NLS Schooling Data:NLSY79 & NLSY97

Cohort Overview

Birth years

NLSY79

1957-64

NLSY97

1980-84First round yearFirst round age

197914-21

199712-16

Latest round Latest yearAgesNext interview

22200641-482008

10200721-272008

Middle SchoolHigh SchoolCollege

NoneYesYes

SomeYesYes

NLSY79

I. Overview schooling dataII. Details on high school surveyIII. Details on high school transcriptsIV. Close-up look at “highest grade completed”V. Comparing “highest grade completed” with

“highest degree”VI. Close-up look at monthly enrollment status

I. Overview of schooling data

• Respondents’ schooling Enrollment (dates enrolled) Attainment (highest grade, degrees) Curriculum (courses taken, college major) School characteristics Other (attitudes toward school, etc.)

• Spouses’ schooling attainment

• Household members’ schooling attainment

• Parents’, siblings’ schooling attainment

Respondents’ enrollment status

Is R currently attending or enrolled– [If no] month/year last enrolled, reason left

school

Was R enrolled since last interview– [If yes] months enrolled (Jan. ‘80 onward)

Has R attended college– [If yes] month/year enrolled in 1st, 2nd, 3rd

most recent college; whether enrolled full-time or part-time

Enrollment status as of May 1 of survey year (created variable)

Respondents’ schooling attainment

[If currently enrolled] grade attending

Highest grade attended; highest grade completed (HGC)

HGC as of May 1 of survey year (created variable)

Does R have high school diploma or GED– [If yes] month/year diploma or GED received

Types of college degrees received (1979-84)

Highest degree ever received (1988 onward) Month/year degree received

Respondents’ curriculum and school characteristics (high school)

• 1980 High School Survey – School characteristics (total enrollment,

racial/ethnic composition of faculty and student body, etc.)

– Student characteristics (R’s standardized test scores, whether R took remedial courses, etc.)

• 1980-83 Transcript Survey– Attendance record, class rank, SAT/ACT

scores, courses taken, grades

Respondents’ curriculum and school characteristics (colleges)

Major field of study Location of 1st, 2nd, 3rd most recent college FICE code of 1st, 2nd, 3rd most recent college

(created variable)• Codes used are unique identifiers assigned to

each 2-year and 4-year institution in U.S. by the Federal Interagency Committee on Education

• Can be used to merge college characteristics from external databases

• FICE codes are restricted geocode variables

Respondents’ additional schooling data

Satisfaction with high school (1979) Goals and expectations (1979, 1981, 1982)

Highest grade R would like to complete Highest grade R expects to complete

Time spent at school, studying in last week (1981)

Whether R took loans, had financial aid for college (various years)

Family members’ schooling

HGC by R’s mother, father, oldest sib (1979)

HGC by R’s current/most recent spouse (1979-82)

HGC by each household member (all years) HGC by each sibling (1993)

• 5,918 Rs have sibs in the NLSY79• In 1979, we can form 4,690 sib pairs in 2,467

households• 3,152 of these sib pairs “cross-report” HGC in

1993

II. High School Survey

• A one-time survey of respondents’ high schools, conducted in 1980

• Each school identified by an NLSY79 respondent was mailed:– One school questionnaire– One student questionnaire for each R

• Questionnaires were returned for 8,805 Rs although not all were answered completely.

Summary of School-Specific Variables

Variable N MeanTotal enrollment 7,927 1,354No. books in library 7,112 15,9351 if a program is offered in

agricultural occupations 8,225 .50 business/office occupations 8,268 .95 distributive education 8,244 .71 health occupations 8,203 .60 home economics occupations 8,265 .85 trade/industry occupations 8,266 .87 technical occupations 8,245 .65% of students disadvantaged 6,946 23.98

% average daily attendance 7,980 88.36

% of 10th graders who do not graduate 7,757 16.16

Continued

Summary of School-Specific Variables, cont’d Variable N MeanPercentage of students who are

American Indian/Alaskan Native 8,010 0.77 Asian/Pacific Islander 8,011 1.45 Hispanic 8,007 9.32 Black (not Hispanic) 8,009 18.56 White (not Hispanic) 8,003 69.96 Female 8,012 50.68Percentage of faculty who are

