Area schools recognized for literacy achievements

Area schools were recently recognized for achieving high literacy rates by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), according to District 46 State Representative Bob Heaton (R-Terre Haute).

IDOE recognized more than 400 schools across the state achieving a 95 percent or higher passage rate on the 2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment at the Literacy Achievement Celebration at the Statehouse on Wednesday, April 8.

"When I talk to parents in my district, they tell me they want their kids to have every opportunity to excel," Heaton said. "Strong literacy scores like these show me that our schools are delivering exactly that."

Area schools recognized include: Gosport Elementary School, McCormick's Creek Elementary School and Clay City Elementary School.

In 2023, Heaton supported House Enrolled Act 1558 to implement science of reading standards and provide targeted support for Indiana students experiencing the greatest reading challenges.

Last year, Indiana's third grade reading scores improved by nearly five percentage points, which is the largest single-year increase since the state launched IREAD in 2013. More than 87 percent of Hoosier third graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, putting Indiana's literacy rate at this grade level back to pre-pandemic levels.

These IREAD results follow Indiana placing sixth in the country for fourth and eighth grade reading in the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) rankings.

Results from the 2025 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE's website.