MeasuredUp
Transparency & Methodology

How We Rate Schools

We believe parents deserve to know exactly how school ratings are calculated. Our methodology is transparent, data-driven, and designed to give you a complete picture of each school—not just test scores.

Our Rating Principles

Public Data Only
All ratings are based on publicly available government data and user-submitted reviews. We never use proprietary or paywalled data sources.
Multi-Dimensional
Test scores tell only part of the story. We evaluate schools across 5 distinct domains to capture the full picture of school quality.
AI-Enhanced Analysis
We use AI to analyze parent reviews and extract insights about school climate, support services, and satisfaction that raw data can't capture.

The 5 Rating Domains

Each school receives a score from 1-10 in five distinct areas. The overall score is a weighted average of these domains, plus a teacher quality adjustment (up to ±0.5 points) based on Florida DOE certification data. We encourage parents to focus on the domains that matter most to their family.

Academic Excellence

Measures student achievement, academic growth, and college/career readiness.

Scoring Factors

30%
State Assessment Proficiency
Percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards in reading and math
25%
Academic Growth
Year-over-year improvement in student performance, regardless of starting point
20%
Graduation Rate
For high schools: 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate
15%
College Readiness
AP/IB participation and pass rates, dual enrollment, SAT/ACT scores
10%
Student-Teacher Ratio
Lower ratios generally indicate more individualized attention

Data Sources

Florida Department of Education School GradesNCES Common Core of DataCollege Board AP Data
School Climate

Evaluates the social-emotional environment, safety, and sense of belonging.

Scoring Factors

30%
Safety & Discipline
Incident rates, suspension data, and safety survey responses
25%
Student Engagement
Attendance rates, chronic absenteeism, and engagement indicators
20%
Teacher Stability
Teacher retention rates and experience levels
15%
Parent Review Sentiment
AI analysis of climate-related comments in parent reviews
10%
Bullying Prevention
Presence of anti-bullying programs and related incident data

Data Sources

Florida School Climate SurveyNCES Discipline DataParent-Submitted Reviews
Parent Satisfaction

Captures the voice of families through reviews, surveys, and engagement metrics.

Scoring Factors

35%
Overall Review Sentiment
AI-powered sentiment analysis of parent reviews and comments
25%
Communication Quality
Parent feedback on school-home communication effectiveness
20%
Responsiveness
How well the school addresses parent concerns and questions
10%
Community Involvement
PTA/PTO activity, volunteer opportunities, family events
10%
Recommendation Rate
Percentage of parents who would recommend the school

Data Sources

MeasuredUp Parent ReviewsFlorida School Climate Survey (Parent Section)Public Review Aggregation
Program Richness

Assesses the breadth and depth of academic and extracurricular offerings.

Scoring Factors

25%
Advanced Academics
AP/IB courses, honors programs, gifted education availability
20%
Arts & Music
Visual arts, performing arts, band, orchestra, choir programs
15%
Athletics
Variety of sports teams and athletic programs offered
20%
STEM/Career Tech
Science, technology, engineering programs, career academies
20%
Clubs & Activities
Student organizations, clubs, leadership opportunities

Data Sources

School Website AnalysisNCES Program DataFlorida Course Code Directory
Inclusivity & Support

Measures how well the school serves diverse learners, including those with special needs.

Scoring Factors

30%
Special Education Services
ESE program availability, inclusion practices, support staff ratios
25%
Neurodiversity Support
Programs for ADHD, autism, dyslexia; sensory-friendly accommodations
15%
English Learner Services
ESOL programs, bilingual resources, language support
15%
Equity in Outcomes
Achievement gap analysis across student subgroups
15%
Parent Feedback on Support
Reviews specifically mentioning special needs support quality

Data Sources

Florida ESE DataNCES Special Education StatisticsParent Reviews (Filtered for Support Topics)

Teacher Quality Scoring

We integrate Florida DOE teacher certification data to adjust overall school scores. Schools with highly qualified teachers receive score boosts, while those with high out-of-field teaching rates receive penalties.

Score Boosts (Up to +0.5 points)
Excellent (0-5% out-of-field)
+0.4 to +0.5 points — Nearly all teachers certified in their subjects
Good (5-10% out-of-field)
+0.2 to +0.4 points — Strong teacher qualification rates
Average (10-20% out-of-field)
0 to +0.2 points — Typical certification levels
Score Penalties (Up to -0.5 points)
Below Average (20-35% out-of-field)
-0.2 to 0 points — Higher than typical out-of-field rates
Poor (35%+ out-of-field)
-0.2 to -0.5 points — Significant teacher qualification concerns
Note: Private schools typically don't have teacher certification data available through Florida DOE, so they don't receive adjustments.

