Scores are in: Basin Schools competitive statewide

Riverside High School met the state average ACT composite score of 18.7 for the 2024-25 school year but is still a couple points short of pre-pandemic numbers. This mirrors averages across the state. 

“Even during the pandemic, we never really saw a huge drop in scores here,” RMHS principal Matt Jensen said. “Obviously, it happened everywhere, but we’ve been blessed with great teachers, great students, great parents and support … we never really saw a huge drop but I’m glad we’re able to maintain a high level.”

In English, the Rebels averaged 18.5, above the state average of 17.6 and exceeding RHS’s 2023-24 average of 18.3. Science stayed similar to past Riverside averages and exceeded the state average by 0.5 at 19.5. Math and reading were below state average by 0.8 at 17.7 and 0.7 at 19.2, respectively. Both were down from prior district averages, as well. 

Among other stipulations, the highest level of Hathaway Scholarship funding requires an ACT score of 25. The lowest level requires a score of 17. 

WYTOPP and WY-ALT

The Wyoming Department of Education reported a 1-3% increase in performance across all categories of the Wyoming Test of Proficiency and Progress and Wyoming Alternative Assessment for 2024-25. English language arts and science scores have returned to pre-pandemic levels statewide, WDE reports. 

Big Horn County School District No. 4 mirrored this, with growth in ELA and science and a slight drop in math scores. 

“I’m happy with our scores, but at the same time I think that we know, as a staff that we need to try to continue to do what’s best for our kids. Each kid is an individual, so each plan is individual for what we expect out of kids in WYTOPP,” Jensen said. Growth is something RMHS looks at for individual students. 

The district had 61.5% of students test proficient in ELA for grades 3-10, up 2.6%. Ninth grade struggled with a 14.8% drop from last year’s scores, with 57.9% of the class achieving proficiency. Grade seven dropped 26.5% from last year, at 50% proficiency. Third graders, however, had a 25.7% jump in literacy, making them 62.5% proficient. Sixth grade tested 77.3% proficient, a 27.3% positive change.

Jensen noted that difficulties among certain grade levels will be targeted by RMHS staff. 

In science, the district achieved 63.3% proficiency for grades 4, 8 and 10, a 7.6% increase from last year. Growth was shown through grade level, with fourth and eighth graders testing 63% proficient and 10th graders achieving 72.7% proficiency, the highest in small schools. 

Across all students grades 3-10, BGH4 had 64.2% test proficient in math. This is down 2.9% from last year, though the district still ranked second out of small schools, falling behind only Ten Sleep with 80.6% proficiency. Grade nine was the largest contributor to this decline for Riverside, with only 36.8% of students achieving proficiency in math, down over 50% from last year. 

Accountability reports

Laura Irwin Elementary received “Partially Meeting Expectations” on its 2024-25 accountability report, ranking average on all measures but Equity, where it fell 2.9% below average. 

Principal Katie Seeley addressed this at the September school board meeting, explaining that Equity measures the ability of the lowest performing students to grow at the same rate as their peers. Thirty percent of the student body across Riverside schools is identified as special education, ranking one of the highest in the state. In K-5, 16% of LIE v students have an Individualized Education Program. 

Seeley will reportedly work with Superintendent Keith Campbell to form an improvement plan on this measure. 

In the other two measures, Achievement, the heaviest weighted category, and Growth, LIE ranks average. 

Riverside Middle High School received a “Meeting Expectations” in all three categories, at or above average. Grades 6-8 were above average on achievement and equity, with the high school exceeding target on postsecondary readiness. Notably, growth in the middle school was below average and high school graduation rated below average. 

Jensen noted that with small class sizes, even one dropout can impact the graduation rate heavily. While RMHS has a goal of 100% graduation rate, they have also opened paths to GEDs and Job Corps for students when applicable. 

“Nobody slips through the cracks here at Riverside,” Jensen said.