Rep. Soliday: Local schools recognized for literacy achievements

Posted by: Kendall Macri  | Monday, April 13, 2026

STATEHOUSE (April 13, 2026) – Local schools were recently recognized for achieving high literacy rates by the Indiana Department of Education, according to State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso).

"Our educational success in reading is something to celebrate," Soliday said. "Congratulations to all the schools who have achieved these high passage rates and to the educators and students for their hard work."

IDOE recognized more than 400 schools across the state achieving a 95% or higher passage rate on the 2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment at the Literacy Achievement Celebration at the Statehouse on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

Area schools recognized include:

  • Central Elementary School
  • Cooks Corners Elementary School
  • Flint Lake Elementary School
  • Heavilin Elementary School
  • John Simatovich Elementary School
  • Kouts Elementary School
  • Memorial Elementary School
  • Morgan Township Elementary School
  • Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
  • Washington Township Elementary

In 2023, Soliday supported House Enrolled Act 1558 to implement science of reading standards and provide targeted support for Indiana students experiencing the greatest reading challenges.

Last year, Indiana's third grade reading scores improved by nearly five percentage points, which is the largest single-year increase since the state launched IREAD in 2013. More than 87% of Hoosier third graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, putting Indiana's literacy rate at this grade level back to pre-pandemic levels.

These IREAD results follow Indiana placing sixth in the country for fourth and eighth grade reading in the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) rankings.

Results from the 2025 IREAD for individual schools and corporations are available on IDOE's website. Click here to learn more about the state's literacy standards.

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State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) represents House District 4,
which includes a portion of Porter County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.