Essential KPIs for Education Leaders: Part 1 - Student Metrics

Introduction

As a leader, understanding key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for the success of business programs and initiatives. By focusing on the right KPIs, leaders can remove the shroud of uncertainty, gaining the clarity to make informed decisions that drive meaningful change.

In this article, the first in a series called Essential KPIs for Education Leaders, I'll share two types of student-centered metrics every education leader can measure, monitor, and use to guide their organization towards success.

Type 1: Student Performance and Outcomes

Assessing how students perform during their education journey, and whether they achieve their desired learning outcomes is fundamental. As an educator, clear metrics are vital for tracking student progress and applying targeted interventions. From a leadership perspective, they are also crucial for identifying areas for program improvement and supporting business growth.

I recommend education leaders schedule time to regularly monitor the following student performance and outcome KPIs:

1. Skill Acquisition: Track the development of key skills through practical assessments and project evaluations to ensure students are job-ready.

2. Skill Retention: Regularly re-evaluate student proficiency and knowledge over time through test scores, project grades, and other assessments.

3. Post-Program Success: Maintain contact with alumni and industry partners to gather data on graduates' career achievements, such as finding employment, receiving promotions, or achieving other career milestones.

One organization that excels at student performance tracking is Galvanize. During my time there as a lead instructor, a robust performance tracking system was integrated into their LMS to monitor skill acquisition and retention of adult learners. As part of my professional development, I was trained to effectively track formative and summative assessments, knowledge which I gladly passed on to my instructor team.

By following a disciplined and holistic approach to performance tracking, my team and I identified learning gaps early, enabling timely interventions for current students and course enhancements for future learners. This approach resulted in a 27% improvement in overall student achievement from one cohort to the next, and over 75% of graduates from my last Galvanize cohort secured roles in the tech industry within three months of completing the course.

CodePath is another exemplary organization, where I had the privilege of serving as Vice President of Learning. By tracking college graduate outcomes over the long term, the Learning and Marketing departments facilitated a partnership between Georgia State University (GSU), Comcast, and CodePath to launch a new computer science education and career readiness program. Metrics on student outcomes also played a key role in securing funding from both earned and grant revenue sources, including a $15 million gift CodePath received from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

Type 2: Student Engagement and Satisfaction

Engaged and satisfied students are more likely to push through the challenges they face during their learning journey. A longitudinal, multinational study found that students with consistently high grades or sustained engagement tend to stay on a stable academic path and achieve more.

Unsurprisingly, the study found that disengaged students tend to achieve less. However, it also showed that if these students improve their engagement, they often reach acceptable achievement levels and rarely drop out. Since some student disengagement is inevitable, the key insight is to watch for a sustained lack of improvement in engagement; it's a warning sign that needs urgent attention.

This study reflects my firsthand experience at TechSmart as a senior director. During the creation of a new course on Python fundamentals for high school students, the team and I heavily prioritized student engagement with interactive lessons, culturally responsive content, project-based learning, and regular opportunities for student feedback. Consequently, student engagement increased by 24% year-over-year, and student achievement on summative assessments rose by up to 16%, as reported by teachers piloting the new course.

I recommend education leaders carefully monitor the following student engagement and satisfaction KPIs:

1. Satisfaction Scores and Feedback: Conduct routine surveys to measure student satisfaction with the course material, instructors, and overall learning experience. While a self-assessment, these scores are a critical leading indicator of future engagement, and most students delight in sharing what would increase their engagement.

2. Attendance Rates: Track student attendance and, if possible, participation in classes, discussions, office hours, and online sessions to identify patterns and address disengagement early.

3. Completion Rates: Measure when students complete chapters, units, and courses to ensure they remain motivated and receive necessary support when they fall behind in their learning journey.

4. Attrition Rates and Rationale: Monitor students who drop out of a course early to identify the issues causing students to leave, and implement strategies to retain more future learners.

5. Retention Rates and Rationale: Similarly, understand why students continue their studies from one course to the next. This helps to build a comprehensive learning pathway with natural on and off-ramps along the way.

Conclusion

Understanding and leveraging KPIs is crucial for education leaders striving to enhance their programs' effectiveness. By focusing on student performance, outcomes, engagement, and satisfaction, leaders can gain valuable insights into both student achievement and the overall health of their educational initiatives.

Tracking skill acquisition, skill retention, and post-program success provides a comprehensive view for applying targeted interventions, and identifying areas for program evolution and business growth. Meanwhile, monitoring satisfaction scores, attendance, completion, attrition, and retention helps identify and address issues that may hinder student progress and perseverance. The examples from Galvanize, CodePath, and TechSmart demonstrate the tangible benefits of integrating these KPIs into educational practices.

In conclusion, education leaders who commit to a data-driven approach using these essential KPIs will be better equipped to foster a successful learning environment, ensuring their students are well-prepared for their future endeavors.