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New Forward Exam data shows reading proficiency increased
across all tested grades
MADISON — New data from the 2025-26 school year show Wisconsin students continuing to make modest gains in literacy and mathematics, with proficiency increasing in most grades and student groups, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced today.
Statewide, proficiency rates in English language arts and reading increased slightly for most grades and student groups. Mathematics proficiency increased slightly among middle and high school students, while proficiency declined slightly among elementary students compared with the previous year. Assessment data can be found on the DPI’s WISEdash Public Portal.
"Wisconsin students continue to make steady progress, and we should be proud of that progress," State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. "At the same time, we know too many students are still not where they need to be. Every student deserves the opportunity to become a strong reader, a skilled mathematician, and a successful learner. We have more work to do as a state to give our students the support they need and give educators the tools and resources they need to help them succeed. We owe it to every student and every educator to keep moving it forward."
According to data from the Wisconsin Student Assessment System — which includes the Forward Exam, Dynamic Learning Maps, the PreACT Secure and the ACT — 48.4 percent of students in grades 3-11 were proficient or above in ELA, while 48.7 percent were proficient or above in math. The results include students in Wisconsin public schools and private schools participating in a Private School Choice Program.
Among public school students, 49.7 percent were proficient or above in ELA and 50.2 percent were proficient or above in math. Among students attending Choice schools, 30.2 percent were proficient or above in ELA and 27.3 percent were proficient or above in math.
While significant proficiency gaps between Black and white students remain, the 2025-26 results showed modest progress in closing those gaps. The proficiency gap narrowed by 0.4 percentage points in ELA, to 40.1 percent from 2023-24, and by 1.4 percentage points in mathematics, to 44.9 percent, from 2023-24.
The Forward Exam assesses students in grades three through eight in ELA and mathematics. Beginning in 2023-24, the assessment also included a separate reading score within the ELA section, supporting Wisconsin’s ongoing efforts to strengthen literacy and improve student outcomes. In 2025-26, reading proficiency increased in every tested grade compared with the previous year.
The results come as the DPI continues work to strengthen teaching and learning across Wisconsin. The department is developing statewide literacy and mathematics plans to provide a clear framework for supporting students and educators and improving outcomes across the state. The DPI is also working with educators, students, families, and community partners to develop and launch the Wisconsin Portrait of a Graduate, which will identify the knowledge, durable skills, and competencies students need to succeed in whatever comes next after high school. More information on the Portrait of a Graduate can be found on the DPI’s website.
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Contact: Media.Inquiries@dpi.wi.gov
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