Helper Functions
Data Related
make_mobility()
Calculates grade-to-grade student transitions (leave, join, stay) between two years for a specified cohort, based on the presence (or absence) of a student ID in the dataset.
make_achievement_levels()
Categorizes student performance into achievement levels based on provided test scores and predefined cut scores.
make_proficiency_levels()
Assigns students a binary proficiency category (e.g., proficient vs. not proficient) by classifying the top n achievement levels as “proficient” and the rest as “not proficient.”
make_first_entered()
Identifies the first year and grade level that each student appears in the dataset.
Format Related
normalize_grade()
Converts character-based grade labels (e.g., “K”, “PreK”) into standardized numeric grade values to support consistent analysis.