Census Bureau data on enrollment ask about elementary school, high school, college, or professional school. Public, private and homeschool are all included.  Non-degree programs and short-term career and technical courses, are also sometimes captured. 

Much of the Census Bureau data on enrollment relies on the concept of regular school.  A regular school advances a person towards an elementary school certificate, high school diploma, or college, university, or professional school.

In the American Community Survey (ACS), rather than asking about “regular school,� respondents are asked to include nursery or preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, homeschool, and schooling which leads to a high school diploma or a college degree.  Prior to 2008, in the ACS and the decennial Census from 1970 to 2000, similar instructions were given, with the omission of “homeschool� and, before 2000, “preschool.�   

Other types of enrollment, such as non-degree enrollment, and enrollment in short-term career and technical courses, are sometimes captured in specialized survey instruments.

For assistance, please contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll free) or visit ask.census.gov for further information.