Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
Data We Collect
School Finder USA does not require registration and does not collect personal data from visitors directly. All school data is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) — a federal agency — and is in the public domain.
The following may be collected automatically via third-party tools:
- Browser type, version, and operating system
- Pages visited, time on page, and navigation path
- Approximate geographic location (country/region — not precise)
- Referring website or search query
- Device type and screen resolution
- IP address (anonymized before storage by Google Analytics)
This data is collected in aggregate and anonymized form. Server access logs are retained for up to 30 days.
Cookies
- Essential cookies — Theme preferences and session state. Always active, do not track you.
- Analytics cookies — Google Analytics GA4 (only after consent).
- Advertising cookies — Google AdSense (only after consent). May track across sites.
Google Analytics (GA4)
Google Analytics 4
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors interact with our site. It collects anonymized page views, session durations, and device info.
- Sets cookies
_ga,_ga_XXXXXX(up to 2 years) - IP addresses are anonymized before storage
- Data processed by Google LLC (USA) under Standard Contractual Clauses
View Google's Privacy Policy.
Google AdSense
Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense to display ads that help fund this free directory. AdSense may use cookies to serve interest-based ads.
- May set advertising cookies to personalize ads across sites
- Uses the DoubleClick cookie (
IDE) to track ad interactions - School Finder USA does not collect or share personal data directly
Location Data
The Schools Near Me and Interactive Map features may request your browser geolocation. Your location is:
- Only requested with your explicit browser permission
- Used in real-time only to calculate school proximity
- Never stored on our servers
- Never shared with third parties
Data Security
All school data originates from public NCES federal datasets containing no personally identifiable information about students or parents. We implement reasonable measures to protect our infrastructure from unauthorized access.
Server logs are retained for a maximum of 30 days. The site uses HTTPS encryption for all connections.
Your Rights (CCPA & U.S. Privacy)
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and similar U.S. state privacy laws, you may have the right to:
- Know — Request disclosure of data we hold about you
- Delete — Request deletion of any personal data collected
- Opt-Out — Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell data)
- Non-Discrimination — Exercise your rights without receiving discriminatory treatment
- Correct — Request correction of inaccurate personal information
Since School Finder USA does not directly collect personal data, most rights should be exercised with Google directly via their privacy controls.
Third-Party Services
- Leaflet.js — Open-source map library. No tracking.
- Chart.js — Open-source charting. Runs client-side only.
- Font Awesome 6 — Icons via Cloudflare CDN.
- CARTO / OpenStreetMap — Map tiles. See CARTO Privacy.
- Esri / ArcGIS — Satellite imagery (optional). See Esri Privacy.
- Google Fonts — Font delivery. Google may log request metadata.
Contact & Policy Updates
Questions about this Privacy Policy? Visit our About Us page for contact information.
This policy was last updated in March 2026 and will be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in law or our use of services.