This report presents comprehensive statistics on the organization, staff, pupils, and finances of public elementary and secondary schools in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas of the United States. Detailed data are provided for the survey year 1971-72 and historical trend data for selected items of information that, in some instances, reach back to 1869-70. Some private school data are included for regular private elementary and secondary schools. Initial tables provide a historical summary of public school statistics; and data on school administrative units and state, local, and regional education agencies. Subsequent tables provide data on a state-by-state basis on the number of school systems, the school age population, enrollment, average daily attendance, high school graduates, instructional staff, and the school lunch program. Concluding tables present data on financing public elementary and secondary school systems, including revenue and nonrevenue receipts for public schools, total expenditures, current expenditures, capital outlays, interest on school debt, status of school bonds, value of school property, average annual salary of instructional staff, and expenditures per pupil. (Author/MLF)