Data is "quantitative" if it is in numerical form and "qualitative" if it is not.
Quantitative data is measurable and can take the form of various scores on tests, assignments, or report cards.
Qualitative data includes teachers' observations and anecdotal records of student development, and can also include (but is not limited to):
- text (words)
- photographs
- videos
- audio recordings
Data can be collected from a variety of sources. Data concerning student achievement comes in many forms depending on its use and can include:
| Classroom Data | School or District Data |
| • portfolios | • course grades |
| • unit tests | • scores on standardized tests |
| • quizzes | • attendance information |
| • projects | • promotion and retention records |
| • overall course grades | • graduation rates |
Data is used in different ways at the classroom, school, and district levels. While it may be used at the state level to correlate funding and accountability, at the school level it informs teaching practices. In order for educators to use data to enhance student achievement, they must collect and consider various types of appropriate data to look at subgroups of the student population and then analyze these various types of data in relation to each other.
Click on the resource link to view and download the How Educators Use Data list.