CHEYENNE — Proficiency rates among Wyoming K-12 students remained stable during the 2023-24 school year, according to the state Department of Education.
While scores on state standardized tests have yet to return to pre-COVID levels, state officials said stable scores are still a good sign of progress.
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder released the 2023-24 Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) and Wyoming Alternate Assessment (WY-ALT) on Wednesday.
Results were stable compared to last year, but remained below pre-pandemic levels by about 1-2 percentage points. Student proficiency decreased by 0.2 percentage points in English Language Arts and by 0.3 percentage points in science. Proficiency in math increased by 0.5 percentage points, and math proficiency has been increasing since 2021.
“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,” Degenfelder said in a news release. “In Wyoming, we will unabashedly hold our standards high and push for excellence.
“These scores also demonstrate the need to innovate, to rethink our education system and how we instruct students. We must make change, and I am confident that our recently launched initiatives and pilot projects that so many districts have embraced, will absolutely do that.”
According to the release, maintaining standards allows educators and parents to have accurate data that demonstrates whether students have recovered from the pandemic. Degenfelder reiterated her call to action from last year, saying, “We must do better, and we will do better.”
“We hold our standards high, and we will never artificially increase our scores, no matter the circumstances,” Degenfelder said. “Our students deserve better than that, and we will always recognize our areas for improvement.”
Over the past year, Degenfelder said she has challenged Wyoming’s education system to think more about student-centered learning and getting back to the basics.
During a news conference Wednesday, she highlighted partnerships with business and industry. WDE has launched multiple pilot programs with partners including the Governor’s Office, University of Wyoming, State Board of Education, Wyoming Association of School Administrators and Wyoming Community College Commission.
These programs include competency-based learning, project-based learning, work-based learning, and more opportunities for career, technical education and principal leadership training.
“Many of our school districts all across the state have embraced these efforts,” Degenfelder said. “I believe wholeheartedly that refocusing our education system on this individualized learning and around job training pathways will help to bring our assessment scores back to our pre-pandemic levels.”
Top performers
Some schools stood out in their assessments. Washakie County School District 2’s Ten Sleep K-12 School particularly excelled.
The only school in its district, Ten Sleep was top in proficiency in all three content areas, with 83.1% proficiency in ELA, 76.1% in math and 100% in science. The small district’s successes represented a double-digit percentage growth across all areas.
“Ten Sleep students and staff are some of the best in the state — not only WY-TOPP achievement, but ACT, as well. Our students are given many opportunities to explore and achieve their dreams through our CTE programming, project-based learning initiatives, as well as our focus on literacy,” WCSD2 Superintendent Annie Griffin said. “We are proud of our high achievement, but most impressed with the growth our students and staff have made over the last couple of years. There is never a secret formula for success, it is based on strong relationships and a true desire to see each unique child live our school mantra, which is ‘Learning to live our dreams’.”
On Wednesday, as the school was recognized at the WDE press conference, Griffin took the time to recognize students who were watching the press conference from the Ten Sleep gym.
“Stand tall, knowing you are recognized today for being the best in the state,” Griffin said. “Know that your efforts matter. You are making a bright future for yourselves. You’ve shown the state of Wyoming what Ten Sleep students are about, and put us on the map. We couldn’t be prouder of all of your achievements.”
Park County School District 1 in Powell also produced notable scores. Tops in two content areas for a large district, PCSD1 scored 70.1% proficiency in math and 60.6% in science.
Westside Elementary in PCSD1 scored 74% proficiency in ELA and 76.1% in math. Powell Middle School students performed well, achieving ELA proficiency of 74.6% and math proficiency of 69%.
“Westside students and staff are truly ‘The Best in the West,’” Westside Principal Angela Woyak said. “The 2023-24 WY-TOPP outcomes are a testament to our collective belief that ALL students can learn and succeed, and that together we can inspire them to grow to the very highest achievement levels.”
In all three content areas, Wyoming typically sees numbers around the 50% proficient line, according to WDE Chief Communications Officer Linda Finnerty.
“Every day, Westside educators are excited and push themselves to deliver new, innovative, responsive and high-quality lessons that promote advanced levels of critical-thinking and problem-solving,” Woyak said. “The secret to our students’ success though is a caring, collaborative school culture where everyone belongs and each individual is valued and celebrated for their perseverance and compassion for others.”
While the past three years have shown an increase in composite ACT scores across the state, Wyoming does still remain below the national average.
“We continue to promote and push both our ACT and WorkKeys programs that we offer at the state, and those results will come out for this year after the Oct. 16 embargo,” WDE Assessment Supervisor Rebecca Veilkaneye told the media. “No other statewide programs are pushed. However, many districts and many schools are making those efforts on their own, and their work shows through that.”
WDE also noted that not all states require all students to take the ACT, meaning that the national average isn’t necessarily a fair standard to compare Wyoming to.
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