IREAD scores rose statewide and in many Northwest Indiana districts, according to results released Tuesday.
Indiana Department of Education officials said 88.7% of the state’s third-grade students showed proficient reading skills on the assessment, a 1.5% increase from 2025.
In Lake County, eight districts scored above the state average, while eight fell below it.
All seven districts in Porter County scored above the state average, including Boone Township, where Hebron Elementary third graders posted a 100% pass rate.
Among area charter schools, Discovery Charter in Porter County was the lone one of 10 to exceed the state rate; 21st Century Charter in Gary came close at 88.5%.
River Forest’s two elementaries — Meister and Evans — exceeded the state rate with a combined 93.3% pass rate, compared to 79.7% in 2024.
“We are unbelievably proud of this achievement,” said Superintendent Kevin Trezak. “We were intentional about keeping our reading groups small with a Title 1 pull-out during the school day.”
In addition to the 40-minute reading instruction four times a week, the schools offered one-hour after-school tutoring sessions four days a week.
“This tutoring was delivered by all staff in an ‘all hands on deck’ concept, where classroom teachers, specials teachers, and even our principals worked with the kids,” said Trezak.
In Porter County, Portage Township Schools improved from a 78.1% pass rate in 2024 to 91.3%.
District spokeswoman Melissa Deavers credited a targeted effort for the improvement.
“Our staff across the district has implemented intervention strategies and attended professional development for teachers and instructional support staff,” she said. “The growth in scores is a true testament to the work of our incredible staff and the drive of our students.”
Kevin Teasley, director and founder of the GEO Foundation, which operates the 21st Century Charter School, sent an email to the school staff that praised them for their increased score. The school’s 88.5% pass rate exceeded the statewide average for black students, at 80.1%, and low-income students, at 84.1%, he said.
21st Century’s increased score from 2025 to 2026 also outpaced the state’s growth, he said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.