Third graders bring bright spots to Union’s fall reading and math results

Union’s third graders gave their schools some encouraging news this fall, with standout results in both Dysart and La Porte City.

At Dysart-Geneseo Elementary, 92% of third graders met the literacy benchmark on the district’s FAST assessments. Union says that is the grade’s highest percentage in more than a decade. At La Porte City Elementary, 89% of third graders met the math benchmark—the strongest math result among the district’s grade levels.

Those percentages represent students meeting a learning benchmark, rather than average test scores. For teachers, the assessments help show where students are making progress and where they may need more support.

Union shared the results Tuesday, October 13. FAST, short for Formative Assessment System for Teachers, gives the district a snapshot of learning in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Several school-level results improved. At Union Middle School, 69% of students met the literacy benchmark, compared with 68% last fall and 65% in fall 2023. DG Elementary’s literacy rate rose from 69% last fall to 72% this fall.

At La Porte City Elementary, 80% met the math benchmark, compared with 78% last fall and 77% two years ago.

The district also reported progress as students moved from one grade to the next. Its third-grade math benchmark rate was 13 percentage points higher than those students’ second-grade results. The second-grade literacy rate improved 12 percentage points compared with their first-grade results.

Across the district, the overall numbers held steady: 71% met the literacy benchmark, matching the previous two years, and 77% met the math benchmark, matching last fall.

“These assessments help us better understand student learning and make informed instructional decisions,” Curriculum Director Corindy Stoakes said.

Superintendent John Howard credited students and staff for their work and said the district was encouraged by the results.

FAST is one snapshot of learning. Union will use these findings alongside other measures to guide instruction and identify opportunities for continued growth. For families, the fall results offer an encouraging look at several grades—and a starting point for the work still ahead.