Laramie County School District 1 students posted their highest rates in English language arts and mathematics since Wyoming began using the WY-TOPP performance assessment in 2017–18. In 2025–26, 53.2 percent of tested LCSD1 students scored Proficient or Advanced in English language arts, while 49.0 percent scored Proficient or Advanced in mathematics.
"These results reflect steady work in classrooms across the district: stronger and more consistent reading instruction, continued teacher training in literacy, and earlier support for students,” Superintendent Dr. Stephen Newton said.
According to Newton, WY-TOPP proficiency is a high bar. The assessment measures whether students have demonstrated mastery of grade-level standards, including the ability to understand increasingly complex texts, analyze ideas, and support conclusions with evidence.
"These are important and demanding skills,” Newton said. "A student who does not reach the proficiency mark has not necessarily failed to learn, nor does that score mean the student lacks foundational skills. Rather, it means the student has not yet demonstrated mastery at the assessment’s most rigorous grade-level benchmark.”
District and school staff use WY-TOPP results alongside classroom work, local assessments, and teacher observation to understand where students are succeeding and where additional support is needed.
LCSD1 also saw improvement on the ACT, with district averages increasing from the prior year in English, reading and mathematics. At the school level, 14 LCSD1 schools earned Wyoming’s Meeting Expectations designation in 2026. Alta Vista, Anderson and Saddle Ridge elementary schools earned the state’s highest accountability designation, Exceeding Expectations.
“We are proud of the progress students and staff have made,” Newton said. “These results reflect real gains in learning, and they also remind us that our work is not finished. They are an important part of the story, but not the whole story. We will use all available information about individual student strengths and needs as we continue to strengthen instruction and provide the support each student needs to grow.”
