STAR Reading
At Sacred Heart, we believe that strong readers become strong learners. Reading is truly the foundation of all education—it opens doors to every subject area, builds confidence, strengthens critical thinking, and prepares students for success far beyond the classroom. We are so proud of the solid reading foundation our students are building and the excitement they show as they grow in their skills and love of reading.
Recent data across Missouri shows that reading proficiency remains a concern. While about 58% of the state’s fourth graders are performing at or above the basic level, only 27–30% are reaching proficient or advanced benchmarks.
At Sacred Heart, our experience reflects a different trajectory. Our students are not just progressing—they are demonstrating steady growth and proficiency, building strong literacy skills year after year. We use the STAR Reading Test to measure both the proficiency and growth of our students based on their individual reading levels. Students in grades 1-5 take this assessment three times each year—at the beginning, middle, and end—to help us better understand their strengths, identify areas for growth, and guide instruction. The test measures key components of reading, including fluency and comprehension, both of which are essential for success across all subject areas.
We are proud to share that, based on our mid-year results, a strong majority of our students are demonstrating both growth and proficiency:
1st Grade: 71%
2nd Grade: 73%
3rd Grade: 65%
4th Grade: 68%
5th Grade: 78%
Even more encouraging, among students with historical data, over 80% have demonstrated mastery in phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension—a reflection of our students’ effort, the encouragement they receive at home, and the dedication of our teachers. These results are something to celebrate!
Reading is the foundation for learning, and these results are something to celebrate! As we look ahead to summer, we encourage all students to keep the momentum going. Continued reading during the summer months helps maintain and even strengthen the skills they’ve worked so hard to build throughout the year.
Keep reading, keep growing, and keep discovering new stories!
IOWA TEST SCORES
This fall, our 3rd–10th grade students joined others across the diocese in taking the Iowa Assessments, which measure achievement on nationwide standards in Reading, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. These assessments provide valuable insight into student strengths, areas for growth, and year-to-year progress.
While individual results were shared earlier, we are excited to highlight our overall school performance. Every grade level scored above the state average—an accomplishment that reflects the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers. Notably, our 9th and 10th grade students achieved scores above 13+, meaning they are performing approximately 3–4 grade levels or more above expectations.
The graph below highlights each grade level and shows how that same group of students has performed over the past three years, giving a clear picture of their growth over time.
We are proud of these results and will continue using this data to support, challenge, and grow each of our students.
