Bittersweet Elementary Tops State Reading Benchmark

Bittersweet Elementary School earned state recognition after 95.9% of its third graders passed the IREAD assessment, surpassing Indiana's 95% benchmark for high-performing schools.

The Indiana Department of Education honored schools meeting the threshold during a statewide literacy celebration in spring. Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation representatives did not attend the event.

The achievement reflects district-wide gains. Across P-H-M's 11 elementary schools, 93.7% of third graders passed IREAD in 2025, marking the largest single-year improvement in district history.

Teachers implemented early reading intervention and consistent assessment practices to identify students needing additional support. Students scoring below passing levels receive remediation and retesting.

IREAD measures whether third graders have mastered foundational reading skills before advancing to fourth grade. Parents can access individual results through the district's parent portal.