How Are Arkansas Students Doing? 2025 ATLAS Results Are In!
Arkansas released ATLAS summative assessment scores to school districts this week. This marks the first year we can measure student progress against the 2024 ATLAS baseline. For those of us who follow the data—or helped shape the ATLAS system itself—it’s a moment of reflection and opportunity.
So, how did our students do? 2025 ATLAS Snapshot Report
In short: they improved. According to a press release from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), results from the 2024–25 ATLAS spring assessment show increased student performance in nearly all tested subjects and grade levels compared to 2024 baselines. These gains align with the implementation of the statewide system designed to give students, educators, and families better insight into learning progress throughout the year.
ATLAS: More Than a Test
ATLAS is Arkansas’ comprehensive K–12 assessment system, fully aligned with Arkansas Academic Standards. But it’s more than just a test—it’s a system designed to support learning year-round.
Before the introduction of ATLAS, annual summative assessments functioned as isolated snapshots of student performance, offering limited insight into learning throughout the year. To bridge the gaps between these assessments, schools were often left to piece together a variety of disconnected tools and resources in an effort to monitor student progress. This patchwork approach made it difficult to ensure consistency and alignment with statewide academic expectations.
ATLAS represents a significant shift. Now, every school in Arkansas has access to a cohesive, integrated system designed to support teaching and learning year-round. This comprehensive suite includes interim assessments, detailed test blueprints, and high-quality digital instructional resources—all aligned to the same academic standards that guide the end-of-year summative assessments. With ATLAS, educators can monitor student growth more effectively, tailor instruction with greater precision, and ensure students stay on track throughout the school year.
This alignment is intentional. It’s what enables educators, families, and students to monitor progress on grade-level expectations throughout the year—not just at the end. The most important next step? Learning how to use the system well. Knowing how to leverage these tools helps educators target instruction, students own their progress, and families better support learning.
What We’re Observing in the 2025 Assessment Results
The Arkansas Department of Education has released the 2025 state assessment results, and several important trends have emerged across subject areas. The data provides valuable insight into student progress and highlights areas of continued focus for schools and districts across the state.
English Language Arts (ELA)
- Overall Proficiency Gains:
A positive trend was observed, with increases in proficiency levels across most grade levels. Notably, over 2,700 additional students reached proficiency in ELA compared to the previous year.
- Grade 3 Reading – Mixed Progress:
While the percentage of students scoring at the Advanced level in Grade 3 Reading increased by 1.5 percentage points, the overall proficiency rate declined slightly from 36.2% in 2024 to 35.7% in 2025.
More concerning is the rise in students performing at Level 1 (the lowest performance category), which increased from 27.4% to 29.6%. This trend is particularly significant in the context of the LEARNS Act, which includes early literacy benchmarks tied to Grade 3 retention decisions.
Mathematics
- Upward Trends Across Most Grades:
Math proficiency improved in the majority of grade levels, with Grade 4 showing the most substantial gains year over year.
- Ongoing Challenges in Grade 5:
Consistent with past trends, Grade 5 continues to lag behind other grade levels in math proficiency, signaling a need for targeted intervention and support.
- Strong Performance in High School Courses:
Noteworthy improvements were seen in Algebra I and Geometry, with both courses showing significant increases in student proficiency. These gains are especially important for college and career readiness.
Science
- Improvement Across All Tested Grades (Grades 3–8):
Proficiency rates increased at every tested grade level, reflecting positive momentum in science instruction and learning outcomes.
- Grade 4 Leading the Way:
For the second consecutive year, Grade 4 demonstrated the most notable improvement in science scores, reinforcing the impact of early science engagement and instruction.
These assessment outcomes offer both encouragement and a call to action. While there are clear gains to celebrate—particularly in math and science—specific challenges, especially in Grade 3 literacy, warrant focused attention as Arkansas continues to implement the LEARNS Act and drive toward improved outcomes for all students.
Guidance for Next Steps: Moving from Results to Action
Now that student assessment scores are available, the real work begins: using that data to inform instruction and drive improvement. I recently shared this guidance with a superintendent whose district is focused on increasing the percentage of students reaching proficiency (Levels 3 and 4) and decreasing the number performing at Level 1.
Begin with a close look at your data—specifically, the standard-by-standard reports at both the class and grade level. These reports provide a detailed view of where instruction was strongly aligned to the state standards, helping schools identify effective practices that should be reinforced and scaled. Just as importantly, they point to areas where students struggled, giving instructional teams a clear starting point for adjusting curriculum, pacing, and support strategies in the coming year.
Once teachers have reviewed and reflected on last year’s performance, they can shift their focus to the students entering their classrooms for the 2025–26 school year. The earlier availability of ATLAS interim assessments this year presents an opportunity: schools can choose to use the interims as a diagnostic pretest at the start of the year or wait a few weeks to assess how students are progressing after initial instruction. Whichever option you choose, the interims offer timely, actionable data that can guide instructional planning, support differentiation, and accelerate student growth from the very beginning of the year.
Accessing Results & Resources
From the Office for Education Policy (OEP):
To support educators, families, and school leaders in making the most of the ATLAS system, we’ve developed a series of brief, easy-to-follow video tutorials. These videos are designed to guide users through the features of the ATLAS portal and demonstrate how to access and interpret the available reports.
Whether you’re a parent looking to better understand your child’s academic data, a teacher interested in using ATLAS reports to inform instruction, or an administrator seeking to support schoolwide improvement, these resources are tailored to meet your needs.
📺 Explore the full collection on our YouTube channel:
➡️ Office for Education Policy – YouTube
We encourage you to watch and share these tutorials to help your school community make the most of the powerful insights available through ATLAS.
From the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE):
- Accessing Test Results:
Families and educators can view state assessment results by visiting either of the following official websites:
- My School Info – A comprehensive portal offering detailed academic data for schools across Arkansas.
- 2025 Test Scores Portal – Direct access to this year’s state assessment results.
- Learn More About the ATLAS Testing System:
For an in-depth understanding of the ATLAS assessment platform, visit:
- About ATLAS – This site provides valuable information including how the testing system works, resources specifically for parents, and testimonials from educators on how ATLAS supports student learning.
- Student Score Reports:
Parents and guardians can access their child’s individual test score reports through the ATLAS Portal:
- ATLAS Parent Portal – Note: Each school will provide specific instructions to families on how to log in and view their child’s scores.