<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000866729 <NAME> SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> USD <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,622 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 197,604 <ALLOWANCES> 13,778 <INVENTORY> 319,496 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 580,400 <PP&E> 241,529 <DEPRECIATION> 75,510 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,000,456 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 294,821 <BONDS> 281,181 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 177 <OTHER-SE> 400,523 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,000,456 <SALES> 1,000,600 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,000,600 <CGS> 500,690 <TOTAL-COSTS> 940,021 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,962 <LOSS-PROVISION> 11,966 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,632 <INCOME-PRETAX> 30,985 <INCOME-TAX> 11,310 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19,675 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19,675 <EPS-BASIC> 1.18 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.16