Fifty-one detailed tables provide information about educational and socioeconomic characteristics of students nationwide. Nursery school and college were the only levels of school with higher enrollment in 1981 than in 1970--88 percent and 45 percent higher, respectively. At the college level, the enrollment of more women and more older students (22 to 34 years old) has contributed to the 45 percent increase from 7.4 million students in 1970 to 10.7 million in 1981. Data are also presented from an October 1979 survey concerning college plans of high school students and specific types of courses high school students were taking. The socioeconomic characteristics covered include age, sex, race or ethnic group, residence in metropolitan or nonmetropolitan areas, marital status, family income, and membership in the labor force. The educational characteristics considered comprise enrollment at all educational levels (from preschool through higher education), educational attainment, public or private control of the institution, full- or part-time enrollment, and two-year and four-year college attendance. Appendixes extend the data back in time, as far as 1947 for some characteristics; define the methodological parameters of the report; and show the October 1979 enrollment status and college plans of high school students. (MLF)