Data Analysis Section - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)


What is the primary purpose of the Data Analysis Section?

Data and viewing options in the Data Analysis Section are designed primarily to support local school communities working on school improvement. This is the reason WINSS has so much trend, comparison, and disaggregated data and the reason you will see a lot of, but not all, data collected by DPI.

Are data for all public schools included in the Data Analysis Section?

In general yes. All public schools required by law to submit School Performance Report data under s. 115.38, Wis Stats are covered by WINSS reports. Schools operated by districts (under ch. 119 or ch.120, Wis. Stats) and nondistrict charter schools (under s. 118.40(2r) , Wis. Stats.) are included if they are open on the fall count date for the school year. School status as of the fall count date is key because much of the data collected and used in the creation of WINSS reports and rates are as of the fall count date.

Students need not occupy a seat in a school building to be included in WINSS reports for the district schools. Students may be served by third parties under the direct supervision of a school district. Third parties might include technical colleges, community-based organizations, nonprofit-nonsectarian agencies, universities, school to work program providers, cooperative educational service agencies, out-of-state school districts, private schools, residential care centers, Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Wisconsin School for the Deaf, County Children with Disabilities Education Board schools, etc. If a district is accountable for a student's educational outcomes then the student is expected to be included in reports for that district.

WINSS does not include schools operated by the State Department of Corrections or the State Department of Health and Family Services. Although DPI collects a limited range of data from these agencies, these agencies are not required to submit School Performance Report data.

Why can't I find data about private schools?

The data provided on WINSS are data collected by DPI to meet data reporting requirements in state and federal law. Nearly all these requirements apply only to public schools. DPI has very little data about private schools.

How can I find data about charter schools?

Wisconsin charter schools are public schools created through a businesslike contract or "charter" between the operators and the sponsoring district or other nondistrict chartering authority. Charter school data are included on WINSS because these schools are subject to almost all of the same data reporting requirements as other public schools. You can find data for any charter school by searching by the name of that school. Indicators of charter status are included in download files so data for charter schools as a group can be more readily analyzed and compared.

Why can't I find data updates for the current school year?

Most WINSS data are school year summary data so these data aren't collected until the summer or fall of the next school year. Examples include attendance, dropouts, graduates, retention, spending etc. Data are posted on WINSS after all data are received and certain validation and verification steps have been completed. You will normally find school year summary data on WINSS in the winter or spring of the following school year. This means, for example, that 2002-03 school summary data will be posted in the winter or spring of the 2003-04 school year.

Some WINSS data are point-in-time data so are collected and typically reported during the current school year. Examples include 3rd Friday September enrollment and November statewide test results.

Where can I find a ranking of schools or districts in Wisconsin?

The WINSS Similar Schools/Districts Tool provides a list of "All Similar Schools/District" sorted from highest to lowest performing based on any one of several user-selected WSAS performance measures. The list includes your school or district and all other schools or districts meeting user-defined similar criteria. By selecting "No [similar] criteria chosen", your list will include all (similar and dissimilar) schools or districts in the state.

Ranking schools and districts is complex and depends a lot on the school characteristics and measures of success that you consider most important. Everything that is important is not measured, and some things that are measured may be less important than other things. For more information about the Similar Schools/Districts Tool, go to Understanding the Similar Schools/Similar Districts Pages on WINSS.

Can I use WINSS to compare districts or schools within my county, athletic conference, or CESA?

Yes. Click on the "Compare To: Selected Districts/Schools" option above any WINSS graph. Follow the steps on the next page. Under "Step 1," if you want to view data about all districts or schools in the location, then select the second option, "Select all districts/schools in." Under "Step 2," select the location of interest and click on the "Go" button. (The settings should be defaulting to your county, district's basketball/track conference, or CESA, but you can select any county, athletic conference, or CESA.) After clicking on the "Go" button, the screen will refresh with tabular summary data for your district or school and other districts in the selected location.

For publication or analysis purposes it may be useful to store the data in another format. Most WINSS data pages include a link at the bottom labeled "Download Raw Data From This Page." Click on the link to download a CSV version of the data. Alternatively, if you are using Internet Explorer as your web browser, you should be able to copy and paste the table directly into an Excel file. You can also save the page, change the filename extension to ".xls," and open the file in Excel.

See also Understanding the Similar Schools/Similar Districts Pages on WINSS, Using Scatterplots on WINSS - WSAS, and Using Scatterplots on WINSS - Teacher Qualifications.

There are so many questions. How do I find data about a specific topic?

Data are organized under four main questions. For a brief summary of the data under each question, go to Tips for First-time Users of the Data Analysis Section. For direct links to data for a specific topic, see Data Topics A to Z.

Where can I find the names of schools and districts identified for improvement?

