New statewide assessment results from the 2024-25 school year reveal enduring disparities in academic achievement along racial and economic lines in Wisconsin. Data released by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) show minimal improvement in English Language Arts and math scores across grades 3–10, with significant gaps remaining between student groups.\n\nState Superintendent Jill Underly noted that standardized test results represent just one aspect of student success. “Our students, educators, and schools are navigating increasing challenges—from mental health concerns to financial instability—and that context is essential,” she said. “These outcomes reinforce the need to support the whole child and guarantee every Wisconsin learner has access to skilled, compassionate teachers.”\n\nShe emphasized that attracting and retaining qualified educators is among the most effective strategies to improve student outcomes.\n\nThe latest DPI data include results from the Forward Exam (grades 3–8 and 10), PreACT Secure (grades 9–10), ACT (grade 11), and Dynamic Learning Maps (for students with significant cognitive disabilities).\n\nIn English Language Arts, 51.6% of public school students met expectations, up slightly from 51.1% the previous year. However, racial disparities remain stark: 61.1% of white students met benchmarks, compared to 18.1% of Black students. Other groups included 48% of Asian students, 46.8% of multiracial students, 41.8% of Pacific Islanders, 33% of Hispanic students, 29.4% of American Indian students, and 31.5% of those with unknown race.\n\nEconomically disadvantaged students also lagged significantly: only 33% met expectations in English, versus 65.5% of their non-disadvantaged peers.\n\nIn math, 52.8% of students met expectations, a slight decrease from 53.1% in 2023-24. White students again led with 63.6%, while Black students had the lowest rate at 14.5%. Asian students scored 53.7%, multiracial students 44.7%, Pacific Islanders 41%, Hispanic students 31.2%, American Indian students 28.1%, and those with unknown race 29.3%.\n\nFor economically disadvantaged learners, 32.8% met math benchmarks, compared to 67.8% of those not facing economic hardship.\n\nPrivate schools participating in Wisconsin’s voucher program saw declines: English scores dropped by 2.3 percentage points, and math by 2.7 points compared to the prior year, including schools that opted out of testing.\n\nRepublican leaders on the state’s education committees did not respond to requests for comment.\n\n— news from WisPolitics\n\n— News Original —\nLarge racial, economic disparities continue in latest student test scores\nBig racial and economic disparities in students’ English Language Arts and math scores continued in the 2024-25 school year, according to new statewide test results from DPI. \n\nState Superintendent Jill Underly in a statement on the data said test scores “are only one piece of the puzzle.”\n\n“Our students, educators, and schools are facing growing challenges — from mental health struggles to economic uncertainty — and that context matters,” Underly 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.”\n\nShe said recruiting and retaining great teachers is one of the most powerful ways to help kids succeed.\n\nThe data released by the Department of Public Instruction yesterday included: scores on the Forward Exam for grades 3-8 and 10; the PreACT Secure exam, which gauges ACT preparedness for grades 9 and 10; the ACT for grade 11; and Dynamic Learning Maps assessments for students with significant cognitive disabilities.\n\nScores on the English Language Arts and math portions of the Forward Exam, which are administered to grades 3-8, showed minimal increases in performance from the prior year, while racial gaps persisted.\n\nWILL Research Director Will Flanders said the results “appear to show more of the same.”\n\n“Student proficiency across the board is largely flat at its newly inflated levels, and the same achievement gaps along economic and racial lines persist,” Flanders said. “In an era where Wisconsin is falling behind states like Mississippi in reading, simply maintaining the status quo isn’t acceptable.”\n\nOn the Forward Exam, 51.6% of public schools were meeting expectations on the English Language Arts portion, while 46.1% were not meeting expectations and 2.3% weren’t tested. The percentage of students meeting expectations was 51.1% in the 2023-24 school year.\n\nWhite students were the group with the highest percentage of students meeting expectations. Just 18.1% of Black students were meeting expectations compared to 61.1% of white students. The percentage of students meeting expectations was 46.8% for those of two or more races, 48% of Asian students, 41.8% of Pacific Islander students, 33% of Hispanic students, 31.5% of those of unknown race, and 29.4% of American Indian students.\n\nThe results also show an economic gap, with just 33% of economically disadvantaged students meeting expectations in English Language Arts, compared to 65.5% for those not economically disadvantaged and 31.9% for those of unknown status.\n\nOn the math portion of the Forward Exam, 52.8% of public school students were meeting expectations, 45.2% weren’t meeting expectations and 2% weren’t tested. That’s compared to the 53.1% that were meeting expectations in 2023-24.\n\nWhite students also had the highest percentage of students meeting expectations in math for the Forward Exam at 63.6%, while Black students had the lowest at 14.5%. The percentage of students meeting expectations was 53.7% for Asian students, 44.7% for students of two or more races, 41% for Pacific Islander students, 31.2% of Hispanic students, 29.3% of students of unknown race and 28.1% of American Indian students.\n\nMeanwhile, 32.8% of economically disadvantaged students were meeting expectations in math, versus 67.8% of those not economically disadvantaged and 29.7% of those of unknown status.\n\nFor private schools participating in the state’s voucher program, student scores for English Language Arts on the Forward Exam went down 2.3 percentage points compared to the prior year, including schools that opted out. Math scores went down by 2.7 percentage points.\n\nRepublican chairs of the state’s education committees did not immediately return requests for comment on the results.
