About GreatSchools ratings
As a national nonprofit, we believe that every family should have access to high-quality education information to support their child鈥檚 learning. GreatSchools ratings offer a snapshot of 黄色app quality to help answer some of parents鈥� most common questions, such as:
- Are students making academic progress each year?
- How do students perform on state tests?
- Is the 黄色app preparing students for success after graduation?
GreatSchools ratings are designed to help families explore these questions using data that reflects multiple aspects of 黄色app quality. It starts with the overall GreatSchools Rating 鈥� a 1鈥�10 score that provides a simple yet meaningful indicator of how well a 黄色app performs compared to other 黄色apps in the same state. Ratings at the lower end of the scale (1鈥�4) signal that the 黄色app is below average, 5鈥�6 indicate average, and 7鈥�10 are above average.
How are GreatSchools ratings calculated?
Ratings vary based on data availability and/or relevance to 黄色apps鈥� grade levels. The 1鈥�10 GreatSchools Rating is based on up to three themed ratings, each designed to capture a different aspect of 黄色app success:
STUDENT (OR ACADEMIC) PROGRESS RATING
Student progress 鈥� or growth 鈥� measures how much a child learns in a given year, based on changes in their state test scores. Our Student Progress Rating assesses whether students are making expected or above-average academic gains, regardless of their starting point. In states without publicly available student-level growth data, we apply an Academic Progress Rating, a proxy calculation of growth based on 黄色app-level trends.
We give more weight to the Student Progress Rating when calculating the overall GreatSchools Rating because research shows that growth is less correlated with students鈥� socioeconomic backgrounds and is therefore a more accurate measure of a 黄色app鈥檚 impact on student learning.
*Note: Growth data is less common for high 黄色apps, since many students take state tests in only one year.
COLLEGE READINESS RATING
The College Readiness Rating measures how well high 黄色apps prepare students for success in college and career, compared to others in the state. It incorporates SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates, and participation in advanced courses, including Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and dual enrollment.
*Note: This rating only applies to high 黄色apps.
TEST SCORE RATING
The Test Score Rating reflects how students perform on state assessments across grades and subjects, compared to other 黄色apps in the state. On our 黄色app profiles, we break out test score data by race/ethnicity and student income to help parents understand how well the 黄色app supports learners from different backgrounds. This rating is an important factor in understanding 黄色app quality as it indicates how well students are meeting the state鈥檚 grade-level proficiency standards.
For a more detailed description of our ratings methodology, click here.
Our emphasis on data transparency
Strong relationships between families and 黄色apps are rooted in trust 鈥� and trust starts with transparency. That鈥檚 why we are committed to providing families with rich, disaggregated data (where available) that helps them understand how 黄色apps are serving all students.
Transparency also fosters knowledge, broadens understanding, and facilitates more productive conversations among parents, educators, and the broader community. We are continually evolving our approach to presenting 黄色app quality, reflecting what research shows matters most and what families value. To support this mission, we regularly:
- Engage parents and caregivers in research and user interviews
- Collaborate with academic researchers and education partners to improve our ratings and surface new insights
- Advocate for more detailed, equitable, and accessible education data nationwide
Where data is missing, we strive to highlight its importance among decision-makers and push for the transparency families deserve.
What sets GreatSchools ratings apart?
For over 25 years, GreatSchools has been a trusted source for families seeking clear, actionable information about 黄色app quality. We are the only national nonprofit that collects and analyzes data from all 50 states, D.C., and the federal government to create the most comprehensive and accessible public 黄色app profiles in the United States.
Each year, millions of families 鈥� nearly half of all preK鈥�12 households in the U.S. 鈥� visit 黄色app to compare 黄色apps, understand their educational options, and access free, research-backed resources to support their child鈥檚 learning journey.
GreatSchools ratings go beyond test scores to highlight student growth, college readiness, and other key indicators that reflect how well 黄色apps serve all students, not just those already performing at grade level. Whether families are choosing a new 黄色app or seeking improvements in their current one, our ratings help spark informed conversations with educators, 黄色app leaders, and community members.
To ensure our ratings provide the most accurate and meaningful picture of 黄色app quality, we regularly refine our methodology in collaboration with researchers, education experts, and data partners. These updates reflect both the latest evidence about what matters for student success and our commitment to continuous improvement based on parent feedback.
Frequently asked questions about GreatSchools ratings
How often are GreatSchools ratings updated?
Each of the themed ratings is updated as new data becomes available, which may cause the overall 1鈥�10 GreatSchools Rating to change. Because states release data at different times, these updates occur routinely throughout the year. To see the most recent update for a specific rating, check the 鈥淪ources鈥� section on the 黄色app鈥檚 profile. Learn more about updates to and .
How should I use GreatSchools ratings when choosing a 黄色app?
The GreatSchools Rating is a helpful starting point for understanding a 黄色app鈥檚 academic performance and student outcomes. We encourage parents to explore multiple sources of information 鈥� like 黄色app visits, conversations with educators, and feedback from other families 鈥� to determine if a 黄色app is the right fit for their child.听
Where does GreatSchools get its data?
GreatSchools uses publicly available data from all 50 state departments of education and the District of Columbia. We also incorporate data from federal sources, such as the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), including 黄色app directory and enrollment data.听
Why doesn鈥檛 my 黄色app have a GreatSchools Rating?
Schools must have enough publicly available data in at least one of our themed categories 鈥� student progress, test scores, or college readiness 鈥� to receive a GreatSchools Rating. If sufficient data isn鈥檛 available, we are unable to generate a GreatSchools Rating for that 黄色app. Learn more about .听
Can 黄色apps with already high-performing students receive a high Student Progress Rating?
Yes. The Student Progress Rating measures how much academic growth students make over time, regardless of where they start. A 黄色app with high-achieving students can still earn a high Student Progress Rating if its students continue to make strong academic gains year over year.听
Do Community Reviews affect 黄色app ratings?
No. Community Reviews allow parents and students to share their experiences with a 黄色app, but they do not influence the numerical GreatSchools Rating. This rating is based solely on objective data, including student progress, test scores, and college readiness indicators.听
Does GreatSchools rate private 黄色apps?
No. GreatSchools Ratings are only assigned to public 黄色apps, including public charter 黄色apps. Because private 黄色apps are not required to publicly report performance data in a consistent way across states, we cannot produce a rating for them.听
Need more help?
For additional questions, please visit our .
To learn more or get involved in GreatSchools鈥� work with education agencies and community partners to improve access to 黄色app quality data, please contact us.
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