Wayne County schools improve, still below state averages in ILEARN testing

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. — This year's statewide ILEARN testing at Wayne County schools showed slim improvements in English language arts and math scores, although the schools as a whole still sit well below the state averages.

Statewide results released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Education showed 41% of Hoosier students were proficient in ELA standards and 40.7% proficient in math standards, while 30.8% are proficient in combined scores.

Here's what you need to know:

What is ILEARN?

In 2019, ILEARN took over from ISTEP as the state's accountability test. In grades 3-8, students are tested in English and math, with the addition of science for fourth and sixth grades and social studies for fifth grade.

The assessments adapt to the student's knowledge as they progress and are taken in person and on computers.

How did Wayne County students do in English?

Out of 1,860 Richmond Community Schools students, 464 tested proficient, coming in at 24.9%, an increase from 2023's 21.7%.

For Centerville-Abington Schools, 343 out of 826 students passed with proficiency, good for 41.5%. It's a slight increase from 2023's 40.2%

Northeastern-Wayne Schools saw 252 out of 570 students test proficient, at a rate of 44.2%, an increase of last year's 42%.

110 out of 286 tested proficient at Western Wayne Schools, which is 38.5%, or a .5% increase from last year.

Nettle Creek Schools had a proficiency rate of 44.7%, or 235 out of 526 students. It's an increase from 42.3% last year.

Seton Catholic had 87 out of 153 students test proficient, a rate of 56.8%, an increase from 2023's 55.4%.

46 out of 78 Community Christian School students were proficient, the best in the area at 59%. It's a decrease from the school's 67.5% performance last year.

Combined, Wayne County had 1,537 out 4,299 test proficient in English and language arts, equating to 35.7%.

How did Wayne County students do in math?

At Richmond, the proficiency rate was 22.5%, or 417 out of 1,856 students, an increase from 20.4% last year.

At Centerville-Abington, the average was 42.5%, or 351 out of 826, a steep drop from last year's 48.3%.

At Northeastern Wayne, 38.9% were proficient, or 222 out of 570. The average is exactly the same as 2023.

At Western Wayne, the rate was 32.2%, or 92 out of 286, an increase from 29.6% the year prior.

At Nettle Creek, 37.6% tested proficient, or 198 out of 527, an increase from last year's 35.2%.

At Seton Catholic, 36.6% was the average, or 56 out of 153, a decrease from 41.1% last year.

At Community Christian, 35.9% was the rate, or 28 out of 78, a sharp decline from last year's 50.6%.

Combined 1,023 out 4,292 tested proficient in math, or 31.7%.

Here are the combined ELA and math results for 2024:

• Richmond Community Schools: 307/1,853 (16.6%); 2023: 14%
• Centerville-Abington Community Schools: 248/826 (30%); 2023: 32.2%
• Northeastern Wayne Schools: 171/570 (30%); 2023: 28.2%
• Western Wayne Schools: 73/286 (25.5%); 2023: 25.2%
• Nettle Creek Schools: 150/526 (28.5%); 2023: 23.7%
• Seton Catholic Schools: 47/153 (30.7%); 2023: 32.7%
• Community Christian School: 27/78 (34.6%); 2023: 49.4%