National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS) Series

collection: series

Investigator(s): National Center for Education Statistics

About this Collection

Beginning with an 8th grade cohort in 1988, NELS:88 provides trend data about critical transitions experienced by young people as they develop, attend school, and embark on their careers. Data were collected from students and their parents, teachers, and high school principals and from existing school records such as high school transcripts. Cognitive tests (math, science, reading, and history) were administered during the base year (1988), first follow-up (1990), and second follow-up (1992). Third follow-up data were collected in 1994 and the fourth in 2000. All dropouts were retained in the study.

NCES also provides access to NELS data through the DAS Web site. At this site you will find a link to a Windows software data analysis application (DAS). Users must download this software to their personal computers, create and submit their own specifications to generate statistical tables to this Web site, and retrieve their results.

For more information, visit NELS at NCES.

Studies

3 results

National Education Longitudinal Study: Base Year Through Fourth Follow-Up, 1988-2000

This data collection presents base year through fourth follow-up data for the National Education Longitudinal Study (see NATIONAL EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY, 1988 [ICPSR 9389], FIRST FOLLOW-UP, 1990 [ICPSR 9859], SECOND FOLLOW-UP, 1992 [ICPSR 6448]), and THIRD FOLLOW-UP, 1994 [ICPSR 6961]. In addition, these data sustain continuing trend comparisons with NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE CLASS OF 1972 (ICPSR 8085) and HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND, 1980 (ICPSR 7896, 8297, 8443, 8896). NELS:88/2000 collected information on this cohort's accomplishments 12 years after the eighth-grade baseline survey. The 2000 data were collected at a key stage of life transitions for the eighth-grade class of 1988 since most had been out of high school for nearly eight years and many had already completed postsecondary education, started or even changed careers, and started families. Part 1, Student-Level Data, includes universe variables, base-year, first and second follow-up student components, school variables at the student level, second and third follow-up early graduate supplement and student-level transcript variables, first, second, and third follow-up dropout components, base-year and second follow-up parent components, and third and fourth follow-up questionnaires and derived variables. Part 2, Postsecondary Education Attendance Data, provides information for third and fourth follow-up respondents on attendance at postsecondary institutions. Part 3, Postsecondary Institution Data, supplies information about institutions applied to or attended by fourth follow-up respondents regarding sector, tuition/fee deciles, and enrollment. Part 4, Postsecondary 1994 Education Attendance Data, provides information for third follow-up respondents on attendance at postsecondary institutions, including enrollment dates and major fields of study.

National Education Longitudinal Study: Base Year through Third Follow-up, 1988-1994

This data collection presents base year through third follow-up data for the National Education Longitudinal Study (see NATIONAL EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY, 1988 [ICPSR 9389], FIRST FOLLOW-UP, 1990 [ICPSR 9859], and SECOND FOLLOW-UP, 1992 [ICPSR 6448]). In addition, these data sustain continuing trend comparisons with NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE CLASS OF 1972 (ICPSR 8085) and HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND, 1980 (ICPSR 7896, 8297, 8443, 8896). NELS:88/94 collected information on postsecondary education participation, employment, earnings, family formation, and other activities and experiences relevant to individuals about to enter their adult lives. The collection contains information that represents several nationally representative samples, including eighth graders in 1988, tenth graders in 1990, and twelfth graders in 1992 enrolled in public or private schools. By the time of the third follow-up study in 1994, most NELS:88 sample members had completed four years of high school, while some had dropped out of high school or had attended alternative programs to obtain their diplomas. Part 1, Student-Level Data, includes universe variables, base-year, first follow-up, and second follow-up student components, school variables at the student level, second follow-up early graduate supplement and student-level transcript variables, first follow-up and second follow-up dropout components, base-year and second follow-up parent components, and third follow-up questionnaire and derived variables. Part 2, Postsecondary Education Attendance Data, provides information for third follow-up respondents on attendance at postsecondary institutions, including enrollment dates and major fields of study. Part 3, Postsecondary Institution Data, supplies information about institutions applied to or attended by third follow-up respondents regarding sector, tuition/fee deciles, and enrollment.

National Education Longitudinal Study, 1988: Second Follow-Up (1992)

This data collection presents second follow-up data for the NATIONAL EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY, 1988 (ICPSR 9389). The base-year study, which collected information from student surveys and tests and from surveys of parents, school administrators, and teachers, was designed to provide trend data about critical transitions experienced by students as they leave elementary school and progress through high school and postsecondary institutions or the work force. The first follow-up, NATIONAL EDUCATION LONGITUDINAL STUDY, 1988: FIRST FOLLOW-UP (1990) (ICPSR 9859), provided the first opportunity for longitudinal measurement of the 1988 baseline samples. It also provided a point of comparison with high school sophomores from ten years before, as studied in HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND, 1980: A LONGITUDINAL SURVEY OF STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES (ICPSR 7896). Further, the study captured the population of early dropouts (those who leave school prior to the end of the tenth grade), while monitoring the transition of the student population into secondary schooling. The second follow-up provides a cumulative measurement of learning in the course of secondary school, and also supplies information that will facilitate investigation of the transition into the labor force and postsecondary education after high school. The 1992 student component collected basic background information about students' school and home environments, participation in classes and extracurricular activities, current jobs, and their goals, aspirations, and opinions about themselves. The student component also gathered data about the family decision-making structure during the critical transition from secondary school to postsecondary education or the work environment. The 1992 school component solicited general descriptive information about the educational setting and environment in which surveyed students were enrolled. These data, which were collected from the chief administrator of each base-year school with sample members still in attendance, cover school, student, and teacher characteristics, school politics and programs, and school governance and climate. The 1992 teacher component was administered to teachers of second follow-up students in one of two basic subject areas: mathematics or science. The questionnaire elicited teacher evaluations of student characteristics and performance in the classroom, curriculum information about the classes taught, teacher demographic and professional characteristics, information about parent-teacher interactions, time spent on various tasks, and perceptions of school climate and culture. The dropout component provides data on the process of dropping out of school as it occurs from eighth grade on. Variables include school attendance, determinants of leaving school, self-perceptions and attitudes, work history, and relationships with school personnel, peers, and family. The parent component provides information about the factors that influence educational attainment and participation, including family background, socioeconomic conditions, and character of the home educational system. This component was present in the base-year survey but not in the first follow-up.
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