Locale Classifications
A locale classification (139 KB) is a general geographic indicator that describes the type of area where a school is located. NCES classifies all territory in the U.S. into four types – City, Suburban, Town, and Rural – and each type is divided into three subtypes based on population size or proximity to populated areas. The classifications begin with standard urban and rural criteria defined by the Census Bureau, and NCES extends these designations to provide additional detail. The Locale Lookup map tool provides an easy way to see locales assigned to different locations.
School locale assignments are available for download in the School Locations and Geoassignments files. These data are also directly accessible as GIS web services.
Fringe (41)
Territory outside an urban area that is less than or equal to 5 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more, as well as territory outside an urban area that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.
Distant (42)
Territory outside an urban area that is more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more, as well as territory outside an urban area that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.
Remote (43)
Territory outside an urban area that is more than 25 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and is also more than 10 miles from an urban area with population less than 50,000.
Fringe (31)
Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.
Distant (32)
Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is more than 10 miles and less than or equal to 35 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.
Remote (33)
Territory inside an urban area with population less than 50,000 that is more than 35 miles from an urban area with population of 50,000 or more.
Large (21)
Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban area with population of 250,000 or more.
Midsize (22)
Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban area with population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000.
Small (23)
Territory outside a principal city and inside an urban area with population less than 100,000 and greater than or equal to 50,000.
Large (11)
Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and inside a principal city with population of 250,000 or more.
Midsize (12)
Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and inside a principal city with population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000.
Small (13)
Territory inside an urban area with population of 50,000 or more and inside a principal city with population less than 100,000.
Locale Boundaries
Locale boundaries can be used with a geographic information system (GIS) to assign the NCES locale framework to other types of geographic data. They can also be used to identify places and conditions contained within or across different types of locales. For more information, see the Locale Boundaries Technical Documentation (566 KB).