American Indian/Alaskan Native 8,041 0.24 Asian/Pacific Islander 8,033 0.37 Hispanic 8,029 2.65 Black (not Hispanic) 8,012 10.93 White (not Hispanic) 7,985 68.35 Female 7,999 47.82Continued

Summary of School-Specific Variables, cont’d

Variable N MeanNumber of FTE counselors in school 8,155 3.95Number of FTE teachers in school 8,046 68.35% of FTE teachers with grad degree 7,848 47.82% of FTE teachers left since 1979 7,940 7.06Annual salary for 1st year teachers w/ B.A. 7,702 10,780

Summary of Student-Specific Variables Variable N Mean1 if currently enrolled 8,736 .29Month/year last enrolled 6,048 —

1 if reason left school is

Graduated 6,087 .71 Transferred 6,087 .05 Expelled 6,087 .00 Dropped out 6,087 .20 Other 6,087 .04Highest grade attended at this school 8,601 11.271 if participated in

Remedial English 7,228 .18 Remedial mathematics 7,160 .15 English as a second language 7,139 .01 Bilingual education 7,125 .03

Continued

Summary of Student-Specific Variables, cont’d Variable N MeanPercentile score on

California Test of Mental Maturity 376 43.41

Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Test 602 55.17

Lorge-Thorndike Intelligence Test 303 57.25 Henmon-Nelson Test of Mental Maturity 171 50.32 Kuhlmann-Anderson Intelligence Test 72 46.14 Differential Aptitude Test 623 46.50 Cooperative School and College Ability Test 168 45.99 Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale 22 27.18 Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 25 43.16 First other test 937 46.85 Second other test 154 46.09

Also: Total scores, grade levels when tests were taken.

Bottom Line on HS Survey Sample Sizes

• Respondents eligible for school survey: 11,231 – Excludes military subsample (n=1,280)– Excludes Rs high schools outside the U.S. (n=175)

• Rs with a “completed” school survey: 8,805 – 78% of target sample

• Variables with 8,805 valid responses: 0• Rs with valid responses for all 30 school-specific

variables: 4,594• Rs with valid responses for first 5 student-specific

variables: 5,438• Rs with percentile score and month/year/grade for

at least one standardized test: 1,875

III. Transcript Survey

• Collection of transcripts of respondents who had graduated from HS.

• Collected in 1980, 1981 and 1983.

• Schools were asked to send copies of each respondent’s transcript (for grades 9-12) along with course catalogs.

• Transcripts were provided for 9,010 Rs, although not all are useable.

Summary of Transcript Variables

Variable N MeanDays absent, grade 9 4,667 12.3 grade 10 4,629 12.9 grade 11 4,310 13.1 grade 12 3,870 13.2Class rank 5,660 163.2Class size 5,760 333.8Math score, PSAT 1,386 44.4Verbal score, PSAT 1,386 40.3Math score, SAT 951 446.2Verbal score, SAT 948 408.4Math score, ACT 1,127 17.4

Verbal score, ACT 1,124 17.5

Month/year left this school 8,346 —

Continued

Summary of Transcript Variables, cont’d

Variable N Mean1 if reason left school is

Graduated 8,495 .76 Transferred 8,495 .02 Expelled 8,495 .00 Dropped out 8,495 .14 Other 8,495 .03 Received GED 8,495 .05

Grade level, course 1 (9-12) 8,932 9.0Title, course 1 8,908 —Grade received, course 1 (0=F… 4=A) 8,801 2.6Source of computed grade, course 1 8,801 —

Carnegie credits, course 1 7,894 0.8

Note: Course information available for up to 65 courses.

Coding Transcripts

• Grades were computed in various ways:– Single, final grade for entire year– Average grade over multiple terms– Final grade for one term

• Credits were coded using the Carnegie credit system – Full-year course receives 1.0 credits– Other courses pro-rated

• Grade levels– Summer courses assigned to preceding year

• Course titles– 4-digit codes from Standard Terminology for Curriculum

and Instruction in Local and State School Systems (NCES)

Sample Transcript CASEID=75

Grade 9 Grade 10

Course Grade Credits Course Grade Credits

English I C 1.0 EngIish II C 1.0French II D 1.0 Reading tech. P 0.0Algebra I A 1.0 Spanish I B 1.0American Govt. I B 1.0 Geometry I B 1.0Typewriting I A 1.0 Biology I B 1.0Choir A 1.0 Art I B 1.0Phys. Ed. A 0.0 Driver Ed. P 0.0

Phys. Ed A 0.0

Total credits 6.0 Total credits 5.0

Continued.

