Instructions on how to use the EDUCATION dataset.
The EDUCATION dataset contains data from 1044 public school districts in Texas. The
dataset includes variables related to student performance, district finances, and teacher
and staff characteristics. This dataset is especially useful for illustrating how difference
of means tests and regression analysis are performed using statistical software packages.
The dataset is saved as an SPSS data file since all of the examples in Chapter 23 are
generated using SPSS. If the instructor is using a different statistical package, the file can
easily be saved as a spreadsheet, ASCII text, or SAS file using the “Save as” option in
SPSS.
Several of the problems in Chapter 23 require that students access this dataset and
perform regression analysis. Each problem describes the particular variables that should
be used in the analysis, but does not provide a detailed description of each variable. Brief
descriptions of each variable can be found in the dataset by going to the “View” menu in
SPSS and selecting “Variables.” Instructors might want to print off the detailed variable
descriptions below and distribute them to students prior to performing any computer
exercises.
Distid =
Totskol =
Totstud =
Pafr =
Phisp =
Pecd =
Passall =
Afrpass =
Hispass =
Whitpass=
Econdpas =
Pteacher =
Salteach =
Class =
Teachexp =
Teturn =
Propval =
Stateaid =
Totrev =
Revpup =
Revpstat =
Revplocr =
district identification number
total number of schools in district
total number of students in district
percentage of students who are African American
percentage of students who are Hispanic
percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged (defined as
eligible for free or reduced price meal programs)
percentage of students passing state mandated academic skills tests
percentage of African-American students passing state mandated
academic skills tests
percentage of Hispanic students passing state mandated academic skills
tests
percentage of white students passing state mandated academic skills tests
percentage of economically-disadvantaged students passing state
mandated academic skills tests
percentage of total staff who are teachers
average teacher salary
average number of students per class
average teacher experience in years
average teacher turnover
total assessed property value in dollars
state aid per pupil
total revenue from all sources
total revenue per pupil
percent of revenue from state
percent of revenue from local sources
Revpfed =
percent of revenue from federal government
Attend =
average attendance
Satscor =
average SAT score
charter =
charter dummy (1 = district located in county with at least 1 charter
school, 0 if not)