Rate of Improvement
Programming Microsoft Excel to Graph Rate of Improvement: Fall to Winter
*Open Microsoft Excel*
Setting Up Your Spreadsheet
In cell A1, type 3rd Grade ORF
In cell A2, type First Semester
In cell A3, type School Week
In cell A4, type Benchmark
In cell A5, type the Student’s Name (Swiper Example)
Labeling School Weeks
Starting with cell B3, type numbers 1 through 18 going across row 3 (horizontal).
Numbers 1 through 18 represent the number of the school week.
You will end with week 18 in cell S3.
Note: You may choose to enter the date of that school week across row 2 to easily identify the
school week.
Entering Benchmarks (3rd Grade ORF)
In cell B4, type 77. This is your fall benchmark.
In cell S4, type 92. This is your winter benchmark.
Entering Student Data (Sample)
Enter the following numbers, going across row 5, under corresponding week numbers.
Week 1 – 41
Week 8 – 62
Week 9 – 63
Week 10 – 75
Week 11 – 64
Week 12 – 80
Week 13 – 83
Week 14 – 83
Week 15 – 56
Week 17 – 104
Week 18 – 74
Graphing the Data
Highlight cells A4 and A5 through S4 and S5
Follow Excel 2003 or Excel 2007 directions from here
(Excel 2003)
Across the top of your worksheet, click on “Insert”
In that drop-down menu, click on “Chart”
Your chart wizard will appear.
Click on “Line”
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Rate of Improvement
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Make sure the icon is highlighted with the description that reads “Line with markers displayed at
each data value”
Click “Next”
Make sure there you have a mark next to “Rows”
Click “Next”
You can add a Chart Title, and label your X-Axis (School Weeks) and Y-Axis (WPM)
Click “Next”
Decide if you want your graph as an “object in” or “as new sheet”
Click “Finish”
Your graph will appear
(Excel 2007)
Click “Insert”
Find the icon for “Line”
Click the arrow below “Line” which will open a drop-down menu of 6 graphics
Click on “Line with markers”
Your graph appears within your spreadsheet
Graphing the Trendline
On your graph, right click on any one student data point
A drop-down menu will appear
Click on “Add Trendline”
Click on or mark “Linear”
Follow Excel 2003 or 2007 versions
(Excel 2003)
There are two tabs at the top of your wizard, click on “Options”
Check the box next to “Custom”
Then type in a label for your trendline such as Rate of Improvement
Below that section, check the box next to “Display equation on chart”
(Excel 2007)
In the section below the trendline type, mark next to “Custom”
Then type in a label for your trendline such as Rate of Improvement
Below that section, mark next to “Display equation on chart”
...for both versions
Clicking on the equation will highlight a box border around the equation
Clicking on the edge of that border allows you to drag the equation to a different place on the
graph so you can see it better
Graphing Expected Rate of Improvement
On your graph, right click on one of the benchmark data points
Click on “Add Trendline” and follow the same steps as before except label your new line
Expected Rate of Improvement
Rate of Improvement
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Calculating Needed RoI
In cell T3, type Needed RoI
Click on cell T5
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =((S4-B5)/18)
Then hit enter
Your result should read: 2.83333...
This formula simply subtracts the student’s actual beginning of year (BOY) benchmark from the
expected middle of year (MOY) benchmark, then dividing by 18 for the first 18 weeks (1st
semester).
Calculating Actual RoI - Benchmark
In cell U3, type Actual RoI
Click on cell U4
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =SLOPE(B4:S4,B3:S3)
Then hit enter
Your result should read: 0.8825...
This formula considers 18 weeks of benchmark data and provides an average growth or change
per week.
Calculating Actual RoI - Student
Click on cell U5
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =SLOPE(B5:S5,B3:S3)
Then hit enter
Your result should read: 2.5137...
This formula considers 18 weeks of student data and provides an average growth or change per
week.
