<ARTICLE>                                           5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the financial
statements for National Computer Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries, for
the fiscal year ending February 3, 2001, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                      1,000
<CURRENCY>                                          U.S. Dollars

                                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   FEB-03-2001
<PERIOD-START>                                      JAN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                        APR-29-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                                            3,527
<SECURITIES>                                                     18,251
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   141,308
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          0
<INVENTORY>                                                      48,657
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  9,907
<PP&E>                                                          274,612
<DEPRECIATION>                                                 (129,655)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  464,690
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           169,116
<BONDS>                                                               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<COMMON>                                                            978
<OTHER-SE>                                                      292,705
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    464,960
<SALES>                                                          41,206
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                174,365
<CGS>                                                            17,617
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   112,346
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 47,033
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  118
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  14,469
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      5,700
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                               8,769
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      8,769
<EPS-BASIC>                                                      0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.26