Even before Florence Nightingale diagrammed soldiers' changing mortality rates to save lives, we have seen clever design used to convey statistics and other complex concepts. In the field of education, student data is used extensively, and those who share such data need to ensure this communication is effective. This article is based on education research findings from a quantitative study in which 211 educators' data use was measured under varied conditions. The article (the cover story from Mensa Bulletin: The Magazine of American Mensa) reflects content from a TED Talk the researcher gave at TEDxTUM sharing these findings (see "Why data should be over-the-counter | Jenny Rankin | TEDxTUM"). The study resulted in best practices for data visualization. These best practices (called Over-the-Counter Data Standards) have been shown to double, triple or quadruple (depending on the practice applied) educators' likelihood of understanding the data being displayed. Examples throughout history are used to illustrate the importance of making data "over-the-counter" so it is easy to use, with an emphasis on improving data visualization for educators.