Recently released results from the state’s Forward Exam show math and reading scores among Wisconsin’s third- through eighth-grade students have remained stagnant over the last two years.
Just over half of Wisconsin’s third- through eighth-graders met, or exceeded, state standards for math and English language arts on last spring’s Forward Exam, a statewide standardized test gauging whether Wisconsin schoolchildren are meeting benchmarks in core subjects.
The results were about the same from the 2023-24 school year, with public school students’ performance on the reading portion of the exam improving by less than a percentage point. Disparities in achievement also remained among students of color and students from lower-income families.
The data released Sept. 25 marks the first time districts and parents can draw year-to-year comparisons after the state Department of Public Instruction’s overhaul of the exam’s scoring standards two years ago. District leaders had warned against comparisons because the new scores were calculated so differently.
More: Are Wisconsin students really doing better? Or does it just look that way?
State Superintendent Jill Underly previously said the original benchmarks were an “extremely high standard to meet.” Even so, the change drew criticism from lawmakers and advocates who said the move lowered expectations for achievement and made it more difficult to measure students’ progress.
State Superintendent Jill Underly leads the Department of Public Instruction, which administers the Forward Exam.
In a statement Sept. 25, Underly said test scores “represent a snapshot from a single day and are only one piece of the puzzle.”
“Our students, educators, and schools are facing growing challenges — from mental health struggles to economic uncertainty — and that context matters,” she said. “These results remind us why it’s so important to support the whole child and ensure every Wisconsin student has access to strong, caring educators.”
Scores from the 2024-25 Forward Exam can be browsed online by district. Here are the results:
About half of students statewide are proficient in literacy
Nearly 52% of third- through eighth-grade students were considered proficient in English language arts in the 2024-25 school year, compared with about 51% in the 2023-24 school year.
About 46% scored below grade-level expectations in English language arts on the most recent test, similar to results in 2023-24.
12.3% of students scored “advanced” compared to grade-level standards.
39.3% of students were “meeting” grade-level expectations.
28.8% of students were “approaching” expectations but not meeting them.
17.3% of students were still “developing” skills needed to meet expectations.
2.3% of students did not take the test.
Starting in the 2024-25 school year, the test included a separate reading score within the English language arts portion. Over half of students met or exceeded grade-level benchmarks in reading, while about 46% scored below expectations.
About half of students statewide are proficient in math
Nearly 53% of third- through eighth-grade students were considered proficient in math in 2024-25, the same as the 2023-24 school year.
About 45% scored below grade-level expectations in math on the most recent test.
21.1% of students were “advanced” compared to grade-level standards.
31.7% of students were “meeting” grade-level expectations.
27.1% of students were “approaching” expectations but not meeting them.
18.2% of students were still “developing” skills needed to meet expectations.
2% of students did not take the test.
How did Milwaukee students do in English language arts?
On last school year’s Forward Exam, nearly 24% of third- through eighth-graders attending Milwaukee Public Schools met or exceeded grade-level benchmarks in English language arts, about the same as the 2023-24 school year.
About three-quarters of MPS students failed to reach proficiency in English language arts on the most recent test.
3.5% of students were “advanced” compared to grade-level standards.
20.1% of students were “meeting” grade-level expectations.
30.9% of students were “approaching” expectations but not meeting them.
42.7% of students were still “developing” skills needed to meet expectations.
2.8% of students did not take the test.
On the reading portion of the exam, nearly a quarter of MPS students met or exceeded grade-level benchmarks in reading, while about 73% scored below expectations.
MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius has identified reading score improvements as one of her top priorities. In alignment with updated state requirements, the district this summer outlined a new academic plan to improve teaching students how to read.
At a Milwaukee Press Club panel Sept. 24, Cassellius said she anticipates gradual improvement under the updated plan. She said the district is first focusing on better preparing educators to teach students how to read.
“It’s just going to take a while for us to make sure everybody’s trained and practiced in doing that,” Cassellius said. “If I don’t see bumps going up, then I know that I need to readjust our process.”
How did Milwaukee students do in math?
Milwaukee students again fared worse in math than English language arts. About 19% hit grade-level benchmarks in math on the most recent test, similar to the 2023-24 school year.
About 78% failed to reach proficiency in math for their grade on the 2024-25 exam.
4.5% of students were “advanced” compared to grade-level standards.
14.8% of students were “meeting” grade-level expectations.
30% of students were “approaching” expectations but not meeting them.
48.4% of students were still “developing” skills needed to meet expectations.
2.3% of students did not take the test.
At the panel, Cassellius said the district would remain more focused on literacy despite scores showing students are performing worse in math.
“It’s not that we won’t be doing math, but our focus in Milwaukee really needs to stay sharply on literacy because you can’t do a math problem if you can’t read,” she said. “I believe that if we get our kids reading on grade level, they absolutely will improve their math skills.”
Achievement gaps persist
The scores show the state’s achievement gaps in math and literacy remain, with students of color and students from lower-income families continuing to fare worse than their White and higher-income peers.
Nearly 15% of Black third- through eighth-graders met grade-level standards in math, compared with about 64% of white students last school year — a 49 percentage point gap.
About 18% of Black students met grade-level standards in English language arts, compared with 61% of white students — a 43 percentage point gap.
About a third of economically disadvantaged students were considered proficient in literacy and math, according to the most recent test results. That’s compared with over 65% of higher-income students who met benchmarks for their grade in the two subjects.
See how students in your school district fared at bit.ly/2024-25ForwardExams.
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions at the Journal Sentinel. Reach her at khuynh@gannett.com and follow her on X at @_kaylahuynh. All of her work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Kayla’s position receives support from Kohl Philanthropies and contributions to the Community-Funded Journalism Project. Help continue this reporting with a tax-deductible donation at jsonline.com/support.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin standardized tests scores flat from 2023-24