HSE students continue strong academic performance on ILEARN

Submitted by Hamilton Southeastern Schools

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools students continue to demonstrate strong academic performance, scoring well above state averages across all assessed areas on the 2025-26 ILEARN assessment.

According to data released by the Indiana Department of Education, HSE posted 68.1 percent in math and 66.4 percent in English/Language Arts (ELA) for grades 3 to 8, compared with statewide averages of 42.7 percent and 42.0 percent, respectively. HSE students scored more than 24 percentage points above the state overall in both subjects, with differences ranging from 21 to 30 percentage points across individual grade levels and subjects.

The results reflect the work of students, teachers, support staff, and families across the district.

Kegley

“We are proud of our students as well as the teachers and staff who support them every day,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said. “These results show a high level of learning happening in classrooms across HSE Schools. They also give us important information about where our students are doing well and where we can continue to grow.”

This year’s results come as Indiana implemented a redesigned ILEARN assessment aligned with the state’s streamlined academic standards. The results from the assessment establish a new baseline for student performance, which means this year’s scores should not be compared with results from previous years.

Last year, the state moved ILEARN to a through-year model, giving educators more opportunities to see how students are progressing throughout the school year. Students in grades 3 to 8 now complete three checkpoint assessments before taking a shortened summative assessment in the spring.

For HSE teachers, that means having information earlier, allowing for instruction to be adjusted, and additional support to be provided as needed.

The spring summative assessment provides a final measure of student mastery of Indiana Academic Standards and is also used as part of the state’s school accountability system.

While the assessment has changed, HSE’s focus remains the same: providing strong instruction, responding to learners’ needs, and ensuring every student can succeed. An overview of the ILEARN results will be shared at the Oct. 14 board meeting.