Generated with Claude Research-Mode with LXD Research project knowledge
Prepared by Rachel Schechter, Ph.D.
Forward: Chad Aldeman wrote an article identifying the top 5 schools in each state “beating the odds in 3rd grade reading.” It made me wonder, what did these schools have in common and how could I figure it out quickly. Well, I tried out Claude Research Mode and used over 1,000 sources (many of which were government or nonprofit articles or reports). Here is what we put together. I didn’t check every source, and there is definitely a bunch of “marketing speak” from some of the product websites. Still an interesting read though, enjoy!
Across America’s highest-performing high-poverty elementary schools, a clear pattern emerges: systematic phonics instruction, knowledge-building curricula, and data-driven intervention systems are the dominant approaches driving their exceptional 3rd-grade reading results. This analysis of The 74 Million’s 255 “Bright Spots” schools reveals that while curriculum choices vary, the underlying commitment to science of reading principles and structured literacy is nearly universal.
The schools achieving the most dramatic results—Success Academy’s 94% proficiency rates, Mississippi’s statewide transformation from 49th to 21st nationally, and charter networks producing kindergartners who read by November—share a common toolkit. They’ve abandoned balanced literacy in favor of explicit phonics, invested heavily in LETRS professional development, and implemented multi-tiered intervention systems with rigorous progress monitoring. The products and practices identified below represent the most frequently documented approaches among these 255 exceptional schools.
Core reading curricula concentrate on five dominant programs
Amplify CKLA (Core Knowledge Language Arts) emerges as the single most frequently identified curriculum among high-performing schools across this study. Schools in 23 states either mandate or prominently feature CKLA on approved curriculum lists, with particularly strong adoption in Alaska (statewide 2023), Utah (the only curriculum meeting full SB 127 requirements), and the charter network sector (Icahn Charter Schools, National Heritage Academies). The program’s dual focus on systematic phonics and knowledge-building through content-rich texts explains its popularity—CKLA students scored 16 percentage points higher on end-of-year state tests than control groups in the Grissmer study.
McGraw-Hill Wonders represents the most widely adopted basal program nationally, dominating in Hawaii (exclusive statewide adoption since 2013), California (part of the 81% market share held by three programs), Washington state, and major charter networks including Somerset Academy and Pinecrest. Its all-green EdReports rating and comprehensive approach—phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, and writing integrated—make it the default choice for districts seeking a single-program solution.
HMH Into Reading has emerged as the flagship adoption for districts transitioning to science of reading-aligned materials, notably San Francisco USD (2024-25 adoption) and Virginia (statewide approved list). Wit & Wisdom (Great Minds) pairs with foundational skills programs like Fundations in Tennessee’s statewide initiative and Wisconsin’s Act 20 approved list. EL Education rounds out the top five, serving as the primary curriculum in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Rocky Mountain Prep’s Colorado network.
| Core Curriculum | Documented School/State Adoptions | Key Distinguishing Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Amplify CKLA | 23+ states, Icahn/NHA charters | Knowledge-building + phonics integrated |
| McGraw-Hill Wonders | Hawaii (statewide), FL charters, CA | Comprehensive basal program |
| HMH Into Reading | SFUSD, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio | Strongest EdReports ratings |
| Wit & Wisdom | Tennessee, Wisconsin, Connecticut | Requires foundational skills supplement |
| EL Education | CMS, RMP Colorado, Louisiana Tier 1 | Project-based knowledge-building |
Wilson and Lexia products dominate intervention markets, but 95 Percent Group, UFLI, and Heggerty claim pockets
Wilson Language Training products appear in virtually every state’s approved intervention list. Fundations serves as the Tier 1-2 prevention program of choice for K-3 students, documented in Arizona’s Alhambra Traditional School, Wisconsin’s statewide Act 20 list, and across Florida charter networks. Wilson Reading System provides intensive Tier 3 intervention, while Just Words accelerates the Wilson approach for grades 4-12. The Wilson approach’s Orton-Gillingham foundation—systematic, multisensory, structured literacy—aligns with the science of reading movement driving curriculum reform nationwide.
