Overview
This project analyzes key trends in Arkansas School Districts, focusing on enrollment size, racial demographics, per-pupil spending, and academic performance. Using various visualization techniques, we explore meaningful relationships in the data to derive actionable insights.
Team Members
- Max Bassler
- Steve Abochale
- Evan Charles
Dataset Description
The dataset includes data from Arkansas school districts, encompassing ACT scores, racial demographics, per-pupil spending, and bus route information. Data sources include ADE My School Info, act.org and other district-level public records.
Questions and Insights
Question 1: How has the gap between the Arkansas and National ACT average scores for Math and English Language Arts changed from 2017 to 2024?
Visualization Type: Time-Series Plot
Why this question is interesting: Understanding the performance trends in standardized testing helps evaluate the state’s progress relative to the national benchmark.
Analysis Summary: The data reveals a steady decline in ACT Math and ELA scores for both Arkansas and the nation, with Arkansas consistently scoring below the national average.
Question 2: How do racial demographics compare in their percentages within the school’s total enrollment in 2022-23?
Visualization Type: Bar Chart (Fayetteville School District)
Why this question is interesting: Racial demographics provide insights into the diversity and inclusivity of schools, influencing educational equity and representation.
Analysis Summary: The bar chart shows that most schools in the Fayetteville district are predominantly White, with Hispanic and African American students forming notable minorities.
Question 3: What is the distribution of per-pupil spending across schools in the district?
Visualization Type: Histogram
Why this question is interesting: Examining the distribution of per-pupil spending highlights potential disparities in resource allocation among schools.
Analysis Summary: Most schools spend between $11,172.72 and $15,068.43 per pupil, with fewer schools at the spending extremes.
Question 4: How does total enrollment size affect the number of bus routes in each district?
Visualization Type: Scatter Plot
Why this question is interesting: Exploring the relationship between enrollment size and bus routes helps optimize transportation logistics and resource planning.
Analysis Summary: Higher enrollment correlates with more bus routes, as seen in a strong positive relationship.
Conclusion
This project highlights trends across Arkansas School Districts, including ACT score performance, diversity within schools, spending disparities, and the relationship between enrollment and transportation resources. These findings provide insights that can guide future decision-making and policy development.
Credits
- Dataset Source: ADE My School Info, act.org
- Tools Used: Microsoft Excel, Quarto Markdown, and Powerpoint