About the Wyoming School District Scorecard

In addition to category scores and letter grades, the scorecard includes a statewide district ranking to help readers quickly compare districts across Wyoming.

Districts are ranked from 1 to 48 based on each district’s Overall Performance Score. The district with the highest Overall Performance Score receives the highest ranking. The ranking is based on the same academic, financial, and accountability metrics used to calculate the district’s overall score.

Because the ranking is comparative, it should not be read by itself as a determination that a district is performing successfully or meeting all expectations. A higher ranking means the district performed better than other Wyoming districts under this scorecard’s metrics, but readers should review the district’s letter grades, category scores, and individual metric results for fuller context.

If two or more districts have the same Overall Performance Score, Academic Score is used as the tiebreaker. The district with the higher Academic Score receives the higher ranking.

The Financial Efficiency category evaluates how school districts allocate financial resources and how effectively those resources support student outcomes.
Financial resources are an important component of public education, but spending alone does not guarantee academic success. The Financial Score examines how districts prioritize instructional spending, manage non-instructional expenditures, and convert financial resources into measurable academic outcomes.
The goal of the Financial Efficiency category is not simply to identify districts that spend more or less money. Rather, it seeks to evaluate how effectively available resources are directed toward the educational mission of the district while promoting transparency, accountability, and responsible fiscal management of public funds.
Financial data is obtained from publicly available Wyoming Department of Education District Financial Profile Reports and related Wyoming Department of Education reporting systems.
In addition to the Financial Score metrics described below, district scorecards report several financial context metrics, including enrollment, revenues, funding sources, and spending information. These context metrics provide additional information regarding district finances but do not directly contribute to the Financial Grade. Definitions, formulas, and data sources for all financial context metrics are available in the Scorecard Glossary.
The Financial Score is based on three metrics:
• Instructional Spending Percentage
• Non-Instructional Spending per Student
• Cost per Prepared Graduate
Additional information regarding score calculation, grade conversion, and overall score determination is provided in the Score Calculation and Grading section of this document.
The Financial Efficiency category relies on expenditure classifications already established and reported by the Wyoming Department of Education. The scorecard does not independently determine whether expenditures are classified as instructional or non-instructional. Instead, it uses the expenditure categories and accounting classifications reported in official Wyoming Department of Education financial reports.
This approach promotes consistency, transparency, and independent verification by relying on existing state reporting standards rather than creating new expenditure classifications.

Instructional Spending Percentage
Instructional Spending Percentage measures the share of district expenditures devoted directly to classroom instruction.
Instructional expenditures include teaching staff, classroom activities, and other costs reported within the Wyoming Department of Education’s instructional expenditure classifications.
Instructional expenditures are identified using Wyoming Department of Education financial reporting classifications and accounting codes. The scorecard uses these existing classifications and does not independently determine which expenditures are instructional.
How It Is Calculated
Instructional Spending Percentage is calculated by dividing instructional expenditures by total district expenditures.
Formula:
Instructional Spending Percentage = Instructional Expenditures ÷ Total Expenditures and Other Outlay
Why It Is Included
The primary mission of a school district is educating students. This metric evaluates how much of a district’s spending is directed toward classroom instruction and student learning.
While school districts must fund a variety of operational and support functions, taxpayers and families reasonably expect a significant portion of education funding to support direct instructional activities. This metric helps assess how closely district spending priorities align with that mission.
Data Source
Wyoming Department of Education District Financial Profile Reports

Non-Instructional Spending per Student
Non-Instructional Spending per Student measures the amount of district spending devoted to activities outside direct classroom instruction on a per-student basis.
Non-instructional expenditures may include administration, operations, maintenance, transportation, and other functions not classified as instructional spending by the Wyoming Department of Education’s instructional expenditure classifications.
Non-instructional expenditures are identified using Wyoming Department of Education financial reporting classifications and accounting codes. The scorecard uses these existing classifications and does not independently determine which expenditures are non-instructional.
How It Is Calculated
The scorecard first calculates total non-instructional spending by subtracting instructional expenditures from total expenditures.
Formula:
Non-Instructional Spending = Total Expenditures and Other Outlay − Instructional Expenditures
The resulting amount is then divided by Average Daily Membership (ADM).
Why It Is Included
This metric helps evaluate how efficiently districts manage non-instructional expenditures while providing additional context regarding spending priorities and resource allocation.
Data Source
Derived from Wyoming Department of Education District Financial Profile Reports