Sample Transcript, continued

CASEID=75Grade 11 Grade 12

Course Grade Credits Course Grade Credits

Composition I B 0.5 Humanities B 1.0American Lit. B 0.5 Speech I B 1.0Spanish II B 1.0 Spanish III B 1.0Algebra II B 1.0 Law B 1.0Psychology I B 0.5 Arts & Crafts B 0.5Amer. History A 1.0 Phys. Ed. B 1.0Arts & Crafts A 0.5

Phys. Ed. A 0.0

Total credits 5.0 Total credits 5.5

Graduated June, 1980 Class rank: 203/432.

IV. Highest Grade Completed (HGC)

• HGC is a key measure for research, policy– We want to know its (causal) effect on post-school

earnings and other outcomes

• In many surveys, HGC (or highest degree) is the sole measure of schooling attainment.

• In the NLSY79 (and other NLS cohorts), we can – Compare HGC to other measures of schooling

attainment (degrees), achievement (grades, test scores)– Observe enrollment patterns as well as final HGC– Use other schooling information to “correct” HGC when

it appears to be in error.

Example 1: respondents who leave school once

Highest Grade Completed (HGC)

CASEID 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

25 13 14 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4

29 12 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4

25: attending grade 14 in ‘79; not attending in ‘80; date last enrolled 6/79

29: no attendance throughout survey; date last enrolled 1/78

Note: HGC is not re-reported unless R returns to school.

Example 2: respondents who leave school and reenroll

Highest Grade Completed (HGC)

CASEID 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

423 12 13 14 15 16 -4 -4 16

510 11 12 -4 -4 -4 12 13 …

Note: Array of monthly enrollment status should also be used to identify enrollment breaks.

Example 3: respondents whose HGC increases by “too much”

Highest grade completed (HGC)

CASEID 79 80 81 82 83

50 9 -4 -4 -4 12

251 9 -5 12

88 12 12 16

Are these cases necessarily misreported?

Example 3, continued: CASEID=50

79 80 81 82 83

Currently attending? 0 -4 -4 -4 0

Mo./yr. last enrolled 2/76 -4 -4 -4 12/82

Highest grade completed 9 -4 -4 -4 12

Highest grade attended 10 -4 -4 -4 13

HGC on May 1 (created) 12 12 12 12 12

Has GED? Y -4 -4 -4 -4

Date received GED 3/77 -4 -4 -4 -4

Note: R is 4 months past her 16th birthday on 2/76.

Example 3, continued: CASEID=251

79 80 81

Currently attending? 1 -5 0

Mo./yr. last enrolled -4 -5 6/81

Highest grade completed

9 -5 12

Highest grade attended 10 -5 12

HGC on May 1 (created) 9 -5 12

Has HS diploma? N -5 Y

Date received diploma -4 -5 6/81

Note: R is interviewed on 2/79 and 6/81.

Example 3, continued: CASEID=88

79 80 81

Currently attending? 0 1 0

Mo./yr. last enrolled 6/75 -4 5/80

Highest grade completed 12 12 16

Highest grade attended 12 -4 16

HGC on May 1 (created) 12 12 16

Has HS diploma? Y -4 -4

Date received diploma 6/75 -4 -4

Note: College and enrollment vars reveal that R was enrolled in a liberal arts college from 8/76 to 5/80. He was 1 month past his 23rd birthday on 5/80.

Example 4: respondents with decreasing HGCHighest grade completed (HGC)

CASEID 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

20 13 14 15 14 17 16 14 15 16 -4

189 14 14 12 15 13 14 14 14 14 14

Note that seemingly inconsistent HGCs most often occur during college.

Example 4, continued: CASEID=20

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87

Currently attending?

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

Mo/yr last enrolled

-4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 12/86

HGC 13 14 15 14 17 16 14 15 16

HGC on May 1

13 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 16

Note: Degree data reveal that this R received a HS diploma on 6/77 (at age 17), and a B.S. on 12/86 (at age 27).

