What Reports Do You Need?

The Data Specialists group will be meeting next month to discuss common needs for the development of new reports for the Data Warehouse. So now is your chance...what kinds of reports does the DW not currently provide that you would find useful? Please share your ideas so that I can bring them to the discussion.

On a similar note, if you have ideas for tools/reports that could be developed using Excel for data analysis and visualization, please share those too! You may recall the performance distribution comparison tool I posted last month ... one assistant principal's inquiry became a tool that everyone can use!

So, are there ways you'd like to visualize or analyze your data that aren't easy to do right now? Please email me (laura.tilton@dsacma.org) with any suggestions, requests, or ideas.

...and Happy Thanksgiving!

Performance Distribution Comparison Graphs Update

Several days ago I posted an entry containing a link to an Excel file which allowed for the creation of performance distribution comparison graphs (school/district/state) using the data in the Profiles area. I have updated that Excel file based on feedback (a special thank you to Tom Lamey, data specialist in the Central region!) and the link is now updated here.

Performance Distribution Comparison Graphs

I heard from an assistant principal in the region who was looking for visual graphs which compared the performance distributions for a school, the district, and the state. While this info is available in the R-403 School Performance Distribution report, it only provides a graphic visualization for the school-specific data.

The data is easily accessible through the Profiles area, but not in a visually pleasing way. So I created an Excel tool that anyone can use to produce these graphs quickly by just copying and pasting your school's data from the Profiles area. You can then print the resulting graphs or paste them into PowerPoint.

Just click this link (updated 10/20/10) to save the Excel file to your desktop, and then follow the instructions provided on the "Data Source" tab. If you have ideas for other Excel display tools like this, I'll take requests! Please let me know if you find this tool useful. (laura.tilton@dsacma.org)