Where Students Go: Examining Outmigration in New Jersey
Building upon previous research on outmigration, a new report measures the gaps in the New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS) that limit the ability to track New Jersey high school graduates who pursue higher education and/or employment opportunities in other states. This study supplements administrative data from state agencies in NJSDS with a time-limited National Student Clearinghouse extract and AlumniFinder data to examine postsecondary enrollment outside of the state and examine where graduates relocate afterward. In addition to presenting key outcomes, this report illustrates that supplementing administrative data from state agencies with additional data sources like National Student Clearinghouse and AlumniFinder is necessary for understanding the complex nuances of migration patterns for high school graduates in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS), formerly the New Jersey Education to Earnings Data System (NJEEDS), is the State of New Jersey’s centralized longitudinal data system for public administrative data. Through coordination with partnering state agencies, NJSDS is a large statewide interagency and intergovernmental platform where data from participating agencies are securely stored to expand access and analysis to improve governance efforts, policymaking, and performance of public initiatives.
NJSDS aims to help the public and stakeholders make data-informed decisions to improve public policies and practices for New Jersey residents. This includes facilitating longitudinal and linked-data research, providing statistical data, and publishing reports on the NJSDS website.
NJSDS is a collaboration between four New Jersey state agencies, each sharing individual-level data. The system is owned by the State of New Jersey and operated by the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.