School Districts With Fast-Rising Test Scores Have 5 Things In Common
The Fond du Lac School District in Wisconsin improved math and reading scores between 2022 and 2025 by rejecting AI in classrooms, increasing principal classroom presence, and prioritizing structured literacy and teacher collaboration. Over 100 U.S. districts share five key strategies—literacy focus, instructional consistency, teacher coaching, accountability, and human connection—to drive academic gains amid national declines." "article": "The Fond du Lac School District in Wisconsin has seen significant academic improvements in math and reading scores between 2022 and 2025, despite resisting AI adoption in classrooms. Instead, the district prioritizes principals spending more time in classrooms, regular teacher-administrator meetings to analyze student performance, and proactive outreach to families when students miss school. According to the latest Education Scorecard report, 13 of 14 schools now exceed or significantly exceed state expectations, up from just three schools five years ago. The district’s success contrasts with national trends, where math and reading scores remain depressed, with eighth-grade reading scores at their lowest since 1990. However, over 100 U.S. districts are improving faster than peers, sharing five common strategies: treating literacy as a system-wide priority, ensuring instructional consistency, providing teacher coaching, enforcing accountability, and fostering human connection. Fond du Lac’s approach includes structured literacy based on the ‘science of reading,’ training teachers and leaders uniformly, and aligning curricula across grade levels. Superintendent Matt Steinbarth noted that while some districts seek a single ‘magic solution,’ sustained improvement requires time and intentionality. Idaho’s Kuna Joint School District, another high-performing district, implemented similar science-of-reading training for teachers, principals, and school board members. Principals in improving districts shift from administrative roles to instructional leadership, focusing on direct classroom support and teacher collaboration. Districts also emphasize data-driven adjustments, reteaching weak areas, and building relationships with families. These strategies collectively address systemic gaps while maintaining accountability, contributing to measurable academic growth.
The Fond du Lac School District in Wisconsin has seen significant academic improvements in math and reading scores between 2022 and 2025, despite resisting AI adoption in classrooms. Instead, the district prioritizes principals spending more time in classrooms, regular teacher-administrator meetings to analyze student performance, and proactive outreach to families when students miss school. According to the latest Education Scorecard report, 13 of 14 schools now exceed or significantly exceed state expectations, up from just three schools five years ago. The district’s success contrasts with national trends, where math and reading scores remain depressed, with eighth-grade reading scores at their lowest since 1990. However, over 100 U.S. districts are improving faster than peers, sharing five common strategies: treating literacy as a system-wide priority, ensuring instructional consistency, providing teacher coaching, enforcing accountability, and fostering human connection. Fond du Lac’s approach includes structured literacy based on the ‘science of reading,’ training teachers and leaders uniformly, and aligning curricula across grade levels. Superintendent Matt Steinbarth noted that while some districts seek a single ‘magic solution,’ sustained improvement requires time and intentionality. Idaho’s Kuna Joint School District, another high-performing district, implemented similar science-of-reading training for teachers, principals, and school board members. Principals in improving districts shift from administrative roles to instructional leadership, focusing on direct classroom support and teacher collaboration. Districts also emphasize data-driven adjustments, reteaching weak areas, and building relationships with families. These strategies collectively address systemic gaps while maintaining accountability, contributing to measurable academic growth.
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