MADISON, Wis.—Results from the 2025–26 Wisconsin Forward Exam show year-over-year improvements in the percentage of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) students reaching the highest performance level in English language arts, reading and mathematics, with gains in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations across all three areas.

“We continue to move in the right direction and close the opportunity gap,” said Superintendent Joe Gothard. “I am proud of the work teams throughout the district have done to help achieve these results. What we do matters. I recognize we still have work to do, and we will continue to build on this momentum by keeping our work centered on students and providing them the educational experiences and learning they need to reach their full potential.” 

The results, released today by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, show that:

• 17.4% of MMSD students scored at the advanced level in English language arts (vs. 13% statewide), up from 15.7% in 2024–25;
• 20.6% of MMSD students scored at the advanced level in English language arts – reading (vs. 15.5% statewide), up from 19.1% in 2024-25; and
• 22.2% of MMSD students scored at the advanced level in mathematics (vs. 21.8% statewide), up from 20.5% in 2024–25.

MMSD also saw gains in the combined percentage of students scoring advanced or meeting expectations in each subject:

• English language arts: 48.9%, up from 47.3% in 2024–25.
• English language arts – reading: 49.8%, up from 48.1%.
• Mathematics: 45.7%, up from 43.3%.

Notably, the results also show year-over-year gains among Black students and economically disadvantaged students across all three subject areas.

Among Black students, the percentage scoring advanced or meeting expectations increased from 15.8% to 18% in English language arts, from 18.6% to 19.7% in English language arts – reading and from 10.2% to 13.1% in mathematics.

Economically disadvantaged students also demonstrated improvement, with the percentage scoring advanced or meeting expectations rising from 20.7% to 22.1% in English language arts, from 22.7% to 23.8% in English language arts – reading and from 17.2% to 19.3% in mathematics.

“These results reflect the hard work of our students and educators and the importance of maintaining a clear, consistent focus on instruction,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, MMSD assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “We are encouraged by the progress we’re seeing, particularly in literacy, and we know there is more work ahead. By investing in strong instructional materials, supporting our educators and engaging families and community partners, we are building the foundation for continued growth and ensuring more students have the opportunity to succeed.”

School-level results further illustrate the progress in literacy. Of the 38 MMSD schools for which data was available, 29 recorded year-over-year increases in the number of students meeting expectations in literacy.

Several elementary schools recorded particularly notable gains. In English language arts, Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School improved by 11.2 percentage points, Roberto G. Sánchez Elementary School (formerly César Chávez), improved by 6.2 points and Ray W. Huegel Elementary School improved by 8.3 points. In English language arts – reading, those same schools recorded gains of 12.3, 8.4 and 9.7 percentage points, respectively.

MMSD has also begun rolling out a new mathematics curriculum this school year, building on the district’s commitment to high-quality instruction and ensuring students have access to coherent, engaging learning experiences. The updated materials are designed to strengthen mathematical understanding and provide educators with resources to support student learning across grade levels. Professional learning and implementation support will help teachers integrate the materials into classroom practice.

Together, these efforts reflect MMSD’s broader approach to literacy: strengthening classroom instruction while creating more opportunities for students to engage with books, build reading habits and experience the joy of learning.

The Forward Exam is Wisconsin’s annual state assessment of student achievement in English language arts and mathematics, administered to grades three through eight. Results provide one measure of student learning and help schools and districts identify areas of progress and opportunities for continued improvement.

More information about MMSD’s literacy efforts and curriculum are available on the district’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that MMSD will be a learning community where all students are valued, challenged, supported and inspired to reach their dreams. With more than 7,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.