JMP platforms and statistical methods

Graph Builder:
Bar chart, line graph, geographic map

Formula Editor:
Creating new variables

Other:
Bubble plot

Objective

Analyze historical data collected by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on 4th- and 8th-grade math and reading performance across U.S. states, employing data visualizations and descriptive statistics to make comparisons and identify trends.

Problem statement

Getting visibility into what students know and can do across a variety of subjects is extremely helpful in assessing the performance of the country’s educational system. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) periodically conducts a national testing study known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) also referred to as “The Nation’s Report Card”. This nation-wide study provides the means to quantitatively assess student competency. These data are analyzed by researchers and others to identify trends and areas of concern, as well as compare performance between states, subjects, ages, gender, among other attributes. These insights help federal, state, and local school systems and policy makers develop paths to improve the country’s schools.

The data that will be analyzed is from the mathematics and reading scores of 4th and 8th graders from 2003 to 2024. The focus of the analyses will be to create a variety of visualizations and use them to summarize test results, discover trends, make comparisons, and communicate features gleaned from the data.