Cost per Prepared Graduate
Cost per Prepared Graduate is a derived metric that estimates the level of spending associated with producing an academically prepared graduate.
Unlike traditional spending measures, this metric combines financial data with academic outcomes. It is intended to provide a broader view of financial efficiency by examining how spending relates to student readiness rather than spending levels alone.
How It Is Calculated
The scorecard first calculates Per-Pupil funding by dividing Total Revenues and Other Sources by Average Daily Membership (ADM).
Formula:
Per-Pupil Funding = Total Revenues and Other Sources ÷ ADM
The scorecard then uses the district’s Adjusted Graduation Rate, which estimates the percentage of students who both graduate and demonstrate academic proficiency.
Formula:
Cost per Prepared Graduate = Per-Pupil Funding ÷ (Adjusted Graduation Rate % ÷ 100)
Why It Is Included
Financial efficiency cannot be fully evaluated by examining spending alone. Districts may spend similar amounts while producing significantly different academic outcomes.
Cost per Prepared Graduate connects spending with student readiness by estimating the financial resources associated with producing graduates who both complete high school and demonstrate academic proficiency. This metric helps provide a more complete picture of educational return on investment while recognizing that graduation and academic preparedness are both important outcomes.
Data Source
Derived from Wyoming Department of Education District Financial Profile Reports, Wyoming Department of Education Assessment Reports, and Wyoming Department of Education Graduation Reports.

The Accountability category evaluates the extent to which district schools meet Wyoming state performance expectations. Accountability metrics are based on the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA), the statewide accountability framework established by the Wyoming Legislature and implemented through the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE).
Under the WAEA, schools are evaluated using multiple measures of performance and assigned one of four overall school performance ratings:

• Exceeding Expectations
• Meeting Expectations
• Partially Meeting Expectations
• Not Meeting Expectations

The scorecard does not create or modify these classifications. Instead, it uses the publicly reported Wyoming Department of Education school performance ratings established under the WAEA to evaluate district-level accountability outcomes.
The Accountability category is based on two metrics:

• Schools Meeting State Standards (%)
• Schools Below State Standards (%)

Additional information regarding score calculation, grade conversion, and overall score determination is provided in the Score Calculation and Grading section of this document.

Schools Meeting State Standards (%)
This metric measures the percentage of district schools that meet or exceed Wyoming’s state performance expectations.
How It Is Calculated
The metric combines schools classified as Exceeding Expectations and Meeting Expectations and divides that total by the number of schools within the district.
Formula:
Schools Meeting State Standards (%) = (Exceeding Expectations Schools + Meeting Expectations Schools) ÷ Total Schools
Why It Is Included
The Wyoming accountability system is designed to identify schools that are successfully meeting state performance expectations. This metric provides a district-level measure of the percentage of schools achieving those standards.
Data Source
Wyoming Department of Education School Performance Reports.

Schools Below State Standards (%)
This metric measures the percentage of district schools performing below Wyoming’s state performance expectations.
How It Is Calculated
The metric combines schools classified as Partially Meeting Expectations and Not Meeting Expectations and divides that total by the number of schools within the district.
Formula:
Schools Below State Standards (%) = (Partially Meeting Expectations Schools + Not Meeting Expectations Schools) ÷ Total Schools
Why It Is Included
While schools may vary in performance, districts with fewer schools below state expectations generally demonstrate stronger overall accountability outcomes. This metric provides additional context regarding the extent to which schools within a district are meeting statewide performance standards.
Data Source
Wyoming Department of Education School Performance Reports.

The Wyoming School District Scorecard uses a weighted points-based system to evaluate district performance across three scored categories: Academic Performance, Financial Performance, and Accountability Performance.
The scorecard was intentionally designed using fixed performance standards rather than percentile rankings or relative comparisons. Under a percentile-based system, a district can receive a favorable rating simply because it performed better than other districts, even when overall performance remains weak.
The purpose of this scorecard is to measure performance against consistent expectations, not against the performance of neighboring districts.
This approach helps ensure that each district is evaluated on its own results. A district should not receive a high rating merely because it is underperforming less severely than others.
Each district earns points based on publicly reported performance data. Those points are then converted into category score percentages and letter grades. The same percentage-based grading scale is used for each scored category and for the Overall Score.
Transparency is reported separately and does not affect the Academic Performance, Financial Performance, Accountability, or Overall Score.

