Finding School & Community Data

Nicole Branch, Sociology LibrarianSanta Clara University Library

Image courtesy of Flickr user Niels Heidenreich.

Why Data?

• An important first starting point for working with communities

• Can help explore/test assumptions

• Can support understanding needs and concerns

• It’s fun!

Data & Statistics

• Data & statistics for your own school & community

• Data & statistics for your placement site

• Data for community assets & challenges

Data vs. Statistics

• Data: The raw numbers; datasets.

• Statistics: Result of data analysis; summarize data.

Finding Community Data & Statistics

Think about WHO might collect the data you are interested and WHO might publish the results.

Government agenciesNon-government organizationsAcademic institutionsPrivate sector

Finding Community Data & Statistics

Think about if the data/statistics you are looking for will be made readily available.

Controversial/harmful dataPolitical context and availability of dataNot broadly applicable data

Finding Community Data & Statistics

Think about your timeframe & geography

Lag time for publicationSampling and geographic specificity

School Statistics

• Your school

• Public, private, charter

• State

• Find a report card for that school

Data Sources

• School Accountability Report Cards (SARC) o State datao Required by California law for schools receiving

public funding.

• For private schools and schools in other stateso State report cardso Data-Planeto School’s website

Community Statistics

• American FactFindero U.S. Census Datao American Community Survey (ACS)

o Estimateso Detailed data

Census Tracts

• Census Tracts are small areas within cities or areas

How the U.S.

Census Measures

Race

http://www.prb.org/Publications/Articles/2009/questionnaire.aspx

Questions?