Whenever we look at data, we're really asking one main question: "How are we doing?" Ever thought, "...compared to what?" Here are three questions you can ask whenever you look at data.

We all know good teachers can make a difference. You might be surprised, though, at how crucial a difference that is.

You know what a pie chart is? Good. You'll have no trouble with 100% stacked columns...and you'll like them a lot better.

Data is just a bunch of numbers until you use it correctly. The "data cycle" we teach in Data First training turns data from a bunch of numbers into the reasons behind school improvement.

If you're around education data long enough, you'll hear the term "growth models." Learn what the term actually means and why it's such a useful tool for understanding teachers' effects on students.

We all know good teachers can make a big difference. You won't understand how big until you see this video.

Leading and lagging indicators are two types of data you want to look at to know where you're going...and whether you're on track.

Scatter plots may look intimidating, but a short explanation should show you that they contain tons of useful information packed into one small graph.

One thing we all agree on: we want all students to graduate. The problem is, reported graduation rates vary widely. We explain why -- and how to go behind the numbers to understand the whole picture.

Break out your crayons. Color coding may be one of the simplest ways to understand data, but it's also one of the most useful.