* What's included: These records usually include transcripts (grades, courses taken), attendance records, disciplinary actions, and sometimes standardized test scores. Some schools may also keep records of extracurricular activities and other achievements.
* How long they're kept: While technically "permanent," many schools have policies for how long they retain physical records (e.g., a certain number of years after graduation). However, information is often transferred to electronic databases, which might be kept longer, though accessibility may be limited after a certain point.
* Access: Students typically have the right to access their own records. Access for others (e.g., colleges, employers) is usually governed by the student's permission, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act in the US), or other relevant laws.
In short, while the data itself might exist in some form for an extended period, the immediate physical accessibility and the school's active management of those records might be limited after a certain point following graduation.