01
SCHOOL DATA
A school report card, explained.
Know what to look for, what to compare, and where to dig deeper.
9 min read
CLEAR EVIDENCE. BETTER EDUCATION DECISIONS.
Understand
New York schools
beyond the headlines.
School data can be complicated. Getting informed shouldn’t be. Find clear guides to school performance, policy, and funding—so you can ask better questions.
For families. For communities. For a clearer picture.
New York State focus
Public data, plainly explained
Sources you can follow
Built around your questions
LET’S FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
What would you like to understand?
A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE. A STRONGER FOUNDATION.
Start with the essentials.
02
ACCOUNTABILITY
What does accountability really mean?
Understand how school performance connects to support and improvement.
8 min read
03
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Look beyond the test scores.
See why a single number can only tell part of a school’s story.
8 min read
04
FOR FAMILIES
Make your next school visit count.
Bring practical questions about learning, support, and daily school life.
9 min read
FROM INFORMATION TO UNDERSTANDING
Good questions.
More useful answers.
Open a school report card with a plan. Our simple reading checklist helps you check the source, understand the measures, and put results in context.
Free to use. No sign-up. Your progress stays in this browser. THE READING CHECKLIST01 / 06
Look closer.
Learn more.
Start with the right school & year
Understand what’s being measured
Compare like with like
FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY
Explore the bigger picture.
The pieces connect. Start with the topic
that matters most to you.
School data
Report cards, student outcomes, and what the numbers really mean.
15 articlesAccountability
Understand school performance, designations, and improvement.
4 articlesSchool options
Ask the right questions about district and charter schools.
2 articlesFunding & resources
Make sense of school budgets, spending, and public funding.
3 articlesParent guides
Practical steps for school visits and decisions for your family.
7 articlesTools for understanding
Put the guides into practice with a step-by-step reading checklist.
Make sense of the evidenceBACK ON THE READING LIST
New & recently updated.
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Home Language Survey (HLS)
A Home Language Survey (HLS) is a questionnaire that parents or guardians complete when a student enrolls, asking which languages the student uses or…
How to Find Official Data for a New York School
New York State publishes official school information through several NYSED systems, each built for a different purpose. The NYSED Data Site lists schools and…
CLARITY IS OUR STARTING POINT
Evidence first.
People always.
NYFERA is an independent reference for New York education. We help families and communities understand how schools work and what the evidence can tell them.
Get to know NYFERA01
Go to the source.
Start with public data and original documents. Follow the sources to understand where information comes from.
02
Make room for context.
A number needs a year, a definition, and a bigger picture. Know what a comparison can—and cannot—show.
03
Keep asking better questions.
Use what you learn to guide school visits, conversations, and decisions for your community.
THERE’S ALWAYS MORE TO UNDERSTAND
Keep a little clarity in your corner.
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Still have a question?
There may be a guide for that.