Using data analytics to benchmark schools: the case of Portugal

In the majority of European countries, the evaluation of schools is at the heart of the educational system as a means to guarantee the quality of education. Every year, in most countries around the world, students perform national exams. Their results are analyzed by several stakeholders, including governmental agencies, the media, and researchers on educational issues. At present, advances in information and communication technology (ICT) and data analysis techniques allow schools to make use of massive amounts of data in their daily management. This chapter focuses in particular on the use of students’  data to benchmark schools. It illustrates the potential contribution of the information gathered and analyzed through data analytics to promote the continuous improvement of schools’  educational processes.