The Merritt dataset for the School District sector includes two similar, yet distinctive statistics: Total Public School Enrollment and Average Daily Attendance.
Their respective values are often close in proximity but their meanings are quite different. Total Public School Enrollment is a literal headcount determined by counting the number of students enrolled in a given school year. Typically, this statistic is gathered in October of each year.
Average Daily Attendance is calculated by summing the attendance count for each day of the school year and dividing it by the total number of days in the school year. Predictably, Average Daily Attendance is lower than Total Public School Enrollment due to student absences, truancy, and drop-outs. Average Daily Attendance is often used by states to determine the amount of yearly school funding.