Data SGP is a repository of urban and demographic data that is transforming Singapore into the world’s first Smart Nation. From housing and transportation to sustainability and disaster resilience, its applications are revolutionizing the way cities are designed and managed. Here’s how.
A student’s growth percentile is a number that indicates how much more he or she has grown in a subject area than 85 percent of his or her academic peers in the same grade level. It is not a comparison of scores, as is seen in traditional assessment reports. For example, Students A and B may have the same scale score on this year’s MCAS test, but because they are in different academic peer groups, their SGPs will be different.
SGPs are calculated using up to two years of historical MCAS data to place a student’s performance in the context of his or her academic peers across the state. These academic peers are identified by a statistical procedure known as quantile regression. They are drawn from all students statewide who scored similarly on the two previous tests, taking into account such factors as socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, educational programs (e.g., sheltered English immersion), and gender.
Because SGPs are based on statewide trends, they can change from year to year as the state adjusts for factors that affect student performance. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a dip in overall student growth, as shown by a shift in the median SGP for a given grade level.
In addition to providing insight into a student’s progress, SGPs can help guide educators in designing learning experiences for their students. By identifying areas of weakness, SGPs provide teachers with targeted instructional resources that can support student growth in those areas.
The ability to access and analyze high-quality, timely data is essential for ensuring that our children receive the best possible education. As the country faces an increasingly competitive global marketplace, it is imperative that we equip our students with the skills needed to succeed in this fast-paced world. In order to do so, we need a robust and comprehensive system for measuring student achievement that is free, open, and easy to use. Data SGP is a powerful tool that provides the information we need to ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to succeed.