The site, launched by Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard to create accountability in schools, has been marred in controversy for its use of raw, NAPLAN data which opponents say is too simplistic and casts already-disadvantaged schools in a worse light.

In all the categories ranked on the site_ reading, writing, grammar, spelling and punctuation and numeracy _ Daylesford Primary School failed to reach the average score.

Mr Burke said the raw numbers produced by the NAPLAN data _ a single test taken once a year by children in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 _ did not represent what the school was doing across the board.

"I'm guarded and I'm asking parents to be guarded," he said.

"Raw numbers can be misleading. It doesn't take into account the quality of the teachers, the families' educational backgrounds and all the other things the school is doing: like looking after cultural and social values and having very strong areas in terms of visual and performing

arts."

Mr Burke said the school was not hiding from its results in literacy and numeracy and it had been taking action in these fields.

Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh said she was concerned about the limited nature of the website.

"It's not showing the rich context in which schools are all about," she said.

"Everything's been based on one test which takes a couple of hours to do each year.

"Sometimes this idea of transparency, when it's through a limited test, can really disadvantage schools that are already feeling difficulty."

Ms Leigh has called for the government to put more resources into disadvantaged schools.

"Some of the schools are feeling low and at the moment and it's important to give them some pride,"she said.

She has encouraged parents to view the state's Victorian Training and Qualifications Registry website.

"It has more context on the schools," she said.