Click on the link "View Adequate Yearly Progress Report" under any WINSS graph for any district or school. For more information, see Wisconsin Accountability Reports. You can also click on "View comparison to annual measurable objectives" under the graphs and tables for the question " How did students perform on state tests at grades 3-8 and 10?"

I am a District SPR Coordinator. Can I use WINSS to meet Wisconsin School District Performance Report Requirements under s. 115.38, Wis. Stats.?

The data provided in the WINSS data analysis section include but are not limited to data required to meet the School Performance Report requirements under s. 115.38. Of the local School Performance Report requirements under 115.38, the two requirements not addressed on WINSS are listed below.

  • 115.38(1)(d) The number and percentage of resident pupils attending a course in a nonresident school district under s. 118.52, the number of nonresident pupils attending a course in the school district under s. 118.52, and the courses taken by those pupils.
  • 115.38(1)(e) The method reading instruction used in the school district and the textbook series used to teach reading in the school district.

State law requires that school boards ". . . distribute to parents of each pupil . . . or give to each pupil to bring home. . . a school and school district performance report. . . The report shall also include a comparison of the school district's performance . . . with the performance of other school districts in the same athletic conference. . ." View complete text of 115.38. Note that conference comparison information is on WINSS at this time. DPI has met with legislators and asked if it would be possible for districts to point parents to WINSS rather than publishing on paper, but the response was that the law requires a printed publication.

Beginning with 2007-08, a printer-friendly district performance report can be found by clicking on the "View School District Performance Report" link near the bottom of any WINSS graph page for your district or by clicking on the "Performance Report" link under the WINSS home page banner.

Can I use WINSS to meet District Report Card Requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)?

Yes. View text of report card requirements under ESEA. We believe that one way districts can meet the ESEA Report Card dissemination requirements is to include the WINSS URL on annual School Performance Reports published under state law with a description of the additional district and school data parents and the general public can find on this website. The following is a sample of the type of statement that could be used on these local documents:

 

These data and more detailed district and school information about test results, graduation, attendance, other academic indicators, and much more can be found on the DPI WINSS website. To view WINSS data for [ADD DISTRICT NAME HERE], visit [INSERT THE URL FOR DISTRICT DATA ON WINSS OR THE URL FOR A DISTRICT WEBPAGE CONTAINING DIRECT WINSS LINKS TO REQUIRED DATA]. If you do not have home Web access, visit [ADD NAME OF PUBLIC LIBRARY] or [ADD NAME OF SCHOOL WHERE COMPUTER MIGHT BE SET UP FOR THIS PURPOSE WITH HOURS OF ACCESS]. For further information or assistance, [NAME OF DISTRICT REPORT CARD CONTACT PERSON].

Districts are also encouraged to publish a district webpage containing direct WINSS links to required district and school ESEA Report Card data. View sample district webpage with links to required ESEA Report Card data. Download optional WINSS logos. Publishing the data on paper does not appear to be required.

Note that, revised federal regulations went into effect in fall 2008 that add a requirement to include the Wisconsin results of National Assessment of Educational Progress on State and District Report Cards. For more information, see 200.11 Participation in NAEP.

How do I add a direct link from my webpage to my district's or school's WINSS data?

You can create a URL that will take users directly to a page with active links to school data for each school in your district. http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/SchoolScript.aspx?FULLKEY=nnnnnnnn````&SEARCHTYPE=SC

FULLKEY is a set of 8 numbers followed by 4 backticks. The 8 numbers are 2 digit CESA, 4 digit District Number, and 2 digit Agency Type. Example: http://data.dpi.state.wi.us/data/SchoolScript.aspx?FULLKEY=02326903````&SEARCHTYPE=SC

See "FULLKEY" data spreadsheet in "Creating URLs that link directly to specific WINSS graph pages" if you are unsure about the key to use for your district.

Users can bookmark or link directly from any outside web page (e.g. a district website) to any WINSS graph page. For more information see "Creating URLs that link directly to specific WINSS graph pages. " Users can also copy and paste almost any WINSS Data URL in email to share specific graphs or tables of interest.

Are printer friendly versions of WINSS data available?

Beginning with 2007-08, a printer-friendly district performance report can be found by clicking on the "View School District Performance Report" link near the bottom of any WINSS graph page for your district or by clicking on the "Performance Report" link under the WINSS home page banner.

State and federal laws require a lot of data to be published in local report cards, performance reports, and profiles. Locally-designed paper reports are available from school districts and can be 10-20 pages long. These reports are likely to get longer as state and federal reporting requirements continue to increase. Wisconsin has over 400 school districts, and DPI does not publish printed versions of all the district reports. WINSS does however have extensive Web-based reports and links to download files. In the future, we hope to provide more printer-friendly at-a-glance reports that include key snap shot information. These printer-friendly at-a-glance reports will be much shorter than Web-based WINSS reports and be presented in a uniform format across districts and schools.

