Score Type: Norm-Referenced. For more information, see AssessMinutes: Criterion-Referenced and Norm-Referenced Tests.
The Student Growth Percentile (SGP), developed by Dr. Damian Betebenner, provides the latest in growth projections, including Betebenner's well-known catch-up, keep-up growth projections to provide longitudinal SGP data.
SGP compares a student's growth to that of his or her academic peers nationwide. These peers are students in the same grade with a similar achievement history on Star assessments.
SGP is measured on a 1–99 scale. Lower numbers indicate lower relative growth, and higher numbers indicate higher relative growth. For instance, if a student has an SGP of 75, it means the student has shown more growth than 75 percent of his or her academic peers. Teachers and administrators can use SGP scores to determine if students grew more than, less than, or as much as expected.
SGP is calculated using scores from a combination of Star Enterprise and Star progress monitoring tests taken during Fall, Winter, and Spring testing windows, allowing the user to see SGP for a Fall–Winter window, Fall–Spring window, etc. The date ranges for these testing windows are:
- Fall: August 1–November 30
- Winter: December 1–March 31
- Spring: April 1–July 31
We provide this information in two formats: Window Specific SGP (see the next section), whose purpose is to compare or report student growth between specific time frames, and Current SGP, whose purpose is to provide the most current SGP scores available for a student as a quick check-in for progression of growth.
Current SGP is calculated for students who have taken at least two tests within different testing windows. It uses the most recent test (within the past 18 months) and at least one prior test from an earlier testing window (Fall, Winter, or Spring; the dates for these windows are static and need not correspond to a school or district's school year). The assessments used to calculate SGP are pictured in the table below. Additional rules are considered if there is more than one assessment in a prior window.
SGP utilizes the historical growth trajectories of Star examinees to map out what the range of potential growth trajectories for each student will lead to, including what growth is necessary for each student to reach/maintain proficiency. SGP is updated regularly so that students projections are based upon the most recent data available.
Student Growth Percentiles are currently not available for the following students:
- Star Math: not available in Star Math Algebra and Star Math Geometry assessments
- Star Matemáticas: students in grade K, students in grades 9 and higher
- Star Lectura: students in grade K, students in grades 9 and higher
For additional information about SGPs, see Student Growth Percentile in Star Assessments®.
Note: If you are creating district screening windows to be used for "Window to Window SGPs," they will need to align with our SGP windows.
the purpose of additional prior scores
Using an additional prior score, when available, in the SGP calculation serves to stabilize a student’s pretest score, minimize the impact of measurement error, and provide valuable baseline information to ensure the most accurate picture of the student’s optimal academic peer group.
For example, suppose two students have very similar posttest (current) and pretest scores. You might expect their SGP scores to also be similar. Their SGPs may turn out to be the same or close, but only looking at similar growth between a posttest and pretest does not provide a complete picture of the students’ growth. Adding an additional prior score to the calculation provides needed context, such as that the timing of their prior test events may have differed, giving each student varying levels of exposure to skills and learning time. Or, one student's additional prior score might have been higher than his/her pretest score, while the other student's prior score might have been much lower, meaning their academic peer groups were different. Using an additional data point provides a more accurate picture of each students' individual score histories.
SGP can be found on the following reports:
- Consolidated Assessment Proficiency Report
- Goal History Report
- Growth Expectation Extract
- Growth Proficiency Chart
- Historical Extract
- My Created Reports
- Star Growth Report
- Star Student Report
- Star Student Progress Monitoring Report
Window Specific SGP
Window Specific SGPs are determined (during report customization) by selecting a current or prior school year as well as the SGP window time frames that you want to view growth for. The tests used to determine Window Specific SGPs are based on the following rules:
- Fall Window: First test taken
- Winter Window: Test taken closest to 1/15
- Spring Window: Last test taken
In the Star Growth Report, Window Specific SGPs are calculated when you select a prior or current school year during the report customization (in the Timeframe drop-down list).