East Baton Rouge Parish School System students in kindergarten through third grades demonstrated strong literacy growth during the 2025-26 school year, with the district recording its highest-ever early literacy performance.
Results from the state literacy screener show that 62% of K-3 students finished the school year reading on or above grade level, up from 48% at the beginning of the year, highlighting a 14 percentage-point increase.
The district’s 2025-26 results represent a milestone in early literacy achievement in EBR Schools. The percentage of students reading on or above grade level reached its highest level to date.
EBR’s literacy gains mirrored the strong progress seen across Louisiana during the 2025-26 school year.
More students reached grade-level reading benchmarks than ever before. The growth reflects the continued impact of strong literacy instruction, targeted intervention, and the collective efforts of students, teachers, school leaders and families across the district.
Nearly every school in the district demonstrated growth from the beginning to the end of the school year, reflecting the districtwide commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all students.
Every grade level improved during the school year, with kindergarten students posting the largest gains. The percentage of kindergarten students reading on or above grade level increased from 36% to 64%, representing a 28 percentage-point increase from the beginning to the end of the year.
“Our students are demonstrating that growth is possible when we remain focused on what matters most: teaching children to read,” said Superintendent LaMont Cole. “This 14% increase is more than a statistic; it represents thousands of students gaining the skills and confidence they need to succeed. We celebrate this milestone, but we remain committed to going even higher on behalf of every child we serve.”
The district’s literacy gains reflect ongoing investments in evidence-based literacy instruction, high-quality instructional materials, targeted intervention, educator training and implementation of the Science of Reading. Literacy screener data provides educators with real-time information to identify student needs early, monitor progress throughout the year and provide targeted support.
About the Louisiana K-3 Literacy Screener
All Louisiana public school students in grades K-3 are required to complete literacy screeners. These assessments increase in difficulty from the beginning to the end of the school year and provide teachers with real-time data to support students during their foundational years of learning. The screeners measure skills predictive of future reading success and report student performance as Above Level, On Level, Below Level or Well Below Level.
Percentage of Students Reading On or Above Grade Level
| Grade | Beginning of Year | End of Year | Growth |
| K-3 Overall | 48% | 62% | +14 |
| Kindergarten | 36% | 64% | +28 |
| Grade 1 | 50% | 62% | +12 |
| Grade 2 | 54% | 61% | +7 |
| Grade 3 | 54% | 63% | +9 |
