Indiana ILEARN scores show continued growth in math — but reading levels stay flat025

By Casey Smith July 16, 2025

Indiana students continued to make gains in math this spring, but statewide reading scores remained largely unchanged, according to new ILEARN assessment data released Wednesday.

The results, presented at the State Board of Education’s monthly meeting in Indianapolis, show that 42.1% of students in grades three through eight scored at or above proficiency in math on the 2025 ILEARN exam, up more than five percentage points since 2021. 

Proficiency in English/language arts, or ELA, however, held steady at 40.6% — up just 0.1 points from last year and essentially flat over the past four years.

Data released by IDOE reported 31.2% of Hoosier students passed both the math and ELA sections of ILEARN. That’s also slightly up from last year’s spring test results, which showed that 30.8% earned dual passing scores.

“While we are positively moving and improving in math, there is an urgent need to support middle school students in English/language arts,” said Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner. “It is essential that our schools and parents/families continue to work together and stay laser-focused on increasing student learning and success.”

The annual ILEARN assessment is administered digitally by Hoosier schools each spring and serves as Indiana’s primary K-8 standardized test.

Board members expressed greatest concern with reading declines among middle schoolers, which officials said is closely tied to the lingering effects of pandemic-era disruptions.

“Math scores are moving,” Jenner said at Wednesday’s board meeting. “But that adolescent, middle school, ELA period — still struggling.”

Seventh-grade ELA scores dropped 3.9% from last year — the sharpest decline of any grade level — while eighth-grade scores fell 1.2%. By contrast, third-grade students, who were in early elementary school during the pandemic and have since received additional literacy support, posted the strongest gains, with a 1.7-% increase since last year.

Board member Pat Mapes said he’s confident educators are helping middle schoolers make progress, but he emphasized that gaps remain for those students.

“They’re going to constantly be catching up,” he said. “These are our students who intermittently came to school during the pandemic, and we’ve still not caught up. The skills that they lost during that time — this is kind of just what we’re going to see for a while until we can get their skills developed.”

Some scores up — others down

Compared to 2024, all grades except third showed math improvement. Eighth-grade students posted the largest year-over-year gain of 3.1%, according to IDOE data.

Third grade proficiency dropped nearly a percentage point, however.

The 2025 results revealed passing math scores for 51.5% of third graders; 49.2% of fourth graders; 41.5% of fifth graders; 39.7% of sixth graders; 35.9% of seventh graders; and 34.5% of eighth graders.

Math proficiency rates have increased in every grade since 2021.

Sixth and eighth grades saw the largest jumps — each up 6.7% — followed by seventh grade, up 5.4%, and fourth grade, up 5.5%. Fifth and third graders saw smaller increases of 2.9% and 2.8%, respectively.

But ELA performance has been mixed. 

While third through sixth graders improved slightly compared to 2021, seventh- and eighth-grade students scored lower than they did four years ago. The most notable drop was among seventh graders, whose ELA proficiency fell 3.2% since 2021 and nearly 4 points from last year. 

The 2025 data showed only 37.8% of seventh graders passed the ELA exam, the lowest passage rate of any grade level.

Overall, ELA scores in most grades shifted within just a one-point range compared to 2024.

Black students posted the largest year-over-year ELA gains, up 0.9%. Black and Hispanic students additionally had the highest growth in math, with both demographic groups increasing scores by 2%.

Students in special education programs also outpaced their general education peers in ELA growth — state data showed a 1.3% boost in performance.

Students receiving free or reduced-price meals saw stronger math gains of 1.4%.

English learners improved in math but saw a 1.1% decline in ELA after making progress the year prior.

A shift in testing strategy

The latest ILEARN scores come as the state prepares to roll out a redesigned test format.

Beginning in the upcoming 2025–26 school year, all Indiana schools will transition to a “through-year” assessment model featuring three checkpoint tests and a shortened summative assessment at the school year’s end. State leaders said the goal is to provide real-time data and allow earlier intervention for struggling students.

The new system was already piloted in more than 1,350 schools, which administered more than 720,000 checkpoint assessments during the 2024–25 academic year. 

“The new ILEARN Checkpoints, launching statewide in the upcoming school year, will provide a beginning, middle and end-of-year look at student performance,” Jenner said. “This will be key to knowing early and often if a student has mastered certain knowledge or skills, or if they may still be struggling, ensuring the student has increased, personalized support.”

IDOE officials said they’re additionally working to expand both literacy and math interventions statewide. 

Initiatives include literacy-focused teacher training, targeted reading and math tutoring grants for families, and new screeners to identify struggling students in early grades.

New legislation enacted this year — House Enrolled Act 1634 — mandates math screeners for grades K-2 and directs schools to provide targeted support for students not meeting grade-level expectations.

“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,” Gov. Mike Braun said in a statement. “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.”

Read this article on the Indiana Capital Chronicle website here.