Category Weights
The scorecard consists of three scored categories.
Category Maximum Points
Academic Performance 50
Financial Performance 30
Accountability 20
Overall Score 100
These category weights reflect the scorecard’s emphasis on student outcomes while also recognizing the importance of sound fiscal management and district accountability.
Academic Performance receives the greatest weight because student learning, readiness, and graduation outcomes represent the core purpose of public education. Financial Performance is evaluated separately to assess how effectively public resources are allocated and utilized in support of those academic goals.
Accountability measures district-wide educational effectiveness by examining how well schools perform under the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA) system.

Metric Point Weights
Each scored category is made up of individual metrics. Each metric receives a maximum point value based on its role within the category.
Point values are used to balance individual indicators within the larger scorecard framework. Broader measures of district-wide outcomes or cumulative student readiness generally receive more weight than individual grade-level indicators because they reflect performance across multiple years of instruction.

Academic Performance
Metric Maximum Points Available
3rd Grade ELA Proficiency 3
3rd Grade Math Proficiency 3
8th Grade ELA Proficiency 4
8th Grade Math Proficiency 4
10th Grade ELA Proficiency 5
10th Grade Math Proficiency 5
High School Academic Proficiency 6
ACT Performance 6
Graduation Rate 4
Graduates Not Academically Prepared 4
Adjusted Graduation Rate 6
Total Academic Points 50
Because Wyoming law requires a statewide college readiness assessment and designates the ACT as the assessment administered to Wyoming students, ACT Performance is included as an academic metric within the scorecard. ACT Performance Scoring use the ACT’s College and Career Readiness framework as its foundation rather than percentage-based cutoffs.
ACT benchmarks, designed by ACT, indicate whether students are prepared for common first-year college coursework. Districts earn full points for an average composite score of 25 or higher, with partial points awarded in descending tiers for scores from 21 to 24.99, 18 to 20.99, and 16 to 17.99. Districts receive zero points for average composite scores below 16.
This approach reflects ACT’s established readiness framework while providing a clear and transparent scoring structure for Wyoming public schools. ACT Performance is the only academic metric that uses a score-based scale rather than percentage-based performance thresholds.

Financial Performance
Metric Maximum Points Available
Instructional Spending Percentage 8
Non-Instructional Spending per Student 8
Cost per Prepared Graduate 14
Total Financial Points 30
The scorecard does not independently decide which expenditures are instructional or non-instructional. Those classifications are based on Wyoming Department of Education accounting codes and the state’s school financial reporting framework. The scorecard uses the expenditure classifications reported through Wyoming’s official school finance accounting system.

Accountability
Metric Maximum Points Available
Schools Meeting State Standards 10
Schools Below State Standards 10
Total Accountability Points 20
Accountability metrics use school performance ratings reported by the Wyoming Department of Education under the Wyoming Accountability in Education Act (WAEA).
As Wyoming’s official school accountability framework, these ratings provide a public measure of whether schools are meeting the educational expectations established by the state and offer an important indicator of how effectively districts are supporting student achievement across their schools.

Point Assignment Structure
Most scorecard metrics use consistent performance thresholds. The number of points awarded depends on the maximum point value assigned to that metric.
A metric earns its full point value when it reaches the highest performance threshold. Reduced points, including half-points where applicable, are awarded as performance moves through lower performance bands. Metrics receive no points when performance falls below the minimum threshold.
This structure allows the scorecard to use consistent performance expectations while still preserving the intended weight of each metric.
For example, a metric worth 3 points and a metric worth 10 points may use the same general threshold structure, but the higher-weighted metric contributes more points toward the category score.
The exact point values for each metric are shown in the applicable scoring tables. Some metrics use modified thresholds because they are measured differently. For example, ACT Performance uses ACT score ranges, and some financial efficiency metrics use dollar-based thresholds rather than percentage-based thresholds.
Some metrics are reverse scored because lower values indicate stronger performance. These include metrics such as Graduates Not Academically Prepared, Non-Instructional Spending per Student, Cost per Prepared Graduate, and Schools Below State Standards. In reverse-scored metrics, districts receive more points when the reported value is lower.

