EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                    FORM 10-K FOR YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997

    The undersigned  directors and officers of NATIONAL COMPUTER  SYSTEMS,  INC.
hereby  constitute  and  appoint  J. W.  Fenton,  Jr.,  their  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for each of them and in their name, place and stead,
in any and all capacities  (including  without  limitation,  as Director  and/or
principal Executive Officer,  principal Financial Officer,  principal Accounting
Officer or any other officer of the Company),  to sign its Annual Report on Form
10-K  for the year  ended  January  31,  1997,  which  is to be  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  with all exhibits thereto, and any and all
documents in connection  therewith,  hereby granting unto said  attorney-in-fact
and agent full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things
requisite and necessary to be done, and hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorney-in-fact and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

    IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have hereunto set their hands this 3rd
day of March, 1997.

/s/ Russell A. Gullotti                   /s/ Stephen G. Shank
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    Russell A. Gullotti                       Stephen G. Shank

/s/ David C. Cox                          /s/ John E. Steuri
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    David C. Cox                              John E. Steuri

/s/ Jean B. Keffeler                      /s/ Jeffrey E. Stiefler
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    Jean B. Keffeler                          Jeffrey E. Stiefler

/s/  Moses Joseph                         /s/ John W. Vessey
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     Moses Joseph                             John W. Vessey

/s/  Charles W. Oswald                    /s/ Jeffrey W. Taylor
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     Charles W. Oswald                        Jeffrey W. Taylor