Rate of Improvement
Programming Microsoft Excel to Graph Rate of Improvement: Winter to Spring
*Click on new worksheet*
Setting Up Your Spreadsheet
In cell A1, type 3rd Grade ORF
In cell A2, type Second Semester
In cell A3, type School Week
In cell A4, type Benchmark
In cell A5, type the Student’s Name (Swiper Example)
Labeling School Weeks
Starting with cell B3, type numbers 1 through 18 going across row 3 (horizontal).
Numbers 1 through 18 represent the number of the school week.
You will end with week 18 in cell S3.
Note: You may choose to enter the date of that school week across row 2 to easily identify the
school week.
Entering Benchmarks (3rd Grade ORF)
In cell B4, type 92. This is your winter benchmark.
In cell S4, type 110. This is your spring benchmark.
Entering Student Data (Sample)
Enter the following numbers, going across row 5, under corresponding week numbers.
Week 1 – 74
Week 3 – 85
Week 4 – 89
Week 5 – 69
Week 6 – 85
Week 7 – 96
Week 8 – 90
Week 9 – 84
Week 10 – 106
Week 11 – 94
Week 15 – 100
Graphing the Data
Highlight cells A4 and A5 through S4 and S5
Follow Excel 2003 or Excel 2007 directions from here
(Excel 2003)
Across the top of your worksheet, click on “Insert”
In that drop-down menu, click on “Chart”
Your chart wizard will appear.
Click on “Line”
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Rate of Improvement
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Make sure the icon is highlighted with the description that reads “Line with markers displayed at
each data value”
Click “Next”
Make sure there you have a mark next to “Rows”
Click “Next”
You can add a Chart Title, and label your X-Axis (School Weeks) and Y-Axis (WPM)
Click “Next”
Decide if you want your graph as an “object in” or “as new sheet”
Click “Finish”
Your graph will appear
(Excel 2007)
Click “Insert”
Find the icon for “Line”
Click the arrow below “Line” which will open a drop-down menu of 6 graphics
Click on “Line with markers”
Your graph appears within your spreadsheet
Graphing the Trendline
On your graph, right click on any one student data point
A drop-down menu will appear
Click on “Add Trendline”
Click on or mark “Linear”
Follow Excel 2003 or 2007 versions
(Excel 2003)
There are two tabs at the top of your wizard, click on “Options”
Check the box next to “Custom”
Then type in a label for your trendline such as Rate of Improvement
Below that section, check the box next to “Display equation on chart”
(Excel 2007)
In the section below the trendline type, mark next to “Custom”
Then type in a label for your trendline such as Rate of Improvement
Below that section, mark next to “Display equation on chart”
...for both versions
Clicking on the equation will highlight a box border around the equation
Clicking on the edge of that border allows you to drag the equation to a different place on the
graph so you can see it better
Graphing Expected Rate of Improvement
On your graph, right click on one of the benchmark data points
Click on “Add Trendline” and follow the same steps as before except label your new line
Expected Rate of Improvement
Rate of Improvement
Calculating Needed RoI
In cell T3, type Needed RoI
Click on cell cell T5
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =((S4-B5)/18)
Then hit enter.
Your result should read: 2
This formula simply subtracts the student’s actual middle of year (MOY) benchmark from the
expected end of year (EOY) benchmark, then dividing by 18 for the first 18 weeks (2nd
semester).
Calculating Actual RoI - Benchmark
In cell U3, type Actual RoI
Click on cell U4
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =SLOPE(B4:S4,B3:S3)
Then hit enter
Your result should read: 1.06
This formula considers 18 weeks of benchmark data and provides an average growth or change
per week.
Calculating Actual RoI - Student
Click on cell U5
In the fx line (at top of sheet) type this formula =SLOPE(B5:S5,B3:S3)
Then hit enter
Your result should read: 1.89
This formula considers 18 weeks of student data and provides an average growth or change per
week.
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