Unified School District (UNSD)
Overview
Unified School District (UNSD) is a type of school district in the United States that serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12). Unlike areas with separate elementary and secondary districts, unified districts provide a continuous educational pathway under a single administrative structure.
Key Concepts
K-12 coverage refers to serving all grade levels from kindergarten through high school graduation. Single administration is the unified governance structure overseeing all schools in the district. Geographic boundary is the defined area from which students are enrolled. NCES code is the National Center for Education Statistics unique identifier for school districts.
Comparison with Other District Types
| Type | Grades | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Unified School District | K-12 | UNSD |
| Elementary School District | K-8 | ELSD |
| Secondary School District | 9-12 | SCSD |
Census Data
The Census Bureau maintains school district boundaries in TIGER/Line files with attributes including:
- District name and GEOID
- Functional status
- Land and water area
Appendix
Created: 2025-12-13 | Modified: 2025-12-13
See Also
- Elementary School District (ELSD)
- Secondary School District (SCSD)
- Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER)