Stanines

Stanines. Stanines are standard scores that divide a distribution of scores into nine parts. Stanines, like percentile ranks, are often reported in norms tables for standardized tests. Stanines are often used in the public schools as a basis for ability grouping, and they are used also as a criterion for selecting students for special programs. For example, on the one hand, a remediation program may select students who scored in the first and second stanine on a standardized reading test. On the other hand, a gifted program may select students who scored in the eighth and ninth stanine. Like percentile ranks, the use of stanines is a reporting device that is understandable to most lay people.