Vermont Agency of Education releases preliminary 2024-2025 statewide assessment results

The Vermont Agency of Education has published preliminary results for the 2024-2025 Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP), which measures student proficiency in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. The assessments are given annually to students in grades 3-9 for ELA and math, and to students in grades 5, 8, and 11 for science.

According to the agency, statewide proficiency rates across all subjects in 2024-2025 remained similar to those in 2023-2024. Most grade-level proficiency rates changed by one percentage point or less, except for ELA among 4th and 5th graders, which increased by 7 and 5 percentage points, respectively.

ELA proficiency rates ranged from 46% to 61% across grades. In mathematics, there was a decrease of 3 percentage points among 3rd graders, with overall math proficiency rates ranging from 33% to 48%. Science proficiency rates stayed steady between 41% and 45%.

The data also showed continued achievement gaps between students from historically marginalized backgrounds and their peers. The average difference in proficiency rates was 32% in ELA, a slight decrease from the previous year. In mathematics and science, the gaps remained unchanged at 31% and 30%, respectively.

The results released are preliminary; final statewide results are expected later in the fall, along with school and district level data once student information is validated. School and district staff already have access to their results for instructional planning, and individual student results have been shared with families.

Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders commented on the findings: “The VTCAP results underscore persistent achievement gaps and the need to better support all learners. This is consistent with recent performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress and key findings from the Agency’s September report on Special Education, which identified underlying systemic quality issues in general education settings. However, we are encouraged by the improvement among 4th and 5th graders in English Language Arts and are eager to work with educators to build upon that progress. Moving forward, our focus is to scale effective instructional practices and support improvement across all grades and subjects as we collectively develop a clear, statewide vision and plan for elevating academic outcomes.”

Further information about Vermont’s performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress can be found on the Nation’s Report Card website, along with the Agency of Education’s response to a recent Boston Globe article about New England schools. The agency’s recent Special Education Report provides more detail on special education findings and related challenges in Vermont’s general education system.