Lockwood, Pam2015-09-042015-09-042015-052015-07-10May 2015http://hdl.handle.net/11310/27This paper examines the benchmarking system currently in place for education in the United States of America and suggests innovative ways to synthesize data mining and statistical methods currently used by marketers and businesses to vastly improve educator’s ability to identify struggling students. This research suggest that educators should and can identify students in danger of failing the mandatory state assessments much earlier and with greater accuracy using the new methods available. Although the research makes no attempt to recommend strategies for interventions, it makes enormous leaps in enlightening educators in methods for pinpointing who needs interventions. The exploration suggests that the current system can be improved, and students can be given the assistance needed prior to state-wide examinations.application/pdfen-USBenchmarkBenchmarkingstate-mandated testingNCLBSTAAREOCstate assessmentThesis2015-09-04