Frequently Asked Questions

Educentric has adapted the North Star Metric (NSM) framework for K-12 schools to foster breakthrough performance. The NSM aligns your school’s Core Purpose, Value Proposition, and Priority Objectives, serving as a guiding beacon. It helps you transition from your current state to achieving your ultimate goals—such as moving from a ‘D’ to a ‘B’ rated school or becoming the high school that awards the most International Baccalaureate diplomas in the state.

Breakthrough performance refers to significant, transformative improvements in student outcomes that far exceed typical expectations. It is not about minor gains of one to three points; instead, it represents a substantial positive shift toward a school’s key metrics, which are essential for achieving its Value Proposition as outlined in the NSM (North Star Metric) framework. For instance, if a school currently has 35% of its students reading at grade level and aims to reach 65% within three years (65% being the NSM), the school should compare this year’s literacy test results with those from the previous year. A one-to-three-point increase would indicate incremental change. However, if there is a substantial improvement of one and a half to two standard deviations, that would qualify as breakthrough performance. Essentially, breakthrough performance signifies a major leap in achievement that significantly enhances overall student success.

Educentric provides a strategic framework that helps schools improve their education quality by aligning their actions with their core value proposition and their main goal (their North Star Metric). The framework guides schools to define objectives, strategies, tactics, and metrics to overcome the challenges that hinder their progress towards their NSM.

Educentric values the input of teachers and parents, who are often ignored in school improvement initiatives. It seeks to understand their views on the school’s current situation and their vision for the school’s future. The end-of-year survey is used to assess whether the breakthrough performance efforts have increased their satisfaction and positive perceptions of the school.

Lagging indicators—such as graduation rates and test scores—reflect past performance and are essential for assessing the effectiveness of previous strategies. Understanding these metrics helps schools identify where improvements are necessary. For instance, if graduation rates are low, it signals a need to examine academic support services or student engagement initiatives.

An Accountability Navigator is a skilled education professional who acts as a school’s improvement coach. Every school has a Navigator who assists its breakthrough team by having regular virtual meetings with them to help them stay on track and advance towards their NSM. They also provide valuable executive coaching for the school principal.

Leading indicators, such as student attendance and office referrals, provide early signals about future performance. Monitoring these metrics allows schools, to proactively, address potential issues—like intervening when attendance drops—to ensure they stay on track to meet their goals before challenges escalate.

Yes. The framework is a powerful tool to help any school achieve breakthrough performance. Educentric can help schools that already have high-performing students to raise their standards even higher. It is an excellent model to assist new or challenged principals. One underperforming school boosted its math achievement by 30 percentile points on average in three years—eliminating its math achievement gap. Districts have used it to reduce student attrition to other choice options and improve teacher turnover.

At Educentric, we help your schools improve their performance by using the North Star framework, a business model adapted for K-12 use that aligns the school’s value proposition, priority objectives, strategies, to help the schools achieve its most important measure of success. We offer a range of services, such as training, coaching, surveying, and monitoring, to help schools create breakthrough performance. But how can Educentric help your school’s return on investment (ROI)? Let’s look at some facts and figures: The average cost of losing and replacing a teacher in the U.S. is $21,000, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The average spending per student in public schools in the U.S. is approximately $14,000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and varies by state. Teacher turnover and student attrition are much higher in low-performing schools than in high-performing schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Now, let’s do some math: When Educentric helps your school retain three teachers who would otherwise leave, you save $63,000 in turnover costs. When Educentric helps your school keep five students who would otherwise drop out or transfer, you save $70,000 in funding losses. That means Educentric’s services pay for themselves and more. But that’s not all. Educentric’s services also have long-term benefits for your school, such as: Higher student achievement and quality, as measured by test scores, graduation rates, college readiness, and other indicators. Higher student engagement and satisfaction, as reflected by attendance, behavior, feedback, and retention. Higher teacher collaboration and innovation, as evidenced by professional development, best practices, challenges, and retention. Higher school reputation and brand value, as demonstrated by improved ratings, increased alumni support, and increased property values. And these benefits translate into higher lifetime value for your students, who will have better opportunities and outcomes in their careers and lives.