Kamal Ghorui
A majority of students in Vermont are performing “well below” proficiency targets in math and English language arts, according to the latest Vermont State Report Card released by the Vermont Agency of Education.According to an Associated Press report published by AP News, the annual assessment for the 2024–25 academic year found that most students are “not yet meeting grade-level academic standards.” More than half of Vermont schools also fell below performance expectations, with many reporting stagnant or declining outcomes.
Majority of students below grade-level standards
The report shows that fewer than 60% of students at any grade level are proficient in English language arts. In math, proficiency rates remain below 50% statewide.Third-grade English language arts results were flagged as especially concerning. Fewer than half of third graders met proficiency benchmarks, “raising alarm” because of the well-documented link between early reading skills and long-term academic success.Math proficiency remains among the lowest across tested subjects, particularly in elementary grades. However, state education officials noted an upward trend in math scores, suggesting students may be beginning to make accelerated progress.Toren Ballard, director of policy and communications at the Agency of Education, told AP that the state’s findings mirror longer-term declines reflected in the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly known as the nation’s report card.Over the past decade, NAEP data show reading and math scores in Vermont and across New England trending downward. Reporting by The Boston Globe in October noted that no state fell as sharply in early reading over the last decade as Vermont. NAEP results also indicate that Grade 4 math scores in states such as Mississippi and Louisiana have surpassed those in several New England states, including Vermont and Maine.
Graduation rates show steady decline
The report also highlights a drop in graduation rates. Vermont’s four-year graduation rate fell from 89% in 2017 to 82% in 2025. The six-year graduation rate declined from 91% to 85% over the same period.Erin Davis, the agency’s chief academic officer, said in comments cited by AP that the results are “a clear signal that our current student outcomes are not where they need to be,” calling for collective action to strengthen student achievement.
Reform debate intensifies
The findings arrive as Gov. Phil Scott and state lawmakers push for major reforms to Vermont’s public education system, including district consolidation and changes to school funding.Scott said the report “illustrates why education transformation is not optional, it’s essential,” arguing that rising property taxes and education costs are unsustainable. He added that reform efforts are aimed at closing opportunity gaps and delivering more equitable outcomes for students.His remarks drew criticism from education leaders. Don Tinney, president of the Vermont-National Education Association, accused the governor and Education Secretary Zoie Saunders of politicizing the assessment results.Chelsea Myers, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said the findings demand attention but cautioned that no single report can fully capture the breadth of student learning. She urged policymakers to ensure that reform discussions remain focused on students rather than political agendas.The Agency of Education said it is expanding support for schools identified as falling below state standards, emphasizing transparency and targeted intervention to improve outcomes statewide.
