Education: Use our searchable database to get data-driven insights into hundreds of SA public schools

This week, The Advertiser is giving you the chance to run a ruler over the state school system through a series of easy-to-search databases, containing fascinating facts and figures for hundreds of public schools in SA. START EXPLORING.

Today, The Advertiser is giving SA parents access to a trove of public education data.

• Full List: Which schools are NAPLAN high achievers?
• SA’s specialist schools for gifted students

This week, The Advertiser is giving you the chance to run a ruler over the state school system through a series of easy-to-search databases, containing fascinating facts and figures for hundreds of public schools in SA.

Compiled for 534 government schools by The Advertiser, the databases published over three days this week will reveal NAPLAN and SACE results, attendance and enrolment figures, and the various sources of school funding.

It’s easy to explore the information.

Just head to Advertiser.com.au today, Wednesday and Thursday from noon and click the main education story at the top of the homepage to start interacting with the searchable tools.

Enter the name of any school to find everything from the school fees to where specialist schools cater for gifted children.

Today, we’re shining a light on our NAPLAN high achievers.

Also today find out where your child can attend if they have a specialist skill or interest like agriculture, arts, entrepreneurial skills, language, music, rowing, and other sports.

AHEAD THIS WEEK

Wednesday

Our SACE high achievers 2014-17 — explore the percentage of senior students who were awarded As in their SACE, plus every school’s enrolment data, gender breakdown and attendance rates.

Thursday

Where does your school get its money? Enter a school name to explore the various funding sources. Plus find out details about every school’s fees.

Department for Education executive director of schools Anne Millard said the data would reflect that SA was “working to create a world-class education system’’.

“This year we have rolled out our new approach to school improvement which aims to accelerate academic growth for every child, in every class, in every school,’’ she said.

“It is developed from international research and provides customised support to schools based on detailed analysis of what each school’s students need and the trajectory of results over time.

“The new approach will be underpinned by an academy for teaching and leadership excellence which will support our principals and teachers to deliver world-class education.”

Much of the data presented by The Advertiser online over the next three days has been sourced from the Department of Education. Some has been accumulated from school annual reports.

Ms Millard said despite the range of facts and figures available there was no substitute for parents discussing their child’s future directly with chosen schools.

“We recommend taking the time to visit schools on their open days, meet with principals and talk to other local parents to gain an understanding of whether a school is able to cater to your child’s needs,’’ she said.

“It’s also important to visit school websites to understand what special programs are on offer, as well as the zoning and enrolment criteria.”