Example 4, continued: CASEID=189

79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Currently attending? 1 0 1 1 1 1 0

Mo/yr last enrolled -4 9/79 -4 -4 -4 -4 12/84

HGC 14 14 12 15 13 14 14

HGC on May 1 14 14 14 15 15 15 15

Note: Degree data reveal that this R received a HS diploma on 6/76 (at age 18) and an associate’s degree on 6/85 (at age 27).

V. Comparing HGC with Highest Degree

HDEG: 1988 response to “What is the name of the highest degree you have ever received?” (R2509800)

Not asked if R (a) currently attends school or (b) does not have a high school diploma or GED

Keep 10,421 respondents who (a) are not currently attending school and (b) have HDEG=1-8 or HDEG=-4

HGC: 1988 (or earlier) response to “What is the highest grade or year of regular school that you have completed and gotten credit for?” (R2509000)

Move back in time (1987, 1986…) until a valid response is found.

Keep 10,388 respondents for whom HGC=1-20

HGC by DEGDEG

HGC -4 HS Assoc Bach. Mast. Grad Other All

1-11 1799 732 2 1 16 2576

12 34 3783 48 5 1 37 3912

13 7 746 60 3 22 839

14 3 472 324 16 1 25 843

15 1 204 146 52 1 18 423

16 60 36 1152 7 18 1275

17 1 6 6 172 38 9 232

18+ 0 7 4 108 131 59 15 325

1-18+ 1845 6010 626 1509 178 60 160 10425% total (17.8) (57.9) (6.0) (14.5) (1.7) (0.6) (1.5) (100)

% “ok” 97.5 75.4 75.1 87.7 94.9 98.3 100 81.6

Example 5: HGC=16, HDEG=HS diploma

CASEID=119

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

Currently attending? 1 1 1 0 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4

Mo/yr last enrolled -4 -4 -4 11/81 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4

HGC 13 14 15 16 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4 -4

HGC on May 1 13 14 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16

Note: In 1979 and 1988, R reported a high school diploma received 6/76. He attended an art college from 9/78 to 11/81 but apparently received no degree.

Example 6: HGC=12, HDEG=B.S.

CASEID=4677

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

Currently attending? 1 0 -4 -4 -4 0 -4 -4 -4 -4

Mo/yr last enrolled -4 6/79 -4 -4 -4 5/83 -4 -4 -4 -4

HGC 11 12 -4 -4 -4 12 -4 -4 -4 -4

HGC on May 1 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Note: In 1989, R reported a high school diploma received 6/79. He attended community college in April and May of 1983. In 1988, he reported his highest degree as a B.S.

Hand Card Used to Identify “Highest Degree” (from 1988 questionnaire)

9.A. (HAND CARD B) What is the name of the highest degree you have ever received? (CODE ONE ONLY.)

High school diploma (or equivalent)...…….01

Associate/Junior College (AA)…....……….02

Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA)…………….. 03

Bachelor of Science (BS)………………..…04

Master’s Degree (MA, MBA, MS, MSW)....05

Doctoral Degree (PhD)……………………..06

Professional Degree (MD, LLD, DDS)……07

Other (Specify)……………………………...08

VI. Monthly Enrollment Status

Since (month of last interview), in which months were you attending regular school?

Asked only of Rs who have been enrolled since last interview

Asked in every round from 1981 onward

Example 7: Monthly Enrollment StatusCASEID=119 (see example 5)

Months entered in 1981 interview Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

80 . 2 3 4 5 . . . 9 10 11 1281 13 14 15 . . . . .82

Note: interview months are shaded in red.

Example 7, continuedCASEID=119

Months added in 1982 interview Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

80 (.) (2) (3) (4) (5) (.) (.) (.) (9) (10) (11) (12)

81 (13)

.

(14)

.

(15)

3

.

4

.

5.

.

.

.

.

. 9 10 11 .82 . . . . . . . .Note: interview months are shaded in red.

Additional college-specific data for this R reveal that he entered this college in 9/78. We can assume that he was enrolled for the entire 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1980-81 academic years, and for the first term of 1981-82.