Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

Accessing Educational Data

Obtain data collected by the California Department of Education (CDE), including enrollment data, demographic and student group data, staff data, school and district accountability, statewide assessment results, and directory information.

Overview

About CDE's Educational Data
Information about accessing data collected by the California Department of Education (CDE), including publicly available data, data-related communications, submitting research data requests, and data retention.

Data Processing and Reporting

DataQuest Schedule
DataQuest reports and supporting downloadable data files are primarily based on student-level data submitted by local educational agencies (LEAs) to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). Once LEAs submit and certify their data in CALPADS, the CDE processes the data. Data processing is a complex step that includes data extraction and aggregation. During this phase, the CDE also analyzes the data to ensure that the information reported is valid and reliable and meets the needs of a wide variety of audiences including parents, educators, community members, and researchers. The DataQuest Schedule web page details the reports released throughout the year.

Data Reports and Files

DataQuest
DataQuest is the CDE's web-based data reporting system for publicly reporting information about California’s students, teachers, and schools. DataQuest provides meaningful data and statistics about California's TK/K–12 public educational system that supports a wide variety of informational, research, and policy needs. Summary and detailed data reports are available for multiple subject areas at the school, district, county, and state levels.

Data Reports By Topic
Data reports about California's students, teachers, and schools by topic area, including enrollment, assessment and accountability, English learners, foster youth, free or reduced-price meal, graduates and dropouts, and staff and course data.

Downloadable Data Files
Downloadable files about California's students, teachers, and schools by topic area, including enrollment, assessment and accountability, English learners, foster youth, free or reduced-price meal, graduates and dropouts, and staff and course data.

Additional Resources

California School Directory
Information about California public schools, private schools, non-public nonsectarian schools, school districts, and county offices of education.

CDE Educational Statistics - CalEdFacts
CalEdFacts is a compilation of educational statistics and information on a variety of issues concerning education in California. This includes the Fingertip Facts on Education in California web page, which provides various statistics about California's public schools and districts.

COVID-19 and Data Reporting
Summary of available educational data and where to find these data for the most recent year.

Data Requests
Information about how to request data that are not publicly available on the CDE website (e.g. DataQuest, the California School Dashboard, the CAASPP Test Results web page, or through the information provided on the Data Reports and Downloadable Files web page).

Geographic Information System (GIS)
Information about the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the visualization and analysis of educational data.

Ed-Data External link opens in new window or tab.
Ed-Data is a partnership of the CDE, EdSource, and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team/California School Information Services (FCMAT/CSIS) designed to offer educators, policy makers, the legislature, parents, and the public quick access to timely and comprehensive data about TK/K–12 education in California.

Federal Data Resources
Information about data collected and publicly reported by the United States Department of Education, including information provided by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) and the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).

Questions:   Analysis Measurement & Accountability Reporting Division | dro@cde.ca.gov | 916-327-0219
Last Reviewed: Monday, October 28, 2024
Recently Posted in Accessing Educational Data
  • DataQuest Update, Issue #24 (added 17-Jul-2025)
    DataQuest is an online data reporting resource that provides access to a wide variety of data reports and downloadable data files.
  • Information about the Staff Experience Data (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Overview of the Staff Experience data, including data sources, DataQuest reports, downloadable files, definitions, and other information helpful to understanding the data, reports, and downloadable files.
  • Information about the Staff Race/Ethnicity Data (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Overview of the Staff Race/Ethnicity data, including data sources, DataQuest reports, downloadable files, definitions, and other information helpful to understanding the data, reports, and downloadable files.
  • Staff Experience Downloadable Data Files (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Downloadable data files about certificated staff employed on Census Day disaggregated by years of experience, academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.
  • Student/Staff Ratios Downloadable Data Files (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Downloadable data files about student/staff ratios as of Census Day disaggregated by staff type, academic year, and school grade span.

  • File Structure: Staff Education Data (added 17-Jul-2025)
    File structure for downloadable data files containing Certificated Staff Education disaggregated by academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.
  • File Structure: Staff Experience Data (added 17-Jul-2025)
    File structure for downloadable data files containing Certificated Staff Experience disaggregated by academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.
  • File Structure: Staff Race/Ethnicity Data (added 17-Jul-2025)
    File structure for downloadable data files containing Certificated Staff by Race/Ethnicity disaggregated by academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.
  • Staff Counts by Education (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Reports and data about certificated staff employed on Census Day disaggregated by education level, academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.
  • Staff Counts by Experience (added 17-Jul-2025)
    Reports and data about certificated staff employed on Census Day disaggregated by years of experience, academic year, staff type, school grade span, and gender.