XML Node List Getting Properties

[admin]

In the following the "Schools" is a NodeList.I know how to get the attributes using getAttribute from each "School" Node.But how do I get the "Count" property of the Schools Node List?<Party ID='1'><Schools Count='3'><School ID='4' Desc='this is a test'><Address Street="123 main st"/></School><School ID='5' Desc='this is a test2'><Address Street="123 main st2"/></School><School ID='6' Desc='this is a test3'><Address Street="123 main st3"/></School></Schools></Party>