This year's report, also known as "The Nation's Report Card," includes information on 38 indicators covering all aspects of U.S. education, including trends in enrollments, student achievement, dropout rates, degree attainment, long-term outcomes of education, and education financing.

The extensive document offers a number of interesting findings relating to private schools. As an example, one section of the report, titled Student Characteristics in Science and Mathematics Coursetaking, found that "Asian/Pacific Islander high school graduates and private school graduates complete advanced levels of science and mathematics coursework at higher rates than their peers."

To order a free copy of The Condition of Education 2004:

• Phone 1-877-4ED-PUBS

• Order online using the publication number NCES 2004-077

• Download the document in PDF format