School Questionnaire
The school questionnaire provides supplemental information about school factors that may influence students’ achievement. It is given to the principal or another official of each school that participated in the current NAEP assessment. While schools’ completion of the questionnaire is voluntary, NAEP encourages schools’ participation since it makes the NAEP assessment more accurate and complete.
The school questionnaire is organized into different parts. The first part tends to cover background and characteristics of the school, including the length of the school day and year, school enrollment, absenteeism, dropout rates, and the size and composition of the teaching staff. Subsequent parts of the school questionnaire cover tracking policies, curricula, testing practices, special priorities, and schoolwide programs and problems. The questionnaire also collects information about the availability of resources, policies for parental involvement, special services, and community services.
The content of the questionnaire varies slightly from year to year. To view the variety of topics school questionnaires have covered between 2000 and 2005, click on the links above. Questionnaire topics are organized by year of administration, grade level, and questionnaire part. In addition, the table includes links to school questionnaires administered between 2000 and 2008. For more information on how items are developed for the school questionnaire and how the resulting data are used and analyzed, see NAEP Background Item Development.
NAEP 2005 School Questionnaires
All 2005 school questionnaires include ‘Part I: School Characteristics’ with items pertaining to
school’s current enrollment;
percentage of students identified as limited-English proficient;
participation in the National School Lunch Program;
percentage of students receiving various types of services, such as targeted Title I funds and special education; and
12th graders’ plans for post-secondary education (grade 12 only).
The other parts and item types unique to each 2005 school questionnaire are listed below.
Part II: Mathematics
Grade 4
time set aside for mathematics instruction;
ability and/or achievement level grouping for mathematics instruction; and
availability of a mathematics specialist.
Grade 8
percentage of students enrolled in remedial mathematics classes;
percentage of students enrolled in advanced mathematics classes; and
assignment of students to mathematics classes by ability and/or achievement levels.
Grade 12
years of mathematics course work required by the school or district for graduation;
types of mathematics classes offered at the school;
availability of online mathematics test preparation courses for students; and
availability of online mathematics courses for high school or college credit.
Part III: Reading and Science
Grades 4 and 8
Grade 12
years of reading and science course work required by the school or district for graduation;
focus of professional development activities in terms of language arts instruction; and
availability of advanced science courses.
Part IV: U.S. History and Civics (Grade 12 only)
years of social studies, U.S. history, and civics coursework required by the school or district for graduation;
grade level at which students typically take U.S. history and civics courses; and
student enrollment in U.S. history and U.S. government advanced placement courses.
NAEP 2004 School Questionnaires
NAEP 2004 School Questionnaire includes items pertaining to
Grade 4
time set aside for mathematics instruction;
ability and/or achievement level grouping for mathematics instruction; and
availability of a mathematics specialist.
Grade 8
percentage of students enrolled in remedial mathematics classes;
percentage of students enrolled in advanced mathematics classes;
percentage of students enrolled in different types of mathematics classes; and
ability and/or achievement level grouping for mathematics instruction.
Grade 12
years of mathematics course work required by the school or district for graduation;
types of mathematics classes offered at the school;
availability of online mathematics test preparation courses for students; and
availability of online mathematics courses for high school or college credit.
NAEP 2003 School Questionnaires
NAEP 2003 School Questionnaire includes items pertaining to
Grades 4 and 8
organization of grades for instruction;
school-sponsored extracurricular activities;
involvement of parents with school processes;
school-wide problems; and
enrollment, truancy, and drop-out rates.
NAEP 2002 School Questionnaires
NAEP 2002 School Questionnaire includes items pertaining to
Part I: School Characteristics
Grades 4, 8, and 12
grades taught at school;
participation in National School Lunch Program;
special programs and services available for students; and
twelfth-graders’ plans for post-secondary education (grade 12 only).
Part II: Professional Development
Grades 4, 8, and 12
establishment of a school-wide plan for professional development activities;
elements and focus of professional development activities offered to teachers; and
resources available to teachers.
NAEP 2001 School Questionnaires
NAEP 2001 School Questionnaire includes items pertaining to
Part I: School Characteristics
Grades 4, 8, and 12
grades taught at school;
participation in National School Lunch Program;
special programs and services available for students;
subject-specific focus by grade; and
twelfth-graders’ plans for post-secondary education (grade 12 only).
Part II: Computer Resources
Grades 4, 8, and 12
development of a school-wide technology plan;
quantity and age of computers available for instruction;
other audio, video, or electronic equipment available for instruction;
provision of computer training for teachers; and
provision of technical support in school.
Part III: Professional Development – General and Language Arts
Grades 4, 8, and 12
number of days allocated for professional development activities;
elements and focus of professional development activities; and
extent of focus on topics specific to language arts.
NAEP 2000 School Questionnaires
NAEP 2000 School Questionnaire includes items pertaining to
Grades 4, 8, and 12
organization of grades for instruction;
school-sponsored extracurricular activities;
availability of computers for instruction;
involvement of parents with school processes;
school-wide problems;
course requirements for graduation (grade 12 only);
availability of advanced courses for students (grade 12 only); and
nature of teacher, student, and parent attitudes towards academic achievement.
Last updated 20 January 2011 (GF)
Printer-friendly Version