Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) reported a 10 percentage point increase in IREAD scores for the 2024–25 school year, reaching 69.8% of third graders passing the exam. This improvement is more than double the statewide increase of 4.8 percentage points.

The district noted gains across all student groups, with significant progress in most schools. Thirty out of thirty-five IPS in-LEA schools improved their results compared to last year.

“These latest IREAD results are a testament to the incredible hard work and dedication our students, teachers, and staff have put in during the first year of Rebuilding Stronger,” said IPS Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. “We are determined to ensure that every IPS student has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.”

Recognition for these achievements came at the August 13 Indiana Board of Education meeting. Secretary of Education Katie Jenner highlighted three IPS schools—James Whitcomb Riley School 43, Carl Wilde School 79, and Anna Brochhausen School 88—for notable literacy improvements. These were among five district schools that saw gains of at least 20 percentage points from SY24 to SY25.

James Whitcomb Riley School 43 showed the largest gain in IREAD-3 scores within the district, increasing from 34.1% proficiency in 2023–24 to 64.3% in 2024–25.

Principal Crishell Sam attributed this success to her staff’s adaptability and commitment: “We made lots of changes throughout the school year, adjusting and readjusting when things didn’t seem to be panning out the way we wanted,” she said. “The school also benefited from strong partnerships with Butler University and the MLK Center, providing summer training for literacy instruction teachers. It allowed Butler pre-service teachers to work directly with students after school.”

Sam noted challenges such as students lacking foundational skills due to missed preschool or earlier gaps in teaching but credited consistent staffing for recent improvements. She also pointed out efforts that reduced chronic absenteeism, resulting in more instructional time for students.

Looking ahead, Sam emphasized continued effort: “Now, having solid teachers who’ve been at the school year after year has made a difference,” she explained. Chronic absenteeism was another hurdle, but the school successfully reduced the school’s absenteeism rate last year, giving students more consistent instructional time and contributing to the score increases.

She added her perspective on future goals: “I don’t want to be satisfied with (our current rate) — I want to be satisfied with 90% and above,” Sam said. “We’ll keep doing the work so that more of our students can pass IREAD and have the literacy skills they need for future success.”

Carl Wilde School 79 Principal Brandon Warren linked his school's gains—a rise from 54.9% to 80.3% proficiency over two years—to high expectations and strategic use of time: “Our school is 80% English language learners, and many might not expect that kind of growth,” Warren said. “But we all believed it was possible — and our students proved it.”

Anna Brochhausen School 88 Principal Carmen Sharp described targeted tracking and adjustments as key factors behind her school's improvement from 40.4% to 62.3%. “We were intentional about tracking students’ reading progress, making adjustments to ensure they were learning and building strong foundations,” Sharp said. “It’s rewarding to see so many succeed, even though you wish you could reach every single one.”

Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 and Clarence Farrington School 61 also recorded increases exceeding twenty percentage points.