Lexia Core5 stands as the most extensively researched and widely deployed technology-based reading intervention. A RAND-reviewed California study of over 1 million students found Core5 schools scored 3.49 points higher on SBAC ELA assessments. The program’s adaptive technology identifies skill gaps and provides differentiated practice, making it a staple in Oklahoma (statewide deployment with $58.9 million grant), Hawaii, Oregon (267 schools, 38,300 students in 2023-24), and Montana. By 2024-25, 83% of Pre-K-5 students using Core5 reached or exceeded grade-level benchmarks.
95 Percent Group materials appear prominently in Colorado (Rocky Mountain Prep’s tutoring curriculum), Tennessee (state-approved intervention), and Connecticut districts. The Phonics Lesson Library provides structured Tier 2 small-group intervention, while the Core program offers systematic phonics instruction. Heggerty Phonemic Awareness appears on virtually every state’s approved list and serves as the default phonemic awareness supplement, requiring just 10-12 minutes of daily oral/auditory warm-up.
| Intervention Program | Primary Use Case | Notable Deployments |
|---|---|---|
| Wilson Fundations | K-3 prevention (Tier 1-2) | Arizona, Wisconsin, FL charters |
| Lexia Core5 | Adaptive technology (Tier 2) | OK, HI, OR, MT statewide |
| Wilson Reading System | Intensive Tier 3 | State approved lists nationwide |
| 95 Percent Group | Small-group phonics | RMP Colorado, Tennessee |
| Heggerty | Phonemic awareness | Near-universal supplement |
| UFLI Foundations | Explicit phonics | Rapidly growing; Utah approved |
Assessment systems cluster around three major platforms, but six cover most states
DIBELS 8th Edition (including Amplify’s mCLASS digital platform and Acadience Reading) dominates universal screening, documented as the mandatory assessment in North Carolina (statewide for K-3), Ohio (ReadOhio program), DC Public Schools (75 schools), and the cornerstone of Reading Corps’ evidence base. The measure’s efficiency—brief oral reading fluency probes administered individually—makes it the gold standard for progress monitoring in MTSS frameworks.
i-Ready Diagnostic (Curriculum Associates) serves as the primary computer-adaptive assessment across Florida charter networks (Pinecrest, Somerset Academy), Washington (Yakima district), and California (San Francisco USD). Its strength lies in correlation with state tests and immediate diagnostic data identifying specific skill gaps. Renaissance STAR Reading captures 32% of Massachusetts early literacy screening scores and provides normative benchmarks across grade levels.
NWEA MAP Growth dominates in the charter sector (National Heritage Academies, Rocky Mountain Prep) and state alternative assessment lists. Its growth-focused approach tracks individual student progress regardless of grade level. FastBridge integrates with Minnesota’s PRESS framework, while aimswebPlus serves as Tennessee’s statewide Tennessee Universal Reading Screener.
| Assessment System | Coverage | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|
| DIBELS 8 / mCLASS / Acadience | NC, OH, DC statewide | Universal screening 3x/year |
| i-Ready Diagnostic | FL charters, CA, WA | Computer-adaptive diagnostic |
| STAR Reading | 32% of MA screeners | Normative benchmarking |
| NWEA MAP Growth | NHA, RMP networks | Growth tracking |
| FastBridge | Minnesota PRESS | MTSS progress monitoring |
Professional development converges on LETRS training, yet local agencies are gaining ground
LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) has achieved near-universal adoption among states pursuing science of reading implementation. As of January 2026, 23 states have contracted with Lexia for statewide LETRS training, with 625,000+ educators trained supporting over 6 million students. The 160-hour, two-year program developed by Dr. Louisa Moats covers the complete scope of reading instruction—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
North Carolina mandated LETRS for all K-5 educators, with 44,000+ teachers completing training by June 2024. South Carolina requires LETRