Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System

Bloomington Public Schools uses Minnesota’s Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System (SLEDS) to help achieve our mission to prepare students to thrive in our rapidly changing world.

We study SLEDS data to see beyond our students’ graduation from high school and learn how they are doing. Through this study, we can improve our programming and support systems to better prepare students for life after high school.

SLEDS data is also used to improve our students' Personal Growth Plans.  

Our goal is to develop a graduate longitudinal data system (GLDS) that connects the PGP with SLEDS data to help us with research and program improvement.

SLEDS in BPS

Longitudinal data connects K-12 data with higher education and employment data. Bloomington Public Schools’ analysis of longitudinal data has revealed these indicators:

  • ACT composite score of 19 or better predicts enrollment at a four-year college.
  • Weighted GPA of 3.4 or higher predicts enrollment at a four-year college.
  • Weighted GPA of 3.5 or higher predicts finishing four-year college with a degree or certificate in six years.
  • Weighted GPA of 3.2 or higher predicts finishing two-year or technical college with a degree or certificate in six years.
    • Less than 50 percent of students in 2008 had GPA of 3.2 or above.
  • There is a significant discrepancy in college and career readiness among various ethnic and income level groups.