A system and method for predicting performance on an assessment and guiding users to take actions to accelerate learning and thereby improve performance on an assessment, as well as providing teacher evaluations, using the Zone of Proximal Development as the driver for understanding the value of prioritizing concepts. Student growth potential is calculated based on concepts most primed for growth as measured by the Zone of Proximal Development and made available to educators and instructors. Concepts are ranked based on priority driven by the ability to impact student growth as assessed in the given concept. Statistics on the relevance of current concepts for future concepts are also calculated and made available.