Let data do the heavy lifting: Detailed and granular information enables better decision making

In recent years, data has become the forefront of most of our day-to-day operations.

From pulling admissions and enrollment reports to student information and assignments, data has made a profound impact on our operations. That’s the good news.

However, you might be one of those many who feel like you’re drowning in data. And you might not have any idea of how to use data for increasing your opportunities, outreach, and internal decision making.

Data is only helpful if you know how to use it for improved reporting, efficient communication, and valuable insight to move your strategic initiatives forward. We know with thousands of reports available, the most important part of your data is that you’re able to use it in the most effective ways possible.

One thing we are certain of is that quality data is key. Without the availability of high-quality data and technical assistance, data may become misinformation or lead to invalid inferences.

Good data can be reused, repurposed, and reviewed to assess new opportunities and validate current services.

Steps for Effective Data Use in Schools

• The first step is to build the organizational and technical space for effective data use. With the proper student information system (SIS), you can eliminate data transfers and avoid data mapping and syncing altogether.
• Report ideas to help your student management: Connect your SIS to your other school administrative software to eliminate manual data entry and save time for your staff and those who manage the data
• Identify the reports you need for your administration, students, and stakeholders.
• Identify clearly for any of the reports you regularly use – what data is important and what key data insights you will gather and compare year over year.

Popular reports used in schools:

Gradebooks/report cards/assignments

Utilize in-line editing, custom notes and comments, assignment tracking, and final grade calculations to simplify end-of-year processes and reporting.

Note – Using the gradebooks report will not only help you measure student progress, evaluate your program and instructional effectiveness, but it can also create ideas for new curriculum development and underscore resource allocation.

In Educate SIS, the grade scale is customizable and will automatically assign a grade or average to assignments, significantly reducing time on the gradebook process. Options support both letter and standards/skills-based grades.

Annual Statements/Payment Activity

The proper student information system will group families to ensure efficient payment delivery and processing. This also ensures you are able to track key financial information for all your students and keep up to date with all payments due. Parents want an easy-to-view statement for all student fees and this is an additional aid for your school system.

As an administrator being able to view at any time where your parents are in their payments to your school can also help ensure that if there are issues you need to support for parents, you can do that pro-actively prior to them getting behind on payments. You can also use this type of report for reviewing year over year to ascertain the rate of payments on time and those that are not on time. This will enable you to better track and audit your tuition payments.

Enrollment/Student Directory

The data in this report is vital as it enables you to track your student enrollment over time and compare year to year for a deeper analysis of the enrollment. Studies show there is a much higher rate of parents looking for private school opportunities and being able to track your enrollment data for key decisions is important to the growth of your school.

Using your enrollment data can also help align you for potential grant source opportunities. This reporting data can also help you identify places where you might be able to diversify your student body as well as your outreach to those potential students.

Learn how Educate supplies you with the data you need to effectively manage your student information.