State Superintendent Degenfelder Releases 2026 School Performance Ratings
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) have released the 2025-26 School Performance Ratings results. School performance levels are derived from a variety of indicators, including student growth, readiness, achievement, equity, English language proficiency, graduation rates, and credits earned. For alternative schools, the measures are similar to traditional schools, with Climate and Engagement as additional indicators.
Percent of Traditional Schools at Performance Levels for Wyoming Schools 
For the 2025-26 school year, 75% of grades 3-8 schools are Meeting or Exceeding in Achievement, up 5%. Graduates from ALL schools meeting the Post-secondary Readiness indicator have increased to 69%.
Over the past two years, the WDE has shifted the Statewide System of Supports from a reactive framework to a forward-facing, comprehensive system for school success. At the heart of this transformation are Critical School Improvement Plans, designed not merely as compliance tools but as strategic roadmaps for continuous growth and achievement for the most underperforming schools.
Under Superintendent Degenfelder’s leadership from 2022–23 to 2025–26, the percentage of traditional schools meeting overall performance standards rose 10 percentage points—from 40% (119 schools) in 2022–23 to 50% (147 schools) in 2025–26—while schools in the lowest performance level were reduced by 3 percentage points. Additionally, traditional 3–8 grade achievement indicators rose 10 percentage points in the Above Average category and fell 13 percentage points in the Below Average category, along with steady improvements in traditional high school achievement levels.
“These 2025-26 school performance ratings reflect the dedication, resilience, and relentless effort of our educators, students, and communities across Wyoming,” said State Superintendent Megan Degenfelder. “The high bar set by the state’s accountability model when it was created a decade ago, coupled with a focus on our key priorities and a more proactive Statewide System of Support, is empowering schools with the tools they need to foster sustainable achievement. I could not be prouder of these achievements, and we remain fully committed to supporting every school as we build on this strong momentum.”
One indicator worth noting is postsecondary readiness, which encompasses college, career, and military readiness. Wyoming is growing across all three categories, showing students are increasingly prepared for the future.
Count and Percent of Graduates Post-Secondary Ready (PSR) by School Year.
Under Superintendent Degenfelder’s leadership, a core WDE Strategic Plan initiative has been strengthening career and technical education to better equip students for the workforce. With this statewide priority and statewide partnership efforts, Wyoming saw a 6.5% increase in career readiness this year, a 16.4% increase over the last two years, and a 21.6% increase over the last 4 years. Further, over the last 4 years, the percent of high school graduates with industry-recognized credentials increased by 111.6%.
In the last year, College Readiness decreased by 1.8% and Military Readiness increased by 3.5%. Over the last four years, College Readiness has shown an increase by 1.3%, and Military Readiness has increased by 8.4%
Count and Percent of Students Career Ready (PSR) by School Year
“Four years ago, we prioritized career and technical education in Wyoming. These post-secondary readiness results, particularly for career readiness and industry-recognized credentials, prove that when we come together in a unified statewide effort, we can change that trajectory of students’ lives, and we can do so in a short amount of time. Not only will they themselves be better off, but so will our communities and our economy,” said Degenfelder.
Alternative schools also demonstrated notable progress across the last four years. The share of alternative schools achieving the highest overall performance level (Exceeding) rose 14 percentage points to 61% (11 schools) in 2025–26, up from 47% (8 schools) in 2022–23. Furthermore, alternative high school achievement indicators showed a 22% reduction in the “Below Average” category alongside a 17% increase in schools performing Above Average.
Statewide highlights include Carey Junior High School in Cheyenne, which moved from Not Meeting for six years to Meeting, and Wyoming Indian Middle School, which moved from Not Meeting for four years to Partially Meeting.
“Wyoming Indian Middle School and Fremont School District #14 are proud of our progress in student growth and equity. By blending community involvement with Arapaho and Shoshone traditions, we encourage students to attend daily, complete quality work, be a good relative, and use indigenous languages. Supported by dedicated teachers, MTSS, and SEL programs, these habits drive our graduation goals. This is a tremendous achievement, and we will continue refining our practices to help students flourish academically, socially, and culturally,” said Kevin Ley, Principal, Wyoming Indian Middle School.
Sweetwater School District #1 had four schools that moved two levels from Not Meeting to Meeting. Northpark Elementary, Pilot Butte Elementary, Stage Coach Elementary, and Sage Elementary had been at the Not Meeting level for more than three consecutive years.
“We are grateful for the recognition of the tremendous work our teachers, Student Achievement Teachers, administrators, and district leaders have accomplished over the past several years. By focusing collectively on strengthening Tier 1 instruction, aligning instruction to state standards, improving strategic interventions, and using data to drive collaborative planning, we have remained committed to improving student achievement. We are incredibly proud of our entire district for its unwavering dedication to keeping students and their learning needs at the heart of everything we do,” said Jodie Garner, Chief Academic Officer, Sweetwater SD#1
View the complete school performance rating data and a three-year ratings snapshot by district. Refer to the Parent & Community Member Overview for information outlining the accountability process and additional current results.
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Media Contact:
Dicky Shanor, Chief of Staff
307-777-7675
dicky.shanor@wyo.gov
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