Can I copy WINSS graphs into other electronic documents?

Some users like to copy WINSS graphs into reports or handouts. Since the WINSS rewrite was implemented in 2010, WINSS graphs are no longer simple images so, to copy/paste, users should follow these steps: (1) right click on the graph, (2) click on the "Toolbar" option, which will add a row of icons to the top of the graph, (3) click on the second icon from the left in the row, which will copy the graph to the clipboard, and (4) select the first option, "bitmap" and then paste the graph into the desired document. Paint, Word, or other graphics programs can be used to crop images if desired. When using Word, doubleclick on the pasted image then click on the "Crop" option under "Size" on upper right side of the screen.

Why might graphs disappear when I select certain user options?

Some topics include several complex user options. Complex options are those which call for the presentation of multiple categories, levels, or years of data in a single graph. Examples of complex options include "Subject: All Tested Subjects", "View By: Race/Ethnicity", or "Compare To: Prior Years". When you select several complex options simultaneously, graphs become complicated and difficult to interpret. In these cases, the selected options are reflected in data tables without accompanying graphs. Graphs will reappear if you select simpler options instead of one or more of the complex options. Examples of simpler options include "Subject: Reading", "Level: Advanced + Proficient", "View By: All Students" or "Compare To: Current Data Only".

Can I download WINSS data?

Yes. You can download all data on WINSS for specific WINSS questions or topics. Often more data are provided in the download file than on the screen because the download files are not restricted by the same horizontal screen-space limitations. For more information about data download options available see WINSS Download Options.

Tip: Many users choose the "Download Raw Data From This Page" alternative to download data for all schools or all districts within a CESA (or county or athletic conference or statewide) because the data file is more customizable. Click on "Compare To: . . . Selected Districts/Schools" (above the graph or table on almost every WINSS page). Follow the steps on the next screen. Under Step 1, if you want data for all districts/schools in a CESA, then select the second option, "Select all districts/schools in." Under Step 2, select any CESA, and click on the "Go" button. The screen will refresh with tabular summary data for all districts/schools in the selected CESA. If this is the data you want, then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Download Raw Data From This Page." If not, then choose the options of interest above the table before downloading.

Why are data for some student groups not reported?

Certain data are not reported to protect student privacy. Care is taken to avoid disclosure of confidential information about small groups of students, either directly or indirectly. A group is considered small if the number of students in the group is five or less. Indirect disclosure occurs when data are reported both for all students in a group and for a large subset of this group leaving only a small subset not reported. Data about groups larger than five are sometimes not reported to avoid possible indirect disclosure of confidential information about the smaller group.

The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction must ensure student confidentiality in any public release of data. This includes release of data to outside individuals or organizations (including but not limited to graduate students and research groups) not working for the Department regardless of assurances provided. State law requires that the department keep confidential all student records provided to the department by school districts. [more]

Why are WINSS data reported by school type?

District and state data are reported by school type when school level data are available for the topic. This is because, for many topics, data vary significantly across school types. Identifying strengths and needs and possible explanations are critical steps in the school improvement process. Summary data combining data across school types are useful and are provided, but summary data tend to mask strengths and needs of a specific school type.

Data about school types (elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools) are collected according to definitions provided in s. 115.01(2), Wis. Stats.. An "elementary/secondary combined" school (also known as "El/Sec") is a school that generally offers instruction at elementary grade levels through grade 12 due, in most cases, to the size of the district or other need for nontraditional structure. Fewer schools are included in the "El/Sec" school type than any other type, and schools included tend to change from year to year, so data about El/Sec schools are subject to more year to year variation.

Where can I find the results of WINSS online surveys (e.g. School Climate Surveys, EnGauge, Characteristics of Successful Schools)?

Survey data are included, when available, in the WINSS School Improvement Planning tool. It is also possible to view survey results by going to the survey page. Usernames or passwords may be required to identify the specific survey of interest. These surveys are designed for local use only and are optional. Many schools and districts do not use the surveys. Surveys can be started at any time and multiple surveys can be done by the same school in a single year. This type of optional survey data is not provided in the Data Analysis Section because the graphs and tables in the Data Analysis Section were designed to include data collected ANNUALLY from EVERY school and district in a standardized manner. Questions about these surveys can be sent to winss@contact.ncrel.org.

What happens if data errors are not discovered by districts until after final publication on WINSS?

Corrections submitted by school districts after the final publication of data are posted on the DPI website.

 

See also
WINSS -- Frequently Asked Questions
Tips for first-time users of the Data Analysis Section
Tips for using WINSS to find test results for your school

We welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions about WINSS.
Email: winss@dpi.wi.gov.
 

 

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