Understanding Data About Postgraduation Plans

Cautions | Definitions | Calculating Rates | Sources of Data | Using WINSS

Caution

Counts of postgraduation plans and counts of graduates are used together in calculating percents for this topic, but these counts come from different collections. Postgraduation plans are part of the School Performance Report (SPR) aggregate collection. Graduates are collected in the Individual Student Enrollment System (ISES). For some schools or student groups, the number of plans submitted for graduating seniors is not equal to the number of graduates. At best, plans reported as a percent of graduates must be interpreted as estimates.

How is "postgraduation plans" defined?

Postgraduation plans are plans 12th graders say they will follow after graduation. Students are given the following options:

• Four-Year College or University: Student checking this box intends to enroll in a college or university to earn a baccalaureate degree. This includes students intending to enroll at a two-year center in the University of Wisconsin System.
• Vocational or Technical College: Student checking this box intends to enroll in a vocational or technical college that offers education in a semi-skilled, skilled, or technical occupation and results in an associate degree. Studies prepare the student to enter the job market and be productive with a minimum of additional training on the job. For purposes of the School Performance Report, junior colleges and community colleges should be included in this category. Programs can be six months or less, one year, or two years in duration.
• Employment: Student checking this box has already secured employment after high school graduation. Employment is career-oriented and does not include a summer job prior to enrolling in a technical college, junior or community college, or college/university.
• Enlist in the Military: Student checking this box intends to enlist in some branch of military service after graduation from high school (i.e., U.S. Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines).
• Job Training Program: Student checking this box intends to complete a job training program begun while in high school that prepares the student for a variety of job opportunities in a specialized field. Programs include completion of a youth apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship, Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), etc.
• Seeking Employment: Student checking this box intends to seek career-oriented employment following graduation from high school. This does not include summer employment prior to enrolling in a technical college, junior or community college, or college/university.
• Other. Other is anything not already defined.
• Undecided. Student, at this time, has not decided what to do following graduation.
• No Response. Surveys that are not returned or not completed should be tallied in this category.

Graduates included in the "miscellaneous" category on WINSS include students in the "seeking employment," "other," "undecided," and "no response" categories.

How are the percents calculated?

WI School Performance Report (WI-SPR) law requires the reporting of the percentage of graduates enrolling in postsecondary educational programs and percentage of graduates entering the workforce. In other words the numerator is number of students with these plans and the denominator is the number of graduates.

Beginning with 2003-04, postgraduation plans and graduates have been included in separate data collections, the SPR aggregate collection and ISES respectively. As a result, for some schools or student groups, the number of plans is not equal to the number of graduates. Consequently, beginning with 2003-04, the denominators and numerators used in calculating percents have been determined as follows:

• If the number of graduates submitted in ISES is equal to the number of students with postgraduation plans submitted in SPR, then the denominator is the number of graduates (or number of plans since they are equal). The numerator is the number of students submitted in SPR as selecting the specified postgraduation option.
• If the number of graduates submitted in ISES is greater than the number of students with postgraduation plans submitted in SPR, then the denominator is the number of graduates. The numerator is the number of students submitted in SPR as selecting the specified postgraduation option with one exception, the "no response" option. The count of students with "no response" would be increased by the difference between the number of graduates and the number of postgraduation plans. Because "no response" is one of the options included in the "miscellaneous" category, this difference is also added to the postgraduation option "miscellaneous."
• If the number of graduates submitted in ISES is less than the number of students with postgraduation plans submitted in SPR, then the denominator is the number of students with postgraduation plans submitted in SPR. The numerator is the number of students submitted in SPR as selecting the specified postgraduation option. Graduates is not used in calculating percents in this case because we have no way of knowing which students reporting plans were not graduates.

Where do the data come from?

Postgraduation plans are collected and summarized by districts and submitted to DPI by school and by ethnic/gender category for all graduates as part of the SPR Collection.

Beginning with 2003-04, graduates are collected by the Individual Student Enrollment System (ISES). Prior to 2003-04, counts of graduates came from the SPR Collection.

Where can I get more information about using data on WINSS?

For more information about the WINSS Data Analysis Section, see Data Analysis Section - Frequently Asked Questions and/or Tips for First-time Users of the Data Analysis Section

Postgraduation plans are reported annually by public schools through the School Performance Report (SPR). For more information about SPR requirements in state law see s. 115.38, stats. Questions or comments regarding the School Performance Report should be directed to the SPR Coordinator, (608) 267-3166.

See the Data Errata page for corrections submitted by school districts after final publication of WINSS and other reports.

For questions about this information, contact dpistats@dpi.wi.gov (608) 267-3166

Last updated on 12/15/2011 4:30:08 PM