About 82 percent of third graders in the Monroe County Community School Corporation passed the Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) assessment this year. That number is similar to last year but reflect a decline from pre-pandemic levels. These results come from the 2022-2023 report released by the Indiana Department of Education.
Five local schools improved pass rates from last year. The highest pass rate came from Unionville Elementary, reporting all students passed the assessment. The lowest pass rate came from Arlington Heights Elementary, with an 18 percent decrease (75 percent in 2022 to 57 percent this year.)
Statewide, nearly 15,000 students did not pass. The percentage of students who passed has stagnated over the last few years. The scores continue an ongoing literacy decline that began before students faced disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more about statewide results: 3rd grade reading scores are flat as Indiana preps for literacy instruction overhaul
MCCSC average pass rate dropped about 9 percent from pre-pandemic rates, with 90.8 percent in 2019 to about 81 percent after 2020. Students did not take the exam in 2020.
To address this literary decline, Gov. Eric Holcomb set a goal for schools to reach 95 percent proficiency by 2027. A new law mandating an evidence-based literacy curriculum for K-12 students is intended to lead to improvements across the state.
Passing the IREAD-3 assessment is a crucial milestone. Research shows a clear correlation between achieving reading proficiency by the end of third grade and ' ability to absorb and retain knowledge effectively.
Percentages for each MCCSC school can be compared below:
Statewide percentages can be found below:
