HSE students achieve 97.3% IREAD pass rate; three schools reach 100%

Submitted by HSE Schools

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools is celebrating another year of growth in early literacy, with 97.3 percent of third-grade students passing the 2026 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment.

The district’s pass rate increased 1.3 percentage points from 96 percent in 2025 and more than three percentage points since 2024. It is HSE’s highest passing rate in six years.

Success was seen across the district. Eleven of HSE’s 13 elementary schools met or exceeded Indiana’s 95 percent literacy goal. Hoosier Road Elementary, Geist Elementary, and Southeastern Elementary each achieved a 100 percent pass rate, and every HSE elementary school recorded a rate of at least 90 percent.

In all, 1,387 HSE third graders demonstrated proficient reading skills out of 1,426 students. No district in the state which tested over 600 students scored as well as HSE.

Kegley

“Improving on an already strong result is not easy, and our teachers and school leaders deserve tremendous credit,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said. “They know their students and pay close attention to what each child needs. That means using the data, adjusting instruction, and continuing to find ways to help students grow. Our students put in the work, families reinforced it at home, and together they made this possible. They should be incredibly proud.”

HSE’s second grade students were also tested and demonstrated an increase from 81 percent in 2025 to 83 percent in 2026. Additionally, eight of the 13 elementary schools demonstrated an increase over 2025 results.

IREAD measures foundational reading skills through the end of third grade. HSE’s results reflect the work taking place in elementary classrooms, including evidence-based reading instruction, regular checks on student progress and focused help when students need it.

“Reading touches every subject and every part of a student’s school experience,” Kegley said. “We are proud of this progress, but we are not finished. We will keep working with students who need more time and support.”

HSE Schools will share its 2026 ILEARN results separately after the state releases them next month.