Oakland, CA (July 31, 2025) — GreatSchools, the leading nonprofit provider of K–12 school information, today announced updates to its school ratings, including the introduction of a new feature designed to help families easily identify schools that serve all students well.

“Our goal is always to give families useful, high-quality education information as they make important decisions around their child’s learning,” said GreatSchools CEO Jon Deane. “These changes reflect what we often hear from parents: a desire for a simpler experience that allows them to prioritize what matters most to their family.”

The changes are part of GreatSchools’ ongoing effort to present the most complete view of school quality, based on research and user feedback. Key updates include:

• A new academic success indicator, which highlights schools demonstrating strong academic outcomes for students from all backgrounds. This feature replaces the former Equity Rating, offering a clearer and more streamlined way for families to identify schools where students of different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups are thriving. Disaggregated student group data remains available on school profiles to support transparency and informed decision-making, though it no longer factors into the overall GreatSchools Rating.
  
• Broader eligibility requirements for the GreatSchools Rating, allowing families in states with limited available data to still access meaningful school information. Any school with at least one themed rating (Student Progress, Test Scores, or College Readiness) now qualifies for a GreatSchools Rating.

GreatSchools is the only national nonprofit that collects and analyzes publicly available data from all 50 state departments of education, the District of Columbia, and the federal government to provide insights and school quality ratings. The organization regularly collaborates with researchers, parents, and education experts to evolve its ratings methodology, which offers a snapshot of school quality based on student growth, academic performance, and preparation for postsecondary success.

These refinements align with GreatSchools’ status as a parent-centered resource that believes that schools should serve all students well. The new indicator — coupled with the disaggregated student group data that remains on profiles, when available — offers a clearer view into how schools are serving different student groups without the added complexity of a separate numeric rating.

Learn more about GreatSchools ratings and how schools earn the academic outcomes indicator.

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About GreatSchools:
GreatSchools is the leading nonprofit providing high-quality information that supports parents pursuing a great education for their child, schools striving for excellence, and communities working to diminish inequities in education. We are the only national organization that collects and analyzes data from all 51 state departments of education and the federal government to provide analysis, insights, and school quality ratings for parents, partners, researchers, and policymakers. Nearly half of all K–12 families visit GreatSchools’ award-winning website annually to learn about schools in their area, explore research insights, and access thousands of free, evidence-based parenting resources to support their child’s learning and well-being. Learn more at GreatSchools.org and join us on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.