Guides for parents in United States
How the American school system works, how to read the published data, and how to choose with confidence.
Understanding the data
State Test Proficiency Explained: How to Read Reading and Math Rates for US Schools
What 'percent proficient' means on state assessments, why rates are not comparable across states, how EDFacts reports school-level results and how to use them with other data.
7 min read
Choosing a school
Public, Charter and Magnet Schools Explained: What the Labels Mean for Families
The differences between traditional public, charter and magnet schools, how enrollment and lotteries work, what Title I means and how each type appears in this site's data.
7 min read
Choosing a school
Choosing a School District: What the Data Can and Cannot Tell You
A step-by-step approach to comparing districts and schools when moving: what to check in the federal and state data, how to weigh district versus school, and the questions for a visit.
8 min read
Free academic assessment
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