Walt Disney Students Make Significant Gains on 2026 IREAD Achieving 94.4% Pass Rate

Walt Disney Elementary students made significant gains in reading proficiency on the 2026 IREAD assessment, achieving a 94.4% passing rate.

The Title I school’s passing rate increased 8.2 percentage points in just one year, climbing from 86.2% in 2025 to 94.4% in 2026.

With that growth, Walt Disney moved well above Indiana’s statewide passing rate of 88.7%. The school’s 2026 results are 5.7 percentage points higher than the state average.

Walt Disney was also among four P-H-M Title I elementary schools to achieve a passing rate above 90% in 2026.

Across Penn-Harris-Madison, 94.7% of students passed IREAD, 6 percentage points higher than the state average. Ten of the district’s 11 elementary schools performed above the statewide passing rate.

“These results are a reflection of the incredible dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the partnership of our families,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “I am especially proud of the growth we are seeing across our schools, including our Title I schools that have achieved a 90% or higher passing rate. These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when we maintain high expectations and provide students with the support they need.”

P-H-M continues to prioritize research-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, providing educators with professional learning, instructional resources, and opportunities to collaborate around student data and effective instructional practices.

All P-H-M second grade students also participate in IREAD as an early indicator of whether they are on track to read proficiently by the end of third grade. In 2026, 72.1% of P-H-M second graders passed IREAD a year early.

Walt Disney’s significant year-over-year growth reflects P-H-M’s commitment to building on a culture of academic excellence and providing students with the instruction and support necessary to become confident and capable readers.

By the Numbers

• 94.4% — Walt Disney 2026 IREAD pass rate
• +8.2 percentage points — Increase from 2025
• 5.7 percentage points — Walt Disney performance above the state average
• 90%+ — One of four P-H-M Title I schools above this mark
• 94.7% — P-H-M corporation-wide pass rate
• 88.7% — Indiana statewide pass rate
• 72.1% — P-H-M second graders passing IREAD