Comparing your school's figures to other schools' information can help you set goals, assess your progress, and make data-driven decisions.
DASL is an online tool independent schools can use to find actionable data related to all aspects of their school operations, including admission, enrollment, salaries, and more. A collaboration of more than 40 associations, DASL is the independent school community's repository of clean, comprehensive, usable data.
In DASL, you can run benchmarking reports to compare your schools' figures to national or regional figures, or to the customized comparison group of schools that you choose.
Antitrust Policy: Schools and their authorized users are prohibited from using DASL data in ways that would violate federal or state antitrust laws. Schools and their authorized users are prohibited from using DASL data to facilitate an express or implied agreement between themselves and other schools.
The DASL Data Collection
The data collection is conducted to collect key comprehensive independent school data on a variety of topics. Because this is a collaborative effort, it will reflect standard definitions shared by all DASL associations and collect data for participating associations in one place.
What this collaboration means:
- Fewer data collections. When you put your data in DASL, it will go to many of the organizations to which your school belongs.
- Shorter data collection. Based on characteristics you provide, your school will see only the questions relevant to you. For example, girls’ schools will not be asked for boys’ enrollment.
- More choices. You have the option of downloading an Excel template into which you can enter your data, then upload the file to DASL, confirm your data populated correctly, and finalize your entry.
- Faster system. DASL is on the cloud, with state-of-the art security and speed.
2023-2024 DASL Data Entry Schedule
DASL Foundation Data (such as salaries, advancement, enrollment, etc.)
- Data Entry Opens: June 14
- Data Entry Deadline and Data Scrubbing Begins: October 13
- Data Released in DASL: DASL reports are typically available for your use one month after each data entry period has closed.
DASL Financial Operations (data like balance sheets, revenues, expenses, etc.)
- Data Entry Opens: June 14
- Data Entry Deadline and Data Scrubbing Begins: November 17
- Data Released in DASL: DASL reports are typically available for your use one month after each data entry period has closed.
Click here to see a few tips to help set you up for success this year!
NAIS Member Access
The chart below highlights the DASL Insights benefits that are available to NAIS members. Interested in NAIS membership? Learn more and apply.
| |
NAIS Members |
NAIS Nonmembers |
| DASL Benchmark Report Builder |
Full access to all data from all 1,800+ schools contributing to DASL. |
Limited access to data only from schools in state or regional organizations you belong to that are also DASL partners |
| DASL Databook |
✔ |
|
| DASL Dashboards |
✔ |
|
| Custom Comparison Groups for Easy Reporting |
Ability to include schools from across the country in custom comparison groups. |
Ability to group only schools from state or regional organizations you belong to that are also DASL partners |
| Custom DASL Salary Reports |
✔ |
|
| Market View |
✔ |
|
| Statistical Tables |
✔ |
✔ |
*Your head or business manager must grant you permission to access DASL. Watch this video to learn more.
DASL Insights Benefits
DASL Benchmark Report Builder
Use DASL Benchmark Report Builder to create the exact report you need to jumpstart an important leadership discussion at your school. Select the data points to compare, choose the comparison school group, and make any adjustments (e.g., cost of living or inflation). Save the report to use again.
Reports > > > Report Queries
DASL Databook
DASL Databook makes preparing for your presentation or leadership discussion easy. In just three clicks, create a comprehensive 35-page report full of tables and charts. Visualize how your school compares to others in such key areas as Student Ratios, Admission Funnel Statistics, and more.
DASL Dashboards
If you are looking to lead a discussion or presentation on a particular topic area, start with DASL Dashboards. In this extensive library of charts, you’ll find pre-configured topical dashboards in such key areas as School Affordability, Diversity, and Admissions. Just select your comparison group, geographic area, and date range, and you’ll generate charts you can save as images or import into Excel.
Reports > > > Dashboards
DASL Custom Comparison Group Builder
DASL Custom Comparison Group Builder lets you choose the exact schools to which you will compare your school. Search for specific schools by name; or search for schools that meet very specific criteria (by region, gender, grade level, budget, and so forth). Now use the comparison groups you’ve made to enrich all of the reporting you do in DASL.
Reports > > > Dashboards > > > Customize Charts > > > Comparison Groups
Custom DASL Reports
Have a big presentation coming up? Use a Custom DASL Report to quickly generate a report filled with comparative data. A growing library of these custom reports include such key areas as Employee Salaries, Rate of Change of Key Operational Indicators, and Student and Employee Diversity. Save the report as a PDF or Excel file.
Reports > > > Tables > > > Custom Reports (Select NAIS for Association and General)
NAIS Market View
Use Market View, an easy-to-use data visualization tool powered by DASL Insights, to make more informed enrollment decisions. Upload addresses for your current and prospective families to see on a map where you are attracting families and where you might have room for growth. Also explore five-year demographic and economic trends in your community and metro area.
NAIS Statistical Tables
Get an independent school data overview with NAIS Statistical Tables. Originally known as the National Tables, these reports display summary data across all DASL schools. Export any of the 150 tables to PDF or Excel.
If you have questions, please contact us through our Help Center or call (202) 973-9700.