BOISE, ID – The Idaho Department of Education has released the 2025 Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) scores, showing overall student proficiency rates holding steady across English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science. While overall results remain similar to 2024, some grade levels and student demographics posted notable gains.
The ISAT is administered each spring and measures student achievement against Idaho content standards. ELA and math are tested in grades 3–8 and grade 11, while science is tested in grades 5, 8, and 11.
State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield said the results are encouraging, while also underscoring the importance of aligning testing with student needs beyond K–12. “Seeing Idaho students hold steady when it comes to this year’s assessment areas is both a source of confidence and a definite opportunity to look ahead to ensure that our students are prepared for their futures now and beyond K-12 education,” Critchfield said.
Key Results
- ELA: Proficiency rates remained nearly unchanged at 53.2% in 2025 compared to 53.3% in 2024. Students scoring in the “advanced” range increased slightly from 23.2% to 23.6%. Fourth graders showed the largest gains, with proficiency rising from 49.4% in 2024 to 53.9% as fifth graders in 2025.
- Math: Overall proficiency held steady at 42.3%, up slightly from 42.2% in 2024. Middle school students saw growth, with sixth graders in 2024 (40% proficient) improving to 42.8% as seventh graders in 2025.
- Science: Proficiency increased slightly from 41.2% in 2024 to 41.7% in 2025. Both fifth and eighth grades saw gains of 1.4%. Students scoring “advanced” edged up to 9.7%.
Gains Among Student Groups
The Department noted progress among several student demographics. Economically disadvantaged students posted proficiency increases across all subjects. Military-connected students improved in math, and students in foster care saw a five-point increase in ELA proficiency.
The release of the results comes as the State Board of Education continues reviewing Idaho’s testing framework, particularly third-grade assessments and grade 11 exams, to ensure alignment with reading development and college or career readiness pathways.
“Continued focus on investing in areas that directly impact student achievement is our key goal,” Critchfield said. “We’ve shown what’s possible with K-3 literacy, and there is no reason to believe that similar growth isn’t possible when we focus our resources on the tools needed to help students grow and achieve”.
Full results, including data for all students and for continuously enrolled students, are available on the Idaho Report Card.