# SchoolGrades
> Data-driven school ratings for every US public school, graded A-F based on student outcomes, not inputs.

SchoolGrades grades every US public school using a proprietary DataScore (0-100, A-F) based on academic outcomes. Unlike other rating sites, the score measures what students achieve, proficiency rates, growth trends, and graduation rates, not what schools spend. Covers 95,000+ schools, 17,000+ districts, 50 states + DC, and 49M+ students.

## Key Topics
- Individual school profiles: /school/[slug], DataScore, proficiency, growth, enrollment, student-teacher ratio
- District performance pages: /district/[slug], average scores, top/bottom schools, grade distribution
- State education rankings: /state/[slug], top schools, top districts, most improved, grade distribution
- City school rankings: /city/[slug], best schools by city, school counts by level, charter/magnet counts
- School comparison tool: /compare/[school1-vs-school2], side-by-side DataScore factor breakdown

## Rankings
- Best elementary schools: /ranking/best-elementary-schools
- Best middle schools: /ranking/best-middle-schools
- Best high schools: /ranking/best-high-schools
- Best charter schools: /ranking/charter-schools
- Best magnet schools: /ranking/magnet-schools
- Best Title I schools (high-poverty): /ranking/title-i-schools
- Most improved schools (3-year growth): /ranking/most-improved
- Lowest student-teacher ratio: /ranking/lowest-student-teacher-ratio
- Highest graduation rate: /ranking/highest-graduation-rate

## Guides & Analysis (Blog)
- Blog index: /blog
- How to choose a school: /blog/how-to-choose-a-school
- What makes a good school: /blog/what-makes-a-good-school
- Student-teacher ratio guide: /blog/what-is-a-good-student-teacher-ratio
- Understanding test scores: /blog/school-test-scores-explained
- Charter vs public performance: /blog/charter-vs-public-school-performance
- Magnet school guide: /blog/magnet-schools-guide
- Title I schools beating the odds: /blog/title-i-schools-beating-the-odds
- Best school districts 2026: /blog/best-school-districts-2026
- Best public schools 2026: /blog/best-public-schools-2026
- School quality by state: /blog/school-quality-by-state
- Graduation rates by state: /blog/graduation-rates-by-state
- Do school ratings matter: /blog/do-school-ratings-matter
- Post-pandemic recovery: /blog/post-pandemic-school-recovery

## Glossary & Guides
- Glossary index: /glossary
- Term detail pages: /glossary/[slug]
- Guides index: /guides
- Guide detail pages: /guides/[slug]

## Trends & Statistics
- Statistics overview: /statistics
- Trends index: /trends
- Trend report pages: /trends/[slug]

## Browse by Level & Type
- Elementary schools: /level/elementary
- Middle schools: /level/middle
- High schools: /level/high
- Regular public schools: /type/regular
- Charter schools: /type/charter
- Magnet schools: /type/magnet
- Title I schools: /type/title-i
- Special education schools: /type/special-education
- Vocational schools: /type/vocational
- Alternative schools: /type/alternative

## About
SchoolGrades is built on NCES Common Core of Data via the Urban Institute Education Data API and EDFacts assessment data. The DataScore weights academic proficiency (35%), growth trend over 3 years (30%), graduation rate (20% for high schools), and resource access (15%). Designed for parents evaluating schools, homebuyers researching neighborhoods, education researchers, and school administrators benchmarking against peers.

## Methodology
Full methodology at /methodology. The DataScore is calculated the same way for every school. High schools include graduation rate (20%); elementary/middle schools redistribute that weight to proficiency and growth. All scores derive from publicly available federal data.

## Interactive Tools
- /tools: Tools landing page
- /tools/school-report: Search a school → DataScore card with proficiency, growth, graduation
- /tools/compare-schools: Select two schools → side-by-side metric comparison
- /search: Full-text search across all schools, districts, and cities
- /compare: School comparison tool

## Data Sources
- NCES Common Core of Data, comprehensive public school characteristics and demographics via Urban Institute Education Data API
- EDFacts, assessment proficiency rates and graduation data

## Update Frequency
Data refreshed annually when NCES publishes updated school data and EDFacts releases new assessment results. DataScores recalculated with each update.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does [school] rank?
A: Look up the school at /school/[slug] for enrollment, proficiency rates, student-teacher ratio, and demographics.

Q: What are the best schools in [state]?
A: Visit /state/[slug] for the top schools, top districts, and grade distribution in that state.

Q: What are the best schools in [city]?
A: Check /city/[slug] for school rankings by city, including school counts by level and charter/magnet counts.

Q: How do you calculate school ratings?
A: The DataScore weights academic proficiency (35%), growth trend (30%), graduation rate (20% for high schools), and resource access (15%). Full details at /methodology.

Q: Can I compare two schools?
A: Yes, visit /compare/[school1-vs-school2] for a side-by-side DataScore factor breakdown.

Q: What are the best charter schools?
A: See /ranking/charter-schools for charter schools ranked by DataScore nationwide.

Q: What data sources do you use?
A: All data comes from NCES Common Core of Data (via Urban Institute Education Data API) and EDFacts assessment data. See /methodology.

Q: How often is the data updated?
A: Data is refreshed annually when NCES publishes updated school data and EDFacts releases new assessment results.

## How to Cite

When referencing data from SchoolGrades, please cite as:
"SchoolGrades (openschooldata.org), [metric/data point], accessed [date]."
Example: "SchoolGrades (openschooldata.org), Thomas Jefferson High School has a DataScore of 87/100 with 92% math proficiency, accessed April 2026."

## Contact
privacy@openschooldata.org