Why Teacher Quality Matters

Research consistently shows that teacher quality is one of the most important school-level factors affecting student outcomes. Teachers teaching in their certified subject areas have deeper content knowledge and are better equipped to help students succeed. Our scoring adjustment reflects this research by rewarding schools that invest in properly qualified teachers and flagging those where students may be taught by teachers outside their area of expertise.

Our Data Sources

We pull data from trusted government sources and supplement with community-generated reviews. Here's exactly where our information comes from.

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Federal Government

The primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing education data. Provides the Common Core of Data (CCD) with information on all public schools.

https://nces.ed.gov
School demographicsEnrollmentStaff countsGrade levelsSchool type
Florida Department of Education
State Government

Official source for Florida school performance data, including school grades, assessment results, and accountability metrics.

https://www.fldoe.org
School grades (A-F)State assessment scoresGraduation ratesLearning gains
Florida School Climate Survey
State Government

Annual survey administered to students, parents, and staff measuring perceptions of school safety, engagement, and environment.

https://www.fldoe.org/safe-schools
Safety perceptionsBullying incidentsStudent engagementParent satisfaction
MeasuredUp Parent Reviews
User-Generated

Reviews submitted directly by parents through our platform. All reviews are moderated and analyzed using AI sentiment analysis.

Overall satisfactionSpecific praise/concernsProgram feedbackSupport quality
Florida DOE Teacher Certification Data
State Government

Official data on teacher certification status, including in-field and out-of-field teaching rates. Schools with high in-field certification rates receive score boosts, while those with high out-of-field rates receive penalties.

https://www.fldoe.org/teaching/certification/
In-field certification rateOut-of-field teaching rateTotal classesScore adjustment

Research Foundation & Validation

Research-Based Framework

Our five-domain framework draws on established educational research showing that school quality is multi-dimensional. Key influences include:

  • OECD PISA Framework - International standards for measuring educational quality beyond test scores
  • Panorama Education Research - Evidence on school climate and social-emotional learning
  • ASCD Whole Child Framework - Holistic approach to student development
Data Sources

Our ratings are built on publicly available data from trusted sources.

  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - Official enrollment, staffing, and demographic data
  • Florida Department of Education - School accountability data and performance metrics
  • Google Places - Community reviews and ratings from parents and families
Understanding Confidence Levels

Each school profile includes a confidence indicator showing how much data we have to support our ratings. This helps you understand the reliability of our estimates.

High Confidence

Multiple verified data sources, strong community feedback, official state accountability data. Score range: ±0.5 points.

Medium Confidence

Good data coverage with some estimates. Most public schools fall here. Score range: ±1.0 points.

Low Confidence

Limited data available, primarily estimates. Common for private schools. Score range: ±1.5 points.

Known Limitations

We believe in radical transparency. Here are the limitations of our current methodology that we're actively working to address.

Private School Data Gap

Private schools are not required to report to state accountability systems. Our private school ratings rely more heavily on publicly available information, community feedback, and statistical modeling. We clearly mark these as "Estimated Data" and recommend families visit schools directly.

Modeled Scores

Where direct measurements aren't available, we use validated proxy indicators and statistical modeling. For example, school climate scores may incorporate teacher retention rates as a proxy for workplace satisfaction. We're working to integrate more direct measurement sources.

Review Sample Size

Schools with fewer reviews have less reliable sentiment scores. We display review counts and confidence levels to help you understand data reliability. Schools with very few reviews receive lower confidence ratings.

Weighting Choices

Our domain weights (Academic 25%, Climate 20%, etc.) reflect our values about holistic education but are not empirically derived. Different families may prioritize domains differently. Our School Matcher assessment allows you to personalize recommendations based on your priorities.

Important Information

Experimental Methodology Disclosure

MeasuredUp's rating methodology is experimental and has not been independently validated or peer-reviewed. Our algorithms and scoring systems represent our best efforts to synthesize publicly available data into useful ratings, but they are proprietary, unproven, and subject to limitations. Ratings should not be considered authoritative and should be used as one of many factors in your school selection process.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions parents ask about our school ratings.

Ready to Find Your School?

Now that you understand how we rate schools, explore Central Florida schools or take our School Matcher assessment to find the best fit for your child.

We use cookies to improve your experience

We use cookies and similar technologies to help personalize content, remember your preferences, and analyze how our site is used. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of cookies. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.

Cookie Settings