Skip to content

District Spotlight: Unlocking Student Success

How District Leaders Are Using Analytics to Strengthen Student Support and Drive Results 

Across the country, K-12 leaders are putting student data into action – breaking down silos, driving early intervention, and connecting strategies across departments to support every student. From readiness and intervention to resource alignment and community engagement, these leaders are using analytics to guide decisions that lead to better outcomes for students and staff.  

Nominated by their peers, these Analytics Leaders are leading the way in transforming student data into meaningful actions, shaping support systems, more transparent communication, and measurable student success 

Explore the District Stories

Building Holistic Student Performance Profiles 

Plainfield CCSD 202

Unifying Data for A Holistic Picture of Student Performance
Read More

Early Intervention and Student Success

Compton Unified School District

Proactive Student Intervention with Real-Time Data
Read More

Early Intervention and Student Success

School District of Altoona

Helping Families Understand High School Readiness
Read More

Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Engagement

Colton Joint Unified School District

Aligning Data Review with District Goals
Read More

Leading the Way in Data-Driven Decision-Making 

These district leaders transformed student data into action to: 

  • Connect key data and departments for a complete view of student needs 
  • Identify and intervene early for at-risk students  
  • Strengthen family communication through transparent, accessible data 
  • Showcase performance and strategy to boards and communities 
  • Align resources and programs to support district and school goals  

See how other district leaders are using data to drive meaningful change. 

Plainfield CCSD 202

District Background


Location

Plainfield, Illinois


Enrollment

24,683


Schools

31


Focus

Cross-Departmental Data Integration

Data Challenge 

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 sought to break down data silos between attendance, student involvement, and academic performance to better understand each student’s journey and provide more personalized support. 

Analytics Solution 

Using Student Analytics Lab, the district developed a comprehensive view of student data, facilitating discussions that connect key data points. A team of curriculum and instruction associate principals, principals, and the director of high school curriculum and instruction from four high schools collaborated to advance the district’s strategic goal of improving math scores. 

With guidance from their advisor, Sara Thomas, the team engaged in targeted professional development to strengthen instructional strategies and make more effective, data-informed decisions. Their approach emphasized a comprehensive understanding of student performance by analyzing a wide range of data points, helping educators see the bigger picture and gain deeper insights into each student’s academic journey.  

Through meaningful, team-based discussions around the data, educators were able to develop targeted, individualized student plans that address specific learning needs and support overall achievement in mathematics. This holistic and collaborative approach not only leads to better student outcomes but also fosters stronger alignment and collaboration across departments. 

This holistic approach helps guide individualized student plans, leading to better student outcomes and stronger collaboration between departments. 


Compton Unified School District

District Background


Location

Compton, California


Enrollment

20,000+


Schools

36


Focus

Early Warning Indicator & Student Intervention

Data Challenge 

While Compton Unified has recently enjoyed some relative success at the secondary level, not every student was graduating College & Career Prepared. Without an effective system, too many students were falling behind. Interventions tended to be reactive rather than proactive. Compton Unified needed a way to identify students who are off track academically and/or socially.  

Analytics Solution

The district developed two dashboards, “Freshmen on Track” and “Early Warning Indicator,” to provide real-time insights. These tools allow staff to identify students who need support based on attendance and grades, identify hotspots, implement targeted interventions before failure occurs, and determine if their interventions are effective.  

“At the district level we are able to compare trends across schools and over time to determine patterns in student performance, attendance, and behavior, as well as the effectiveness of interventions. This information is shared and discussed at our Superintendent Data Chats to drive continuous improvement at the school and systems levels.”

Jorge Torres, Ed.D
Senior Director College & Career

School District of Altoona

District Background


Location

Altoona, Wisconsin


Enrollment

1,800+


Schools

5


Focus

High School & College Readiness

Data Challenge 

We wanted a better way to communicate college and career readiness indicators to  middle school families, ensuring students were on track for success in high school and beyond. While we heavily utilize the Redefining Ready College and Career Readiness indicators at the high school level, we saw a need to translate these indicators into meaningful metrics for middle school students. Families often received anecdotal feedback about their child’s progress, but we sought a way to provide clear, concrete data to better inform future planning. 

Analytics Solution 

To address this challenge, we developed individual readiness scorecards for 9th-grade students. Since 8th grade is a crucial transition point to high school, these scorecards were designed to highlight key factors that contribute to future success. The scorecards consolidate multiple data points, including:

  • Grades (translated into an “on track” measure despite standards-based grading challenges) 
  • Attendance 
  • Co-curriclar participation 
  • Social-emotional learning competencies 
  • Discipline records 
  • State test scores 
  • Benchmark assessments 

Recognizing that data transparency was critical, we ensured each personalized report included clear explanations of each indicator, making it easy for families to interpret their child’s progress. 

Implementation Process 

Developing the scorecards required extensive work to ensure data accuracy. As a team, we took the lead in validating data from our Student Information System (SIS) and ensuring it was correctly pulled into Frontline Student Analytics. This process involved repeated cycles of validation and corrections to ensure the data was displaying correctly and aligning with the intended indicators. 

Collaboration with Frontline Data & Analytics was essential. We worked closely with them to refine how data flowed from the SIS to the analytics platform, ensuring it was displayed in an intuitive and useful manner for educators and families alike. 

Family Engagement & Impact 

We introduced the readiness scorecards to families during student conferences, providing an opportunity for meaningful discussions between teachers and parents. We supported teachers in using the scorecards to explain how each indicator connects to high school readiness. Because the report was well-organized and self-explanatory, families found it easy to understand. Many parents expressed appreciation for having concrete data about their child’s readiness, rather than only anecdotal feedback or grades.  

Lessons Learned & Future Plans

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the accuracy of the data displayed. We had to work closely with Frontline to correct any errors and ensure the data was pulling correctly from the SIS. This experience highlighted the importance of planning the data pipeline thoroughly before implementation. 

For other districts considering a similar approach, we recommend: 

  1. Start by visualizing the final report – Define what you want the scorecard to look like before gathering data. 
  1. Identify all necessary data points – Determine where each piece of information is stored and ensure it is consistently recorded in the SIS. 
  1. Collaborate with your analytics provider early – Work closely with vendors to ensure data is flowing correctly and is accurately represented. 

Looking ahead, we are considering expanding this initiative by developing conference reports for additional grade levels. Our goal is to provide teachers with valuable data to facilitate discussions with families about student progress at all levels. 

We are proud to have taken this step in empowering families with actionable data, ensuring students are on the right track for high school and beyond. 


Colton Joint Unified School District

District Background


Location

Colton, California


Enrollment

22,000+


Schools

28


Focus

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Data Challenge 

Colton Joint Unified wanted to ensure school site goals and district-wide strategies were aligned with resource allocation and program effectiveness. 

Analytics Solution 

By implementing structured Data Reviews with analytics dashboards, the district was able to track key performance indicators, filter data for specific site needs, and create visual reports that streamlined decision-making. This approach resulted in more relevant goals and a stronger connection between school sites and district leadership.