New performance figures from the 2025-26 school year indicate that Wisconsin students are making steady headway in core academic areas

New performance figures from the 2025-26 school year indicate that Wisconsin students are making steady headway in core academic areas. According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, proficiency rates in English language arts and reading experienced slight increases across most grade levels and demographic groups. Mathematics performance showed progress among middle and high school students, though elementary grade results dipped slightly compared to the prior year.

Overall outcomes from the Wisconsin Student Assessment System show that 48.4 percent of students in grades 3 through 11 met or exceeded proficiency standards in ELA, with 48.7 percent achieving proficiency in math. Among public school students specifically, proficiency stood at 49.7 percent in ELA and 50.2 percent in math, while participating Choice school students recorded 30.2 percent and 27.3 percent proficiency in ELA and math, respectively. Notably, results also showed modest narrowing in the proficiency gap between Black and white students.

State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly commended the progress while emphasizing the ongoing need for dedicated support and expanded resources for educators and students alike. To build on these gains, the department is actively crafting comprehensive statewide literacy and mathematics frameworks alongside the new Wisconsin Portrait of a Graduate initiative, aiming to ensure every student acquires the foundational knowledge and skills required for future success.