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, but 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)

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

Important Information

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.

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