IREAD scores increase for fifth consecutive year

Friday, August 28, 2026 at 1:24 PM

By Staff report

Hoosier students' scores on the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment improved for the fifth consecutive year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

More than 88% of Hoosier third graders passed IREAD, a nearly 1.5 percentage point increase from last year. It's the second-largest single-year increase since the test was implemented. Literacy rates for every student population are also now higher than before the pandemic.

IREAD pass rates include:

Argos Community Schools, 87%;

Bremen Public Schools, 93%;

Grace Baptist Christian School, 100%;

Plymouth Community School Corp., 87%;

Triton School Corp., 96%;

Caston School Corp., 96%;

Rochester Community School Corp., 87%;

Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., 95%;

Triton School Corp., 96%;

Culver Community Schools Corp., 93%

Eastern Pulaski Community School Corp., 94%; and

West Central School Corp., 88%.

In 2023, the General Assembly passed a law establishing science of reading standards and delivering focused support to Indiana students facing the most significant reading difficulties. Additional legislation bolstered the Indiana Department of Education’s literacy cadre program to ensure schools with fewer than 70% of students passing IREAD receive additional resources and support.

In the current state budget, Indiana increased K-12 tuition support by $640 million, a 5% increase over the biennium, to its highest level yet. Nearly half of our state budget goes toward K-12 education (47%). Indiana also expanded its school choice scholarship program, empowering all Hoosier families to choose the school environment that is best for their students.

Results from the 2026 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE's website.