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Data Dictionary: Census 1980
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Survey: Census 1980
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Social Explorer
Universe: Persons 25 Years Old And Over
Variable Details
T31. Educational Attainment for Population 25 Years and Over
Universe: Persons 25 Years Old And Over
T031_001Persons 25 Years Old And Over:
Percent base:
None - percentages not computed (variable is table universe)
Aggregation method:
Addition
Formula used to compute this variable:
#ReturnType oretval = new #ReturnType(); oretval = ORG_STF3:T048001 + ORG_STF3:T048002 + ORG_STF3:T048003 + ORG_STF3:T048004 + ORG_STF3:T048005; return oretval;
Variables used in the formula:
ORG_STF3:T048001
Persons 25 Years Old And Over: Elementary (0 to 8 years)
ORG_STF3:T048002
Persons 25 Years Old And Over: High School: 1 to 3 years
ORG_STF3:T048003
Persons 25 Years Old And Over: High School: 4 years
ORG_STF3:T048004
Persons 25 Years Old And Over: College: 1 to 3 years
ORG_STF3:T048005
Persons 25 Years Old And Over: College: 4 or more years
Relevant Documentation:
Excerpt from: Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; Census of Population and Housing, 1980: Summary Tape File 3 [machine-readable data file] / conducted By the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington: Bureau of the Census [producer and distributor], 1982.
  Summary Tape File 3 -> Summary Tape File 3 -- Part II -> Glossary -> School Level
School Level
Persons 3 years old and over enrolled in regular school (see School Enrollment) are classified according to the level and year of school in which they were enrolled. This information was collected on the sample questionnaire by means of a question which asked for the highest grade or year attended.

Respondents were instructed to report the highest grade attended even if it was not completed. Persons still in school were to mark the grade in which they were currently enrolled. Schooling received in ungraded schools was to be reported as the equivalent grade in the regular American school system.

Nursery school
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A school organized to provide educational experiences for children during the year or years preceding kindergarten. Children in "Head Start" or similar programs were to be reported in nursery or kindergarten as appropriate; if the respondent was uncertain as to the level of the Head Start Program, nursery school was to be marked.

Kindergarten
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An organized educational program the year before first grade.

Elementary school
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Includes grades 1 through 8, identified separately in some tabulations. (Persons enrolled in a junior high school or middle school are classified as enrolled in elementary school or high school according to year in which enrolled.)

High school
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Includes grades 9 through 12, identified separately in some tabulations.

College
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Junior or community colleges, regular 4-year colleges, and graduate or professional school. Includes 1 through 7 academic years and 8 years or more, identified separately in some tabulations.

Entries on highest grade attended were edited for consistency with age. For instance, entries indicating college attendance for persons under 15 years old were edited out.

Historical comparability
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Nursery school first appeared as a category in 1970. An item on vocational training which was included in the 1970 census, was deleted in 1980. For 1980 as compared to 1970, there was an increase in the number-of-years-of-college categories, from "6 or more" to "8 or more."

See also: "School Enrollment;" "School Type;" "School Year Completed".