Data sgp provides an efficient means of organizing longitudinal (time dependent) student assessment data into statistical growth plots. It supports two formats for this data, WIDE and LONG; in WIDE format each case/row represents one student while its columns display variables associated with them at various times; LONG scatters time-dependent variables across multiple data sgp rows per student. Furthermore, this package offers sample datasets in both formats (sgpData_WIDE and sgpData_LONG) to assist users when working with these functions.

The SGP analysis package contains several lower level functions, such as studentGrowthPercentiles and studentGrowthProjections, that use WIDE data format; higher level wrapper functions relying on LONG data format such as studentAchievementPlots are typically easier to work with as they require less preparation and storage if you plan on conducting operational analyses year after year.

sgpData contains six columns; ID provides the unique student identifier while GRADE_2013, GRADE_2014, GRADE_2015, GRADE_2016 and GRADE_2017 provide assessment scores by grade level for individual students. In some instances where testing did not complete five years a missing value (NA) will be displayed instead.

Percentiles provide a useful measure of student performance relative to students with similar prior test scores, or academic peers. Percentiles provide teachers and parents with useful information regarding a student’s growth as they describe a performance using language familiar to many. Although the calculations required to create percentiles are complex, creating this statistic can be simplified into an easily understandable chart that conveys this same data more effectively.

SGP receives atmospheric data primarily through continuous observations collected at its 160-acre Central Facility southeast of Lamont, Oklahoma. Scientists supplement these observations during research field campaigns or through assimilation into Earth system models.

The SGP Data Base compiles information collected by various government and private organizations, making it a vital source for Earth science researchers, while serving as a template for geochemical data storage in the future. Making Earth science data easily available and sharing its metadata are both critical components of effective science policymaking and data collection and maintenance efforts. Making Earth science data freely available will facilitate access and reduce duplicate efforts involved with collecting and maintaining Earth science datasets. It will also assist with data migration into permanent repositories. The SGP data repository is part of the National Science Foundation’s Data Commons project and was designed to allow researchers easily access and analyze Earth science data – including historical as well as newly available pieces – via its web interface. It will become a key part of their National Science Data Infrastructure initiative.