Data & Study Skills

​​Why Study Skills Are Important and

How Our School Uses Data to Support Student Success

At Oakhill, we believe that fostering strong study skills in students is key to long-term academic success. Study skills are not just about doing homework; they encompass time management, organization, note-taking, test preparation, and the ability to self-assess progress. Developing these skills early on helps students build confidence, manage workloads, and approach challenges with a growth mindset.

To integrate study skills organically into the classroom, we will be implementing monthly initiatives and study skills focuses. Rather than focusing on prepping or cramming for a single test, we will be teaching these skills throughout the year as part of our regular curriculum, just like we teach math, organization, or reading skills.

To ensure that each student receives the individualized support they need to succeed, we use a variety of data-driven tools, including the i-Ready math and reading diagnostics and ERB's Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP). Here's how we leverage this data to create a supportive learning environment:

i-Ready: A Snapshot of Progress

Students in K-8th grade take the i-Ready math and reading assessments three times a year to measure their reading and math skills. This adaptive tool provides us with a clear picture of each student's strengths and areas for improvement. By tracking growth throughout the year, teachers can tailor instruction to meet each child's unique needs. The data helps us group students for targeted intervention, enrichment, and goal-setting, ensuring that every student continues to progress.

ERB’s CTP: Benchmarking Against Independent Norms

For students in 3rd-8th grade, we use the ERB's CTP standardized testing, which compares student performance against national norms for independent schools. This gives us valuable insights into how our students are performing in comparison to their peers across the country. The data from these assessments helps teachers identify areas of strength and areas where additional support is needed, allowing us to create personalized goals and interventions for each student.

Personalized Goals and Targeted Support

By analyzing the data from both i-Ready and ERB's CTP, our teachers are able to create customized learning plans for each student. Whether a student needs additional help with a particular skill or is ready for more advanced challenges, we are able to provide the right support at the right time. This personalized approach not only helps students succeed academically but also builds their confidence and motivation.

Supporting Teachers with Professional Development

The data we gather doesn’t just benefit students—it also helps us tailor professional development for our teachers. By understanding where students may need more support, we can provide our educators with the training and resources they need to help their students excel. Whether it’s focusing on specific reading strategies, math interventions, or enrichment activities, our goal is to ensure that our teachers are equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students.

Understanding Test Results: What Do Stanine and Percentile Mean?

When you receive your child's test results, you may notice terms like "stanine" and "percentile." These are both ways of understanding where your child stands in comparison to their peers:

Stanine: This is a method of scaling test scores on a 1-9 scale, where a score of 5 represents the average performance. Scores of 1-3 are below average, 4-6 are average, and 7-9 are above average. This can give you a sense of whether your child's performance is within the expected range for their age and grade.

Percentile: A percentile rank shows how your child performed compared to a norm group. For example, if your child is in the 75th percentile, that means they performed better than 75% of students in the same norm group. Percentiles give a clearer understanding of your child's performance relative to other students.

At Oakhill, we are committed to using these assessments, metrics, and experiences in the classroom to help each child reach their full potential. By combining data-driven insights with a focus on study skills, personalized instruction, and professional development for teachers, we create an environment where every student can thrive.

Stay tuned for more information on i-Ready & ERB’s!