Beginning with 2002-03 until 2007-08, DPI-defined advanced courses included foreign language courses at the third year or higher and DPI-identified advanced level high school courses in science (e.g. 126-312 Chemistry, 2nd year, Advanced), math (e.g. 124-330 Calculus and Analytic Geometry), and computer science (e.g. 180-102 Advanced Computer Science).

Prior to 2002-03, lower level foreign language courses were also counted so the number of DPI-defined advanced foreign language courses offered by a district may have decreased in 2002-03.

Beginning with the 1998-99 school term, a dropout for the reported school term is a student who was enrolled in school at some time during that school term, was not enrolled at the beginning of the next school term (third Friday in September), has not completed high school, and does not meet any of the following exclusionary conditions:

• transfer to another public school district, private school, or state- or district-approved educational program;
• temporary absence due to expulsion, suspension or school-approved illness;
• death.

Prior to the 1998-99 school term, a dropout for the reported school term is a student not attending school and who should be, and who hasn't received a diploma or been granted a diploma for completion of a state- or district-approved educational program. A student is not considered a dropout if he or she meets one of the following exclusions:

• transfer,
• excused absence,
• imprisonment,
• hospitalization, or
• death.

Dropouts are reported for grades seven through 12.

Prior to 2003-04, the dropout rate was the number of dropouts divided by the number of students enrolled on the fall enrollment count date, expressed as a percentage.

Prior to the 2006-07 school year, enrollment counts by student demographic group came from several sources. Counts for limited English proficient students were as of spring semester. All other counts were fall counts but dates of counting varied by student group.

Beginning with the 2006-07 school year, all counts labeled as "enrollment" on WINSS with the exception of WSAS enrollment counts, are as of the 3rd Friday of September and come from the Individual Student Enrollment System (ISES). See Third Friday Enrollment.

For WSAS reporting purposes enrollment has been and continues to be as of the time of fall testing.

Beginning with the 1998-99 school year: A student who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse [s.118.16(4) and s.118.15] for part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a semester. The habitual truancy rate is the number of habitual truants, divided by Kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment, counted on the 3rd Friday in September of the school year, expressed as a percentage.

Prior to the 1998-99 school year: A student who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse [s.118.16(4) and s.118.15] for part of all of five or more days out of 10 consecutive days on which school is held during a semester or part or all of 10 or more days on which school is held during a school semester. The habitual truancy rate is the number of habitual truants divided by the third Friday enrollment and expressed as a percentage.

This sum may be more or less than the "total enrollment" because "total enrollment" is as of the fall count date and "students expected to complete the school term" is fall enrollment adjusted for in and out transfers and summer dropouts. Tracking of in and out transfers and dropouts first became possible in 2004 with the implementation of the Individual Student Enrollment System.