Evidence Matters | Three Things I Learned Using The Riley Institute’s South Carolina Education Data Tool

The Riley Institute now houses the South Carolina Education Data Tool, a powerful data visualization platform that aggregates South Carolina School Report Card data into one interactive play space. Data that required a lot of manual input, selection, and toggling to compare and draw broader insights from are now all pulled together into easy-to-view visuals through this tool.

With the data tool, there’s a lot of information at your fingertips, but what can you actually do with it? What can it teach you?

I recently spent an afternoon exploring the platform, and here are three things I learned.

I can track school performance over time.

The South Carolina Education Data Tool contains school report card data from the 2021-22 school year through to the 2024-25 school year.

By using the search tool and typing in the name of a specific school, I can quickly see where that school falls in the overall distribution, as well as how that school has performed during each of the last four academic years. Clicking the “show trails” feature at the bottom of the graph will also quickly create trend lines to show performance over time in one graph. Another feature of the “unpack” menu, Change in Score, shows me how that school’s performance for the selected year compares to the year prior.

By tracking school performance over time, school leaders can get a clear picture of their progress. A single year of data can only provide a snapshot, but multiple years reveal trends.

For example, a school that consistently improves graduation rates, literacy scores, or attendance over several years demonstrates meaningful growth. On the other hand, declining performance can highlight emerging challenges before they become larger problems.

Long-term tracking helps educators understand whether new programs, curriculum changes, or investments are actually making a positive impact. Without historical comparisons, it is difficult to know whether a school is improving, stagnating, or falling behind.

I can compare schools or districts.

By clicking on multiple schools on the graph, I am able to see how they compare to their peers statewide. Selecting two or more schools on the graph allows me to easily compare all of the various data points side-by-side. School 1 and School 2 are easily compared via any variables or criteria I choose, such as economic indicators, teacher retention, or performance in ELA. The options are plentiful. If I want to see school performance in one or more specific districts, I am able to do that as well by using the filter tool to drill down to the districts I would like to view.

Families often use school comparison tools when deciding where to live or where to enroll their children. These comparisons can reveal differences in academic achievement, extracurricular opportunities, teacher retention, student support services, and overall outcomes.

For school leaders and districts, benchmarking against similar schools can provide insight into best practices. If one school with similar demographics consistently performs better than another, leaders can examine what strategies or resources may be contributing to that success. Healthy comparison encourages accountability while also creating opportunities for collaboration and learning between schools.

I can identify outlier schools that outperform expectations.

By choosing specific variables, I can also see which schools may be “overperforming” based on the interaction of variables such as poverty status and overall academic achievement. Choosing Report Card Scores- Academic Achievement on the Y-axis and Economic Indicators- Students in Poverty on the X-axis allows me to easily visualize which schools are serving higher numbers of under-resourced students while also maintaining high academic performance.

These schools are especially important because they demonstrate that strong outcomes are possible under difficult circumstances. By studying high-performing outliers, educators and policymakers can identify teaching methods, leadership practices, community partnerships, or intervention programs that contribute to success.

For example, a school serving a high-poverty community may still achieve above-average reading scores and graduation rates. This suggests that something unique and effective is happening within that school. Understanding these success factors can help replicate effective practices in other schools facing similar challenges. Outlier analysis moves the conversation beyond assumptions and focuses attention on evidence-based improvement strategies.

In addition, identifying outliers can prevent unfair evaluations. A school should not always be judged solely on absolute performance numbers. Context matters. Schools serving students with greater economic hardship, language barriers, or learning challenges may still be delivering outstanding educational value when compared to expectations for similar populations. Looking at performance relative to context creates a more balanced and equitable understanding of success.

Ultimately, the ability to compare school performance over time, across schools, and against expectations creates transparency and drives improvement. It empowers families to make informed choices, helps educators refine strategies, and allows policymakers to allocate resources more effectively. Most importantly, it shines a light on schools that are making a meaningful difference in students’ lives, providing valuable lessons that can strengthen education systems everywhere.

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Kelly Gregory is the Riley Institute’s Director for Public Education Partnerships and Projects and previously taught for 11 years in South Carolina public schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Special Education. She also holds a National Board certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist. She can be reached at [email protected].