School leaders across the country express that they want the same thing: high student engagement, high student success, and high graduation rates. I would say that 99% of the schools that I have visited all struggle with the same thing: knowing their data. To me, as a leadership coach and former elementary school principal, this seems very counterintuitive—to have schools call me and know where they want to go but not where they have been or where they are now. The first step to increasing student performance is for school leaders to understand their data. Here are some data sets and systems that school leaders should be examining over the summer to set their schools up for a successful 2022–23 school year.

Do you know your school's metrics?

When working with a new school, my first question is, “What is your data?” The most common response is, “This is my most recent graduation rate.” Yes, this is okay, but if we really want to understand the pulse of a school, we must dig deeper. Here are a couple of more questions that may help you on your journey. According to Education Next there are the top five questions when asking about data:

1. Are there significant differences in performance between subgroups that may be obscured by your overall scores? This question can help you understand whether school leaders are analyzing data at a more granular level to identify potential disparities in academic outcomes among different student groups.

2. Are you analyzing a diverse range of data types to gain a comprehensive understanding of student performance and needs? This question can help you understand whether school leaders are taking a holistic approach to data analysis by examining various types of data, such as academic performance, attendance, and discipline, to gain a deeper understanding of student needs.

3. How has your school community embraced and supported the diverse cultures and backgrounds of your students? This question can help you understand how school leaders are promoting an inclusive and culturally responsive environment that values and celebrates diversity.

4. How do you use data to help parents understand their child's academic progress and empower them to support their child's learning? This question can help you understand whether school leaders are effectively communicating with parents and providing them with the tools and resources they need to support their child's academic success.

5. Who are the most-effective teachers in your school, and what are you doing to support their continued growth and development? This question can help you understand how school leaders are identifying and supporting their highest-performing teachers to ensure that all students have access to high-quality instruction.

Leadership burnout continues to happen.

As a leadership coach, I must mention that I am aware of the current condition of education. The job satisfaction of school leaders has reached an ultimate low over the last two academic years. According to the December 2021 nationwide representative survey of principals by NASSP, nearly four out of 10 principals (38%) plan to leave the profession within the next three years.

I believe in the ability of a great, well-informed school leader—and that if they are supported, they will continue to serve their schools. My role is to assist educators in acquiring the necessary abilities so they can continue the work they are doing. By observing your data, I guarantee your school will be better positioned for success next year and for future years.

Citations:

Egalite, A. J., By, Egalite, A. J., Bio, A. J. E. A., & Bio, A. (2020, March 22). Five questions about Data use for school leaders. Education Next. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.educationnext.org/five-questions-data-use-school-leaders/

Staff, G. S. (2015, October 13). Infographic: Empowering principals with high-quality data. Getting Smart. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from https://www.gettingsmart.com/2015/10/13/infographic-empowering-principals-with-high-quality-data/

Wise, M. (2022). Do You Know Your School's Metrics? Education Week, 41(16), 15.