How Select Tests and Select Classes Work Together in Data Studio

This article explains how the Select Classes and Select Tests filters function in Data Studio reports, including how they determine the student population and the assessment results displayed. It also outlines the order in which the filters are applied and how their interaction affects cohort analysis and report interpretation. This guidance applies across all reports, with Performance Trends used as the reference example.

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How the Filters Work

Data Studio filters serve two different purposes and are applied in a specific order:

• Select Classes sets the student population
• Select Tests filters the assessment results for those

In simple terms:

• Select Classes = who is included
• Select Tests = which assessments and time period are shown

The student group remains fixed unless the class or class year is changed.

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Select Classes: Defines the Students

Selecting a class and class year determines the group of students included in the report. The report will only display students who were enrolled in that class during the chosen academic year. Key points:

• Only one class year can be selected at a time
• The selected class year controls the student list
• Students outside the selected class will not appear

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Select Tests: Defines the Assessment Data

Select Tests controls which assessment results are shown for the selected students. You can refine results by test year, subject, type, and grade level. Key points:

• Multiple test years can be selected
• Test filters do not change the student population
• If a student did not take a test in the selected year, no results will display

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How They Work Together

Example:

• Select Class Year: 2022–2023
• Select Test Year: 2024–2025

The report will show:

• Students who were in the selected class during 2022–2023
• Their available test results from 2024–2025

This setup supports cohort tracking, allowing you to review how the same group performed in later years.

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Why Results May Look Unexpected

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Missing Students

Students may not appear if they were not enrolled in the selected class year or did not take a test in the selected test year.

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Newer Test Results with Older Class Years

The class year defines the cohort. The test year defines when the assessment was taken. Students can have results from years after the selected class year.

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Changing Test Year Does Not Change Students

Adjusting the test year updates assessment results only. The student list remains the same until the class or class year is changed.

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Recommended Ways to Use the Filters

To view current performance

• Select the current class year
• Select the current test year

To track progress over time

• Select one class year
• Adjust the test year(s) to review results across different years

To analyze a past cohort

• Select a historical class year
• Choose later test years to see how that group performed over time

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Applicability Across Reports

While this article references Performance Trends, the same filter behavior applies to all Data Studio reports, including Domain Analysis and Whole Learner, etc.. Across reports, Select Classes defines the students, and Select Tests defines the assessment data displayed.

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FAQs

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Can I Select Multiple Class Years?

No. Only one class year can be selected at a time.

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Can I Select Multiple Test Years?

Yes. Multiple test years can be selected for longitudinal analysis.

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Why Don’t I See Data for Some Students?

This typically means the student either was not in the selected class year or did not take the selected test during the chosen test year.

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Why Does the Student List Look Different Than Expected?

The student list is controlled by Select Classes, not the test filters. If the class year is set to a different academic year than expected, the report will show a different group of students even if the test year is correct. Always review the selected class and class year first when verifying which students are included.