1. Understanding How the Ranking is Calculated 2011 TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING

2. The statewide top-to-bottom ranking takes into account both student achievement on state tests and graduation rates. Student achievement on state tests is included in the statewide top to bottom ranking in the following three ways: Achievement at the elementary, middle, and high school levels Improvement in achievement over time The largest achievement gap between two subgroups calculated based on the top scoring 30% of students versus the bottom scoring 30% of students TOP TO BOTTOM (TTB) RANKING

3. In addition to the achievement components, student graduation is included in the statewide top-to-bottom ranking for schools with a graduation rate in the two following ways: Graduation Rate Improvement in graduation rate over time TTB RANKING

4. Schools with 30 or more students tested over the last two years in at least two state-tested content areas: Mathematics Reading Science Social Studies Writing WHO RECEIVES A RANKING?

5. For grade 3-8 reading and mathematics HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Two-Year Average Standardized Student Scale (Z) Score Two-Year Average Performance Level Change Index Two-Year Average Bottom 30% - Top 30% Z-Score Gap School Achievement Z-Score School Performance Level Change Z-Score School Achievement Gap Z-Score School Content Area Index 1/ 2 1/ 4 Content Index Z- score

6. A weighted composite of individual student performance level change is used to calculate improvement in grades 3-8 reading and mathematics Rewards large improvements more heavily, rewards maintenance of proficiency if a student was already proficient WEIGHTED PERFORMANCE LEVEL CHANGE Previous Proficiency Significant Decline DeclineMaintainImprovement Significant Improvement Not Previously Proficient -2012 Previously Proficient -2112

7. For science, social studies, writing, and grade 11 reading and mathematics HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Two-Year Average Standardized Student Scale (Z) Score Four-Year Achievement Trend Slope Two-Year Average Bottom 30% - Top 30% Z-Score Gap School Achievement Z-Score School Performance Achievement Trend Z-Score School Achievement Gap Z-Score School Content Area Index 1/ 2 1/ 4 Content Index Z- score

8. For graduation rate HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Two-Year Average Graduation Rate Four-Year Graduation Rate Trend Slope School Graduation Rate Z-Score School Graduation Rate Trend Z-Score School Graduation Rate Index 2/ 3 1/ 3 Grad Index Z- score

9. Calculating a four-year slope (e.g., graduation rate) HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Plot the schools graduation rate for the last four years Plot a linear regression line through the points Calculate the slope of the line (gives the schools annual improvement rate)

10. Calculating a four-year slope (e.g., graduation rate) HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Plot the schools graduation rate for the last four years Plot a linear regression line through the points Calculate the slope of the line (gives the schools annual improvement rate)

11. Calculating a four-year slope (e.g., graduation rate) HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED Plot the schools graduation rate for the last four years Plot a linear regression line through the points Calculate the slope of the line (gives the schools annual improvement rate) Slope = 2.3%

12. Calculating an overall ranking for a school with a graduation rate HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED School Graduation Rate Std Index School Mathematics Std Index School Reading Std Index School Science Std Index School Social Studies Std Index School Writing Std Index Overall Standardized School Index 18 % 10 % Overall School Percentile Rank

13. Calculating an overall ranking for a school without a graduation rate HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED School Mathematics Std Index School Reading Std Index School Science Std Index School Social Studies Std Index School Writing Std Index Overall School Standardized Index 20 % Overall School Percentile Rank

14. Calculating an overall ranking for a school without a graduation rate and without a writing score HOW IS THE TOP TO BOTTOM RANKING CALCULATED School Mathematics Index School Reading Index School Science Index School Social Studies Index Overall School Standardized Index 25 % Overall School Percentile Rank

15. RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND MY RANKING

16. Complete list of all schools and their ranking Individual school look-up to see your schools results Overview presentation with voice over FAQ Business rules by which the rankings were calculated Complete data file and validation file You can access these resources at: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818_56562---,00.html http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818_56562---,00.html You can also request individual assistance by calling the Evaluation, Research and Accountability unit at 517-373-1342, or emailing mde-accountability@michigan.govmde-accountability@michigan.gov RESOURCES AVAILABLE

17. Quick Reference for Z- Scores WHAT IS A Z-SCORE?

18. Z-SCORE CHEAT SHEET Z-scores are a standardized measure that helps you compare individual student (or school) data to state average data. Student z-score = (Student Scale Score) – (Statewide average of scale scores) Standard Deviation of Scale Score School z-score= (School Value) – (Statewide average of that value) Standard deviation of that value

19. Z-SCORE CHEAT SHEET Z-scores are centered around zero Positive numbers mean the student or school is above the state average Negative numbers mean the student or school is below the state average 0 1 23 -2-3 State Average Better than state average….…Worse than state average

20. Z-SCORE EXAMPLES Your school has a z-score of 1.5. You are better than the state average. 0 1 23 -2-3 State Average Better than state average….…Worse than state average Z-score of 1.5

21. Z-SCORE EXAMPLES Your school has a z-score of.2. You are better than the state average, but not by a lot. 0 1 23 -2-3 State Average Better than state average….…Worse than state average Z-score of 1.5 Z-score of 0.2

22. Z-SCORE EXAMPLES Your school has a z-score of -2.0. You are very far below state average. 0 1 23 -2-3 State Average Better than state average….…Worse than state average Z-score of 1.5 Z-score of 0.2Z-score of -2.0

23. TTB vs PLA HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THE PLA LIST?

24. This list represents a ranking of all schools in the state of Michigan, using our preferred methodology developed in collaboration with many stakeholders. MDE also published, according to state statute, a list of Persistently Lowest Achieving schools. This is the PLA list. The PLA list of schools was generated by a set of federally- approved and required rules that differ from our Top to Bottom ranking. TTB VERSUS PLA

25. WHY ARE THE LISTS DIFFERENT? Top to BottomPLA Subjects includedMath Reading Writing Science Social Studies Math Reading Graduation rate?YesNo ComponentsAchievement (1/2) Improvement (1/4) Achievement gap (1/4) Proficiency (2/3) Improvement (1/3) Proficiency?Uses standardized measure of student performance (z-score) Uses proficiency levels High achieving schools?Calculation adjustments to avoid ceiling effects No adjustment Tiers?No tiers; all schools included Tiers; Title I, AYP and school level considered