<ARTICLE>                                           5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary information extracted from the financial
statements for National Computer Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries, for
the fiscal year ended January 29, 2000, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                                       1000
<CURRENCY>                                          U.S. Dollars

                                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                       3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                   JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                      FEB-1-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                        MAY-01-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<CASH>                                                            16385
<SECURITIES>                                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    108278
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          0
<INVENTORY>                                                       35240
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 168471
<PP&E>                                                           228004
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  (115135)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                   363488
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                            120375
<BONDS>                                                               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<COMMON>                                                            949
<OTHER-SE>                                                       234221
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                     363488
<SALES>                                                           40152
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                 125817
<CGS>                                                             15648
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     77686
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                  36500
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  162
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   11103
<INCOME-TAX>                                                       4450
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                6653
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                       6653
<EPS-BASIC>                                                      0.21
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                      0.20