For South Crawford Elementary School, the leap in IREAD-3 results from 2024 to 2025 wasn't just an improvement—it was a transformation. The school’s pass rate soared from ~72 % in 2024 to ~95 % in 2025—a stunning 23-point jump that outpaces the statewide average and sets a benchmark for what focused effort can achieve.
Driving the Success: The Indiana Literacy Cadre
The statewide impact of the Indiana Literacy Cadre is undeniable—and likely a powerful contributor to the school’s dramatic improvement:
The Cadre, a partnership among the Indiana Department of Education, University of Indianapolis CELL, and Marian University’s Center for Vibrant Schools, delivers embedded coaching aligned with the science of reading, focusing on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
In 2024, schools in the Literacy Cadre saw a 2.5 percentage point increase in IREAD pass rates compared to only 0.2 points for non-participating schools.
By 2025, this impact magnified—Cadre schools posted an average increase of 7 points, versus 3.6 points at schools not in the program.
These figures strongly suggest that the support, coaching, and science-based instruction delivered through the Literacy Cadre was instrumental in South Crawford’s incredible progress.
Celebrating the People Behind the Progress
This outstanding success also reflects the unwavering commitment of South Crawford’s educators, support staff, and students:
Teachers and staff who embraced “intentionality”—leveraging science-of-reading strategies daily, working student by student to build foundational literacy skills.
Students and families who showed up ready to read, respond, and rise—turning access to coaching and resources into real gains.
School leadership that likely rallied everyone around improving outcomes, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence despite statewide challenges.
Broader Context: Statewide Momentum, Local Mastery
While Indiana’s statewide pass rate rose by ~5 percentage points (from about 82.5 % to 87 %), South Crawford’s jump of more than 23 points stands out as truly exceptional—a testament to focused, effective local implementation and determination.
This mirrors broader patterns seen in Cadre schools across the state—schools adopting literacy best practices and coaching saw far greater gains than those without such support.
Final Word
South Crawford Elementary's 2025 IREAD-3 results are nothing short of remarkable. Whether part of the Literacy Cadre or not, their success embodies the transformative power of:
Evidence-based coaching and instruction,
Relentless dedication from school leaders and educators,
Student resilience and engagement.
Together, they created a stark turnaround—one that highlights just how powerful well-supported literacy initiatives can be when fueled by heart, talent, and intentional effort.