Idaho’s education officials released the 2025‑26 Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) results on Wednesday, showing modest improvements across the three tested subjects. While the gains are a step forward, none of the scores reached the state‑set proficiency targets.
English Language Arts improves, still below goal
Proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) rose to 54.0 percent, up 0.8 percentage points from the prior year. The state’s target for ELA proficiency is 54.6 percent, leaving the current result just short of the benchmark.
Math sees similar increase, remains under target
Math proficiency climbed to 43.1 percent, also a 0.8‑point increase over the previous year. The state goal for math is 43.6 percent, meaning the latest figure falls short by roughly half a percentage point.
Science scores inch upward, no target set
Science proficiency reached 42.7 percent, up 1.0 percentage point from the year before. Unlike ELA and math, the state has not established a specific proficiency target for science.
Who takes the test and why it matters
Students in grades 3‑8 and 11 sit for the ELA and math components, while grades 5, 8 and 11 are tested in science. Although ISAT scores do not affect individual grades, lawmakers, school districts, parents and educators use the data to gauge overall K‑12 performance in Idaho.
Policy context: test scores and funding flexibility
A recent state law ties standardized test results, in part, to a district’s or charter school’s eligibility for increased spending flexibility. This connection underscores why even small changes in proficiency rates attract attention from policymakers and families alike.
Historical perspective
In recent years, ISAT scores have tended to stagnate, with changes of less than half a percentage point from one year to the next. The latest modest gains break that pattern, but the shortfall relative to state goals suggests continued work is needed.
Data source
The Idaho Department of Education compiled and released the data. EdNews data analyst Randy Schrader contributed to the reporting.
Parents and community members are encouraged to review the full score breakdowns, available through the department’s website, to better understand how their local schools performed and where improvement efforts may be focused.
Original reporting: Idaho Education News — read the source article.
