Wyoming Student Proficiency Scores Show Stability, Slightly Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) released the results of the state-administered assessments for K-12 students on Wednesday, highlighting relatively stable proficiency scores compared to last year, Oil City News reports.

However, the results remain slightly below pre-pandemic levels, with scores lagging by about 1-2%.

Nearly all Wyoming students, 99%, participate in the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP), an annual end-of-year test designed to measure students’ academic learning throughout the school year. No assessment data was collected in spring 2020 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving a gap in data during that time.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder expressed mixed feelings regarding the latest assessment results.

“While I’m disappointed that our assessment scores have not yet caught up to pre-pandemic levels, I am proud that we have not lowered the proficiency bar like other states,” she said in the statement.

Degenfelder also emphasized Wyoming’s commitment to maintaining high academic standards, pushing for excellence, and innovating in education to support student progress.

Wyoming was the first state to bring students back to classrooms during the pandemic, and in 2021, it was one of only seven states to achieve a 95% participation rate in state assessments. Unlike other states, Wyoming has resisted adjusting performance levels, choosing instead to maintain the rigor of previous assessments to accurately gauge student learning and recovery.

Compared to the previous year, the 2023 results showed minimal changes in student proficiency. English Language Arts scores dropped slightly by 0.2%, and Science proficiency decreased by 0.3%. However, Math proficiency rose by 0.5% and has been on a steady upward trend since 2021. These steady figures indicate that while academic recovery from the pandemic is ongoing, progress in some areas, like Math, is being made.

The WDE has made detailed data available, including district-by-district results and snapshots by content area and grade. Additionally, a Parents & Community Members Overview has been provided to explain the assessment process and highlight current results.