Nearly 60% of second graders passed a year early
BLOOMINGTON, IN — The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) today announced its 2025-26 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment results, showing a 3-year growth trend in foundational literacy achievement among third-grade students.
- MCCSC IREAD pass rates have increased each year for the past 3 years, from 82.6% in 2023 to 86.9% in 2026.
- 69% of MCCSC elementary schools serving third-grade students demonstrated an increase in their passing percentages or maintained 100%.
- In 2026, 58% of MCCSC second graders passed the third grade IREAD exam a year early — an increase from 50% of second graders who passed a year early in 2025.
- Four MCCSC schools grew their IREAD pass rates by more than 4% in 2026: Clear Creek +4.9%, Fairview +4.8%, Highland Park +4.6%, and Lakeview +8.6%.
- Four priority populations showed growth (special education +6.3%, multiracial +6.5%, free/reduced lunch +1.6%, black +23.4%)
“We are encouraged by our students’ consistent increases in IREAD pass rates. Our students’ gains in early literacy reflect the expertise and intentionality of our teachers, who provide each individual child with instruction to meet their specific needs,” said MCCSC Superintendent Dr. Markay Winston. “This intentionality also contributes to the increases in achievement among our priority populations. While we are pleased with our students’ academic gains, we know we can support them further. That is why we have increased our early literacy and numeracy supports this year as one of six academic priority areas. Through these investments and intentional teaching practices, we aim to further accelerate student literacy.”
The IREAD exam is a third grade reading assessment. Second graders who pass the assessment a year early do not have to retake the exam in third grade. Second grade pass rates are included in each school’s third grade pass rate the following school year.
MCCSC second grade students began taking the IREAD assessment in the 2023-24 school year — a year before it was required by the state,” said Alexis Harmon, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessment. “This has provided our teachers with more data on how each student is progressing, allowing them to intervene and provide students with more support in the areas they need to develop.”