ethnicity and not race. Hispanic people can be of any race.
Why don't the Ethnicity statistics add up to 100%?
Ethnicity is not a required item in the U.S. Census, therefore, not all respondents identify their ethnicity. Race is a required item in the U.S. Census, therefore those statistics do add up to 100%.