The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) offers a variety of tools to support hurricane planning, response, and recovery efforts. These resources provide crucial data on educational institutions and infrastructure, helping decision-makers during this critical time. Below is an overview of the key NCES resources available to assist with hurricane response activities.
Key NCES Resources
Interactive Web Maps and APIs
Figure 1: School Weather Watch – Hurricane Milton
NCES provides interactive maps with detailed information on educational institutions across the United States, including the School Weather Watch – Hurricane Milton.
These maps are accessible via application programming interface (APIs), allowing users to easily integrate these data into their own applications. Available resources identify:
These tools are especially useful for assessing the proximity of schools to impacted areas, enabling local authorities and relief organizations to prioritize support.
Public and Private School Search Tools
NCES provides easy-to-use search tools for identifying public and private schools in hurricane-affected regions:
- The Elementary/Secondary Information System (ELSI): A web application that enables users to view data and create reports on public and private schools across various metrics.
- Private School Search Tool: Search for private schools by state county, or ZIP Code to access detailed information, including addresses, enrollment numbers, and other key data.
- Public School Search Tool: Find public schools by state, county, or ZIP Code to access detailed information, including addresses, enrollment numbers, and other key data.
These tools provide quick access to essential information, supporting coordinated response efforts.
Postsecondary and Public School District Lookup Tools
School district boundaries and postsecondary institutions are critical for planning resource allocation and understanding affected regions.
- College Navigator: Search for postsecondary institutions by location, programs offered, and other characteristics.
- Public School District Lookup: Explore district boundaries and access information about schools within those districts.
School District Demographic Information
NCES also provides demographic data for school districts, derived from the American Community Survey. This information helps users understand the populations served by each district and is available through the NCES’s School District Demographic Dashboard. Additionally, these data can be accessed through NCES’s ACS-ED Maps.
How These Resources Can Assist
By offering comprehensive, real-time access to school system data, NCES helps emergency planners, local authorities, and relief organizations make informed decisions. Whether assessing potential school closures or identifying facilities for emergency shelters, these tools ensure that educational considerations are integrated into broader response and recovery efforts.
Additional Resources
By Josue DeLaRosa and Douglas Geverdt, NCES
Note: This post was updated October 12th, 2024, with current link to the School Weather Watch resource.
