Beyond Spreadsheets: Empowering School Boards Through Strategic Data Comparisons 

School boards shape the future of education in your district—from policy setting to budgeting and superintendent selection. But to make decisions that truly benefit students, teachers, and the community, they need data that’s clear, strategic, and actionable. Unfortunately, the information they require, from student performance metrics to funding and staffing, often feels like it’s buried in a maze of disconnected sources. This is where your role as a K-12 leader becomes indispensable. 

By providing school boards with concise, meaningful data, you’re helping them see the full picture—enabling them to make informed choices that move your district forward. With the right insights, school boards can make strategic, well-informed decisions. To help you simplify this process, here are four essential types of data comparisons that bring clarity to complex questions in areas like enrollment, staffing, spending, and student performance. 

Four Essential Data Comparisons for Effective Decision-Making 

1. Enrollment Trends and State Benchmarks

Enrollment numbers impact nearly every aspect of district planning, from staffing and facilities to budgeting. But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. What trends underlie these numbers, and what do they say about your district’s future? By analyzing changes in enrollment over time and comparing them to state benchmarks, you can help your board answer questions like:  

• Are our district’s challenges unique, or part of broader trends? 

• How do these trends affect resource allocation, facility planning, or staffing? 

Key Data to Watch: 

• Year-over-year enrollment shifts compared to peer districts  

• Changes in student demographics, like special education needs or English learners, that have budget implications 

Example: Compare your district’s enrollment trend to regional peer districts to contextualize the need for additional staff, facilities, or programs. The chart below shows the percentage change in student enrollment across thirteen districts from 2023 to 2024. 

2. Staffing Ratios in Context 

With staffing as one of your largest investments, your board needs to understand how your district’s ratios compare to similar districts. Staffing directly affects student outcomes, teacher satisfaction, and overall district efficiency, making it crucial for decision-making.  

Key Data to Watch: 

• Teacher-to-student ratios compared to peer districts to assess instructional adequacy  

• Support staff levels, including counselors, paraprofessionals, and custodial staff, to determine if students and teachers have the support and resources they need. 

• Specialized staff ratios, such as special education or English learner educators, to ensure these populations receive the support they need. 

Example: Show the board how your teacher-to-student ratio stacks up against peer districts, helping them decide whether to adjust hiring to meet student needs more effectively. The chart below compares the average number of students per full time educator (FTE) across thirteen districts in 2024. 

3. Spending and Revenue Patterns 

Is your district using its resources as effectively as possible? Comparing operational spending across peer districts can offer valuable insights. By breaking down costs into instructional and administrative categories, you provide clarity on resource allocation and help the board see where strategic adjustments might lead to better outcomes.   

Key Data to Watch: 

• Instructional versus noninstructional spending to understand how resources are being prioritized. 

• Administrative costs in comparison to instructional spending to determine alignment with district goals and student needs. 

Example: Present a chart contrasting instructional spending per student across comparable districts, allowing the board to gauge whether your spending aligns with district goals. The chart below compares the actual dollar spent per student across four districts. 

4. Student Performance and Spending Impact 

Understanding student performance, and its relation to spending, is crucial for evaluating educational outcomes. Proficiency rates and subject-specific scores offer a window into how well your district’s resources support its academic goals. By comparing your district’s performance with peer districts, you’re giving the board essential context for assessing whether investments are driving results.    

Key Data to Watch: 

• Proficiency rates by grade and test area to identify strengths and areas needing improvement. 

• Correlations between spending and performance to determine if higher investments lead to better outcomes.  

Example: Use a performance chart showing proficiency in math and reading against similar districts to identify strengths and areas needing improvement. The chart below compares the percentage of students scoring in each performance band (Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and Advanced) on the Math subtest of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores across thirteen districts. 

With these data comparisons, you can support school board members in making decisions that have a lasting impact on your district. By transforming complex data into strategic insights, you’re helping them focus on what truly matters—improving student outcomes and strengthening the school community.  

Discover the Power of Comparative Analytics – Empowering K-12 Leaders with the Context they Need to Make the Best Decisions  

Frontline Comparative Analytics helps K-12 leaders make sense of data with ease. Drawing from State Departments of Education, this tool offers pre-built and customizable analytics to compare your district’s performance on key metrics—like enrollment, financials, staffing, and student outcomes—against peer districts and groups. 

With rich visuals and ready-to-use insights, Comparative Analytics takes the heavy lifting out of data analysis. Spend less time crunching numbers and more time driving transparency, improving communication, and making informed decisions that move your district forward.