This National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) First Look report introduces new data for the universe of public elementary and secondary schools and agencies in the United States in school year (SY) 2012-13. Specifically, this report includes statistics that describe: (1) the numbers and types of public elementary and secondary schools and local education agencies (LEAs); (2) the operational status of schools and districts, including those that opened as new in SY 2012-13 or have closed since the prior school year; (3) student membership counts; and (4) teacher counts and pupil/teacher ratios. The public elementary and secondary universe data used in this report are from the nonfiscal components of the Common Core of Data (CCD). The following are appended: (1) Methodology and Technical Notes; and (2) Glossary.