WDE announces state testing results, students perform at pre-pandemic levels
CHEYENNE — Students in Wyoming’s public schools are once again testing at pre-pandemic levels in English language arts and science, with math close behind.
During a news conference Thursday, representatives of the Wyoming Department of Education released results for the 2024-25 Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress and Wyoming Alternate Assessment. English language arts and math testing are done annually in grades 3-10, while the science test is taken in grades 4, 8 and 10.
The test results showed a 1-3% improvement in all three tested content areas over last year.
“One year ago, I said that we have much work to do,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder said. “Today, I come with results that show that in Wyoming, we know how to work.”
A year ago, WDE announced that 2023-24 test scores had remained stable compared to previous years, but remained below the pre-pandemic levels by about 1-2%.
This year, science scores increased 3.2%, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. ELA scores have increased by 2.3% over the previous year, meeting pre-pandemic levels, according to a WDE news release.
Math scores remain 0.4% below pre-pandemic levels, but have seen steady increases since 2021. Additionally, all grades except 6 had increased achievement over last year, according to the release.
“There’s much to celebrate today, as overall statewide proficiency has increased,” Degenfelder said.
Student proficiency increased across the board, compared to the previous year. ELA proficiency was 55.7%, math was 50.8%, and science was 51.2%, the state agency reported.
WDE compared these scores to the last year of testing before the pandemic, 2018-19. That year, ELA proficiency was 55.7%, math was 51.2%, and science was 49.3%.
Maintaining progress
Education has undergone significant changes in the past year, on both the federal and local levels.
Some of the biggest changes have come from cuts to education grant programs and an executive order to dismantle the federal Department of Education.
Degenfelder attended President Donald Trump’s signing of that executive order in March.
When asked if she had any concerns about changes to federal funding impacting Wyoming’s educational growth, she highlighted this year’s test results.
“I think this growth underscores the fact that Wyoming knows best what fits for its education system,” Degenfelder said. “We don’t need interference from Washington, D.C., to be able to achieve these growth levels.”
Wyoming public schools received roughly 13% of their funding from the federal government during the 202122 school year, according to reporting done by the Casper Star-Tribune in March, when Degenfelder went to D.C.
According to the same reporting, the state expects to receive roughly $351 million in federal funds during the 2025-26 school year, though the WDE declined to comment on whether recent changes to federal grant funding would impact that.
“I’m very confident that as we continue to build as a state, we can more closely identify what the goals and needs of our districts are and streamline those supports, rather than working from the top down from the federal government,” Degenfelder said.
Top performers
While test scores improved on average, some districts stood out.
For the second year in a row, Washakie County School District 2, Ten Sleep K-12 School, excelled with top proficiency in all three content areas for a small district.
The district scored 76.9% proficient in ELA, 80.6% in math and 83.9% in science.
“Our students and staff have a vested interest in being known for high academic achievement,” WCSD2 Superintendent Annie Griffin said. “This continued success is attributed to our teaching staff ’s commitment to ensure learning for every single child and the commitment of our students and their families to excellence.”
WCSD2 wasn’t the only district to see major improvements.
Sheridan County School District 3 saw a roughly 12% increase in ELA and science, and Dubois Middle School saw a 33.5% increase in ELA.
Accountability
State school accountability is defined by the Wyoming Accountability and Education Act. Schools are rated at one of four levels: not meeting expectations, partially meeting expectations, meeting expectations and exceeding expectations.
Rankings are most heavily weighted by achievement on the state assessment, but are also impacted by growth, equity, ELA proficiency, graduation rate and post-secondary readiness, Degenfelder said. Alternative schools are also assessed based on climate and engagement.
Traditional schools made progress in their performance level rankings this year. Of traditional schools, 12% are exceeding, 44% are meeting, 28% are partially meeting and 17% are not meeting expectations.
Several schools jumped two categories in the past year. In particular, Degenfelder highlighted Natrona County School District 1. Various schools within the county jumped multiple levels in school performance ratings.
Three schools in the state have reached the “exceeding expectations” category for six consecutive years, one of which is the PODER Academy charter school in Laramie County.
“Despite the wonderful results that we see during today’s release, there is still much work to do,” Degenfelder said. “The percentage of schools not meeting expectations only reduced by 1%.”
Seventy percent of schools in grades 3-8 are meeting or exceeding in achievement, an increase of 10% last year. Seven percent of schools remain not meeting expectations for three consecutive years.
The Wyoming Charter School Authorizing Board schools are included in this calculation.
Last year, all of these schools were not meeting expectations. This year, Wyoming Classical (Casper) is meeting, and Prairie View and Cheyenne Classical are partially meeting expectations.
In addition to releasing test results, Degenfelder announced that the WDE is beginning the process to revamp support from the state.
“We’re working on a more comprehensive system of support,” she said. “Not only are we creating reorganization within the Department of Education, combining both federal and state support, but creating transformational, critical school improvement plans and using data in a more meaningful way than we ever have before.”
Successes in Laramie County
At PODER Academy, 89% of all students scored proficient or advanced in science, 90% scored proficient or advanced in math and 93% scored proficient or advanced in ELA. In the sixth-grade class, 100% of kids tested at proficiency or above.
At PODER Academy Secondary School, 76.5% of all students scored proficient or advanced in science, 80.5% scored proficient or advanced in math, and 87.5% scored proficient or advanced in ELA.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our students, families and staff and what they have accomplished, not only this year, but over the past 13 years since we started PODER Academy,” PODER’s CEO and founder, Marcos Martinez, said. “This is the high standard we set from the beginning, and we continue to not only reach it, but pass it.”
PODER isn’t the only educational leader in the county to express pride in its test results. Laramie County School District 1 sent out its own news release discussing WY-TOPP.
“We are proud to announce significant academic growth and rising school performance across the district, as reflected in the latest WY-TOPP results and state accountability ratings,” LCSD1 Superintendent Stephen Newton said. “Eleven of our schools advanced by one level in the state’s accountability system, and Alta Vista Elementary and Anderson Elementary earned the highest distinction of Exceeding Expectations, demonstrating exceptional achievement.”
This year in LCSD1, 49.5% of students tested proficient in ELA, 43.3% tested proficient in math, and 44% tested proficient in science. The district improved by 3.8% in ELA, 3.2% in math and 6.7% in science over last year’s results.
“These results are more than numbers; they represent the dedication of our teachers, the resilience of our students, and the support of our community,” Newton said. “We’re proud of the progress and even more excited about what lies ahead.”
The release included the district’s ACT composite average, which was 18.8, its second- highest score over the last four years. The state average for 2024 was 19.1, with an estimated 100% of graduating students testing.
This story was published on August 29, 2025.