Data sgp is a set of aggregated student performance data collected over time that teachers and administrators use to inform their instruction. It includes individual-level measures like test scores and growth percentiles, as well as aggregated data at the school/district level including class size, attendance rates and graduation rates. This information can be used to identify areas for improvement, inform classroom practices, evaluate schools/districts and support broader research initiatives.

In the past, it was not easy for schools and districts to access and analyze SGPs as the state only released them for the 2014-15 year (the only year that the Badger Exam was administered). However, with the release of the new dashboard and the statewide data tool this year, accessing and analyzing SGPs is now much easier.

Unlike traditional averages, which simply add up all of the individual student scores, SGPs are a measure of growth relative to academically similar students. SGPs range from 1 to 99, and higher percentiles indicate greater growth. For example, a student with a SGP of 50 means that the student grew as much or more than half of students with a comparable score history on a specific subject-matter test.

To see a student’s SGP, educators can either access the summary report on the BAA Secure Site or the more detailed sgpData spreadsheet by selecting a particular student and choosing the “SGP Data” tab. sgpData is formatted to allow comparison of student data across the state, among schools/districts and in different grades and subjects. It also allows for additional student information, such as gender and socioeconomic status, to be included in the analysis.

In general, SGPs are expected to be distributed along a bell-shaped curve, with an equal number of students in each percentile (the diagram on the right shows groupings of 10 percentiles or deciles). There will be some variation among schools and districts, however, because SGPs will depend on how many prior year test scores are available to a student.

It is important to note that while SGPs are now available for each student, MDE has strongly recommended that they be used only for learning and not for educator evaluation purposes this year. This will give the state three years to further refine and validate the SGP model before high stakes uses begin in 2018/19. Educators can learn more about SGPs by listening to the podcasts below, visiting the BAA Secure Site and checking out the district and school resources on our SGP webpage. Almost all errors that arise during the SGP process revert back to the initial steps of data preparation and analysis, so it is critical that districts make these processes as straightforward as possible. To help with this effort, we’ve created a series of short videos and a tool that will walk you through the process. We encourage you to explore these resources and contact us with questions or requests for additional materials.