SCORES: Idaho Department of Education releases 2025 ISATs

The author was correct to begin the article by stating “overall scores remained mostly stable when compared to last year’s results.” However, I take issue with the author’s subsequent interpretation of the most recent test scores which reflects poorly on his/her understanding of basic statistics. The differences in proficiency rates cited in throughout the article are overwhelmingly NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.

Using a standard p-value of 0.05, any improvement in scores must show at least a gain of five percentage points in order to be considered as statistically significant. So, for example, even the slight decline in 4th grade ISAT scores in Idaho (2024 67.1%, 2025 64.6) is not significant. Similarly, the following assertion made by the author of the article is incorrect and misleading.

“Students scoring in the advanced range of the proficient category saw a slight increase, with 23.2% scoring advanced in 2024 compared to 23.6% in 2025.” In order to have been statistically significant, 28.2% of students must have scored proficient in the language arts subtest.

A more accurate conclusion from the most recent data would be that overall there is no significant difference in a comparison of test scores from 2024 and 2025. Unfortunately, the levels of reading and writing proficiency have remained stagnant in our country for at least the past 20 years. 

ROBERT LEM

Coeur d’Alene