Numbers 1.3

Excel is an excellent tool for analyzing large sets of data. Basic knowledge and understanding of the tool is beneficial to teachers and students alike. The attached link shows a line graph for reading scores from 52 reporting districts. Below is a screen shot of the original data set:

It's important, in data analysis, to summarize the content into a compelling story that explains the reasoning behind the data set. Large data sets without context are just numbers. It is also imperative that the data set is reviewed for accuracy. Utilizing descriptive statistics helps to evaluate the statistical significance of what has been collected. For the reading scores that were collected, below is a screen shot of the descriptive stats:

A link to the full spreadsheet is available by clicking Here. One of the data sets that stands out is the break down between male and female students. Overall, the mean score for female students is 10 points higher than male students. What is also significant, the female score is six points higher than the mean score for all students, while male students scored 5 points below the mean score for all students. 

Looking at scores for the state of Virginia, the mean score of all students is 1 point higher than the reported score for all 52 reporting districts. Female students in Virginia score 10 points higher than male students, similar to the national picture.

Both nationally and in-state, female students are placing more value in reading comprehension as a skill.