Converting Points to Scores and Grades
Each category contains a different number of possible points. Academic Performance is worth 50 points, Financial Performance is worth 30 points, and Accountability is worth 20 points.
To allow consistent interpretation across categories, earned points are converted into percentages.
Category Score Percentage = Earned Points ÷ Possible Points
For example:
• Academic Score = Academic Points Earned ÷ 50
• Financial Score = Financial Points Earned ÷ 30
• Accountability Score = Accountability Points Earned ÷ 20
These percentages are then used to assign letter grades for each category.
The same grading scale is used throughout the scorecard.
Score Percentage Grade
85% – 100% A
75% – 84.99% B
65% – 74.99% C
50% – 64.99% D
Below 50% F
For example, a district earning 38 out of 50 Academic Performance points would receive an Academic Score of 76%.
38 ÷ 50 = 76%
A 76% Academic Score results in an Academic Grade of B.

Overall Grade Calculation
The Overall Grade is calculated by combining all earned points from Academic Performance, Financial Performance, and Accountability.
Overall Score (%) = Academic Points + Financial Points + Accountability Points
Because the three scored categories total 100 possible points, the total points earned directly correspond to the Overall Score percentage.
For example, a district earns:

• Academic Performance: 38 points
• Financial Performance: 22 points
• Accountability: 16 points
  Total earned points:
  38 + 22 + 16 = 76
  Overall Score:
  76 ÷ 100 = 76%
  A score of 76% results in an Overall Grade of B.

Overall Score Grade
85% – 100% A
75% – 84.99% B
65% – 74.99% C
50% – 64.99% D
Below 50% F

Reporting Exceptions
The scorecard relies on publicly reported data. In limited circumstances, public reporting may include suppressed results, accountability exclusions, or data year adjustments.
Suppressed Data
The Wyoming Department of Education regularly suppresses certain results to protect student confidentiality when student populations fall below reporting thresholds.
Instead, reports may provide threshold-based values, ranges, or other limited reporting indicators rather than specific results.
When threshold-based values are reported, the scorecard uses the publicly reported value provided by the Wyoming Department of Education for calculation purposes. When multi-year averages are used and one or more years are not reported as exact values, calculations are based on the publicly available information provided within the state’s reporting system.
The scorecard does not estimate, reconstruct, or independently calculate unpublished student-level results.
Accountability Exclusions
Some schools may be designated as “Under Review” within Wyoming’s accountability system and do not receive a publicly reported accountability rating.
Because no accountability classification is published for these schools, they are excluded from district accountability calculations. The scorecard follows the Wyoming Department of Education’s published accountability reporting and does not independently assign ratings to schools under review.
Data Year Limitations
In rare circumstances, publicly reported financial data may contain extraordinary one-time events or reporting anomalies that substantially distort operational comparisons.
When such conditions exist, the scorecard utilizes the most recent comparable reporting year in order to maintain consistency and accuracy.
Any district-specific adjustments are publicly disclosed within the scorecard methodology and district supporting documentation.

The Wyoming School District Scorecard relies exclusively on publicly available information published by government agencies and school districts. Data is drawn from official reports, accountability systems, financial disclosures, district publications, board policies, and other publicly accessible records.

Primary sources include:

• Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) accountability and assessment reports
• Wyoming Department of Education district profile reports
• Federal graduation rate reports
• ACT performance data published by the Wyoming Department of Education
• School district websites and publicly available board policies
• District curriculum, instructional material, and transparency disclosures
• Public budget, financial, and expenditure reports
• Other official government or district publications relevant to scorecard metrics

The Scorecard uses publicly reported data as published by the originating source. Data is not estimated, reconstructed, or supplemented with unpublished student-level information.

Government agencies and school districts periodically update report formats, publication locations, and reporting systems, report titles, web addresses, and document locations may change over time. Where applicable, source links are provided throughout this methodology and within metric definitions. However, readers should rely on the identified source documents and reporting systems rather than any specific web address, as publication locations may change after this methodology is published.

Additional information regarding reporting limitations, suppressed data, accountability review exclusions, and other special reporting circumstances is provided in the Reporting Exceptions and Limitations section of this methodology.