WY-TOPP and WY-ALT Test Scores For 2023-24 School Year Don’t Change Much Compared To Previous Year; Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

The Wyoming Department of Education has released results for the 2023–24 Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress (WY-TOPP) and Wyoming Alternate Assessment (WY-ALT).

Although Wyoming was the first state in the nation to have students return to classrooms and was only one of seven states to achieve 95% assessment participation in 2021, scores haven’t yet returned to pre-COVID levels.

However, unlike many states, Wyoming has resisted the trend to change performance levels and has maintained the high rigor of previous assessments to properly gauge student learning.

This approach allows educators and parents to have accurate data to show if students have recovered from the COVID lockdowns.

“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. 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”, said State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder.

Wyoming’s 2023–24 assessment results were relatively stable compared to last year and remained below the pre-pandemic levels by about 1-2%.

Compared to last year, student proficiency decreased by 0.2% in English Language Arts and by 0.3% in Science, but both have remained steady since 2021.

Math proficiency increased by 0.5% and has been steadily increasing since 2021.

Click here to view complete assessment data or Click here to view district by district snapshots by content area and grade.

A Parents & Community Members Overview has also been created to outline the assessment process and additional current results. (Click here)

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State Averages: (Comparing proficiency level numbers from 2022-23 school year vs. 2023-24 school year)

Students are tested in Math and English Language Arts in grades 3-10, while Science is in grades 4, 8 and 10 only.

The biggest increases in Math was in 4th grade (up 3.44%), 3rd grade (up 2.55%) and in 10th grade (up 2.19%), while the biggest decrease was in 5th grade (down 1.36%)

The biggest increases in English Language Arts was in 10th grade (up 4.68%), 4th grade (up 4.19%) and 3rd grade (up 4.17%), while the biggest decrease was in 6th grade (down 1.24%).

The biggest increase in Science was in grade 4 (up 1.8%) while the biggest decrease was in grade 8 (down 2.39%).

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Sheridan County School District #2: (Comparing proficiency level numbers from 2022-23 school year vs. 2023-24 school year)

Students are tested in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 3-10, while Science is in grades 4, 8 and 10 only.

Math: The percentage numbers of students who tested at or above proficiency level in math for the district in grades 3-10 combined, were down 0.3% at 68.1%.

All grade levels in math were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increases were in 6th grade (up 8.88%) and in 8th grade (up 8.09%), while the biggest decreases were in 5th grade (down 13.66%) and in 10th grade (down 9.62%).

ELA: The percentage numbers of students who tested at or above proficiency level in ELA for the district in grades 3-10 combined, were down 1.1% at 66.6%.

All grade levels in ELA were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increases were in 9th grade (up 3.89%) and in 6th grade (up 3.5%), while the biggest decreases were in 5th grade (down 9.3%) and in 3rd grade (down 5.28%).

Science: The percentage numbers of students who tested at or above proficiency level in science in grades 4, 8 and 10 combined, were up 2.6% at 60.4%.

All 3 grade levels in science were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

8th grade was up 5.43%, and 4th grade was up 0.8%, but 10th grade was down 1.47%.

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Sheridan County School District #1: (Comparing proficiency level numbers from 2022-23 school year vs. 2023-24 school year)

Students are tested in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 3-10, while Science is in grades 4, 8 and 10 only.

Math: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in math for the district in grades 3-10 combined, were up 2.1% at 70.4%.

All grade levels in math were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increases were in 8th grade (up 7.13%), 6th grade (up 5.87%) and in 7th grade (up 5.03%), while the biggest decrease was in 4th grade (down 5.87%).

ELA: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in ELA for the district in grades 3-10 combined, were down 1.0% at 69.7%.

All grade levels in ELA were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increases were in 3rd grade (up 8.68%), and in 4th grade (up 7.23%), while the biggest decreases were in 5th grade (down 5.93%) and in 6th grade (down 5.59%).

Science: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in science for the district in grades 4, 8 and 10 combined were down 0.7% at 68.2%.

All grade levels in science were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increase was in 4th grade (up 4.34%), while the biggest decrease was in 10th grade (down 6.48%).

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Sheridan County School District #3: (Comparing proficiency level numbers from 2022-23 school year vs. 2023-24 school year)

Students are tested in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 3-10, while Science is in grades 4, 8 and 10 only.

Math: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in math for the district in grades 3-10 combined were down 3.9% at 51.9%.

ELA: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in ELA for the district in grades 3-10 combined were down 12.8% at 51.9%.

Science: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in science for the district in grade 4, 8 and 10 combined were down 7.7% at 52.2%.

It’s hard to tell what kind of a difference there is, because in some grades the tests were either not administered, or there was no one at a specific grade level to take the tests. Due to overall low enrollment numbers compared to other school districts, if 1 or 2 students show an increase or a decrease, that can have a large impact on percentage numbers up or down.

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Johnson County School District: (Comparing proficiency level numbers from 2022-23 school year vs. 2023-24 school year)

Students are tested in Math and English Language Arts (ELA) in grades 3-10, while Science is in grades 4, 8 and 10 only.

Math: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in math for the district in grades 3-10 combined were up 1.4% at 62.6%.

All grade levels in math were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year. In the 2022-23 school year, 6th grade math was below state average.

The biggest increases were in 6th grade (up 15.72%), 7th grade (up 14.44%) and in 8th grade (up 11.46%), while the biggest decrease was in 10th grade (down 7.14%).

ELA: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in ELA for the district in grades 3-10 combined were up 2.2% at 60.1%.

All but 1 grade level in ELA were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year. 9th grade was at 50.50% and the state average was 50.61%. This is the second year in a row that this grade level has been below state average. During the 2022-23 school year, 3rd and 4th grade levels were below state average, but have since improved and are now above the average.

The biggest increases were in 3rd grade (up 14.1%) and 4th grade (up 11.74%), while the biggest decrease was in 10th grade (down 5.43%).

Science: The percentage of students who tested at or above proficiency level in science for the district in grade 4, 8, and 10 combined held steady at 54.2%.

All grade levels in science were above the state average for the 2023-24 school year.

The biggest increase was in 10th grade (up 2.13%), while the biggest decrease was in 4th grade (down 2.59%).