6 days ago
2025 ILEARN reading scores remain flat for 5th straight year while Indiana math scores improve: Find out how your school fared
Indiana ILEARN 2025 results show flat reading scores and rising maths proficiency
SAT and ILEARN 2025 results:
Indiana's 2025 ILEARN results show continued stagnation in reading proficiency while students made gains in mathematics, according to the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).
The results,
based on spring 2025 testing
, indicate that reading scores across grades 3 to 8 have remained largely unchanged for five consecutive years, even after major state-level interventions and funding.
The English/Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rate for 2025 stood at 40.6 percent—only 0.1 percentage point higher than in 2021. In contrast, mathematics proficiency rose to 42.1 percent, an increase of 5.2 percentage points since 2021, according to IDOE's official data release.
Statewide trends in reading and mathematics
The results highlight a notable divergence between student outcomes in ELA and mathematics. While ELA performance showed a minor improvement from 40.5 percent in 2021 to 40.6 percent in 2025, mathematics scores rose more significantly, from 36.9 percent in 2021 to 42.1 percent in 2025.
As reported by IDOE, Indiana Governor Mike Braun acknowledged the trend, stating, "While we continue to see students growing in math proficiency, this year's results remind us all of the need to continue our focus in both early and adolescent literacy."
According to Indiana Secretary of Education Dr Katie Jenner, there is "an urgent need to support middle school students in English/language arts." She added that the ILEARN redesign will help provide "a beginning, middle and end-of-year look at student performance," as quoted in an IDOE press release.
Local school corporation performance
Proficiency levels varied across school corporations. Below is a breakdown of local performance in both ELA and mathematics:
School Corporation
ELA Proficient %
Math Proficient %
Sunman-Dearborn
51.50
53.40
South Dearborn
35.70
37.30
Lawrenceburg
38.70
40.70
Rising Sun
38.00
33.50
South Ripley
49.40
56.60
Batesville
46.50
49.00
Milan
32.20
37.70
Jac-Cen-Del
36.70
47.00
Switz. Co.
37.30
34.00
Franklin Co.
36.40
38.30
ILEARN redesign and upcoming changes
Indiana has been working since January 2022 to redesign the ILEARN assessment system.
In the 2024–2025 academic year, approximately 1,350 schools participated in a pilot version of the new model, which includes three "Checkpoints" during the year and a shortened summative assessment.
According to IDOE, these Checkpoints aim to provide real-time data to educators and families, allowing for earlier interventions. The redesigned model will be implemented statewide in the 2025–2026 school year.
IDOE stated that "Checkpoints are not punitive and are used to guide student learning." If a student fails to master a standard, additional instruction and intervention will be provided before a retest option is offered.
SAT results for Indiana students
The state also released SAT results for the 2024–2025 academic year. The SAT serves as the federally mandated high school assessment in Indiana. Around 54.8 percent of Year 11 students met the college-readiness benchmark in evidence-based reading and writing, an increase of 2.7 percentage points over the previous year.
Mathematics performance remained nearly unchanged, with 25.4 percent of students meeting the benchmark.
Indiana law requires the SAT cut score to match or exceed the national standard, as noted by IDOE in the same release.
Government emphasis on foundational skills
Governor Braun emphasised the significance of foundational skills in both literacy and numeracy. He stated, "The literacy and numeracy skills developed in early grades are essential as students begin to explore career options, engage in hands-on learning, and ultimately, make decisions about their next steps after graduation," as quoted in the IDOE presentation of the results.
All schools across Indiana are expected to transition fully to the redesigned ILEARN model beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year.
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