Untitled Document

What Is A School Profile?

a concise, stand-alone, snapshot picture of the school
a collection of data about the school from various points of view.

Victoria Bernhardt (1998) likens the school profile to an old master's painting: "It captures the school's essence, and yet, a closer look reveals interesting details. The more you study it, the more you see." (Page 8). Like a wise friend, Bernhardt states the school profile provides insight to help you create your future. Ultimately, the school will rely on profile information for selecting target area goals.

Developing the School Profile

The school profile is a concise, stand-alone document which gives a snapshot picture of a school in data terms, as a cycle of school improvement begins. Typically, the school profile includes unique local insights, information from former students, and existing data on students, instruction, and the community. Much of the information necessary to develop a useful school profile is readily available. It exists in the principal's and guidance counselor's offices, in census data, in teachers grade books, the school's discipline records and extra curricular activities. Trend data provides insight about how the system is performing over time. A school profile template is provided for your reference when collecting the needed data for your school profile.

Collecting Data

Because each school (or school system) is unique, school profiles may vary from school to school. Typically, however, strong school profiles contain the following elements:

School-Community Data: A written ÒpictureÓ of the school district, describing its location and community characteristics. Generally, the description includes businesses, major employers of school parents, ethnicity composition, population, recreational opportunities, etc.
Staff Data: Staff demographics: number (certified and non-certified), degrees, assignments, gender, ethnicity, school board composition, staff absenteeism, etc.
Student Data:
1. Demographic Data Over Time: Population by grade level and ethnicity, mobility/transiency rate, student population receiving free or reduced-priced meals, percentages of students in special programs (special education, English as a Second Language, gifted, Chapter Programs, alternative education programs, etc), drop-out rates, discipline referral rates and causes, etc.
2. Student Performance Data Over Time: Norm-referenced data, criterion-referenced data, any other student achievement data (Work Keys, ACT Data, SAT Data)
Perceptual Data: Climate survey results from parents & community members, students, and staff; graduate follow-up and exit studies; focus group data; etc.

The basic steps in using and reporting data are provided in a quick and easy reference for your use. Two sample school profiles are provided for your review. The first example is an initial profile developed for a school for the first time. The second profile is a school that has been using data to make decisions for a period of five years. This profile adheres to the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement guidelines.

Sample 1
(Initial School Profile)

Sample 2
(NCA Example)

next

What is a School Profile?