Which data categories should be monitored for progress dashboards in a data-driven counseling program?

• A. Academic performance, attendance, behavior, and college/career readiness
• B. Only attendance
• C. Only test scores
• D. Only behavior incidents

Answer: (A)

Tracking progress in a data‑driven counseling program relies on a holistic view of a student’s school experience. The best choice reflects monitoring multiple domains that together show how a student is functioning academically, socially, and in terms of future planning. When you include academic performance, attendance, behavior, and college/career readiness, you capture not only how well they are doing in classes, but also how consistently they show up, how they interact with the school environment, and whether they are preparing for postsecondary steps. This broad view helps counselors spot patterns, target interventions early, and measure the impact of supports over time.

Focusing only on attendance misses academic progress and social-emotional or behavioral factors; relying solely on test scores misses engagement, reliability, and ongoing readiness for the future; and looking only at behavior incidents misses how students are performing academically and whether they are connected to learning goals or future plans.