Great Ways to Illustrate Student Performance
Each state administers assessment tests that are generally provided on state report cards for each school and district. The following districts have gone beyond the state report card to develop reports that illustrate student performance on state tests that are “user-friendly” for parents and community members. By translating rows and columns of numbers to color-coded graphs and charts and simpler narrative explanations, they have made it easier for parents and community to understand and interpret student assessment results.
ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Ross, Calif. • Enr. 251 – 999
Spotlight on Performance
This district uses a concise one page report to display district results on state assessments. The colored bar graphs make it easy for the user to understand student performance on state standards and how those compare to statewide performance.
LINCOLN CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT 48
Lincoln, Ark. • Enr. 1,000 - 2,499
District Report Card
While this is an example of a state report card rather than one the district has developed, we chose to include it because of the effective way it uses red and green to quickly inform the user of where standards have AND have not been met.
RSU 21
Kennebunk, Maine • Enr. 1,000 - 2,499
New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) Report
This district uses color in stacked column and line graphs to report New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) results in a user-friendly manner.
HELLGATE SCHOOL DISTRICT 4
Missoula, Mont. • Enr. 1,000 - 2,499
Student Test Analysis Report
This district is another example of effective use of color on line and bar graphs to illustrate district performance on state assessments. Additionally, it includes charts that show comparisons among subgroups within the district and district comparisons to statewide performance.
LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2
Afton, Wyo. • Enr. 1,000 - 2,499
Assessment Results Report
This comprehensive district assessment report effectively uses graphs, charts, and tables with color and simple explanations to illustrate student performance within the district over time; compared to state performance; among student cohort groups over time; and disaggregated by gender, socio-economic status, and IEP designations.
MOUNTAIN BROOK CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Birmingham, Ala. • Enr. 2,500 - 7,499
Standardized Testing Report
This assessment report uses concise explanations of the type, purpose, and use of each state test followed by easy-to-read charts presenting the district’s data.
BYRAM HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Armonk, N.Y. • Enr. 2,500 – 7,499
District Assessment Data
This district assessment report provides a simple narrative explanation of the state tests and then illustrates student achievement data with simple charts that answer the key assessment questions, “How are we doing compared to the state standards? How are we doing compared to ourselves? How are we doing compared to others?”
YAKIMA SCHOOL DISTRICT 7
Yakima, Wash. • Enr. 7,500 - 14,999
District Assessment Data
Yakima is another good example of using stacked bar graphs and color to illustrate student performance on state assessment tests.
METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Nashville, Tenn. • Enr. 15,000+
Achievement Data
This simple one-page report effectively shows the district’s improvement over time and achievement gap information.
HAMPDEN WILBRAHAM REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Wilbraham, Mass. BOCES/Agency
Achievement and Accountability Presentation
This report provides state assessment results presented in easy-to-read bar graphs with simple explanations and then ties those results to a revised student learning goal to reduce proficiency gaps among students.
OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Oklahoma City, Okla. • Enr. 15,000+
Statistical Profile – PP. 40-48
This is a comprehensive statistical profile of the district. Please refer to pages 40 – 46 to see how they have illustrated state assessment performance in the district over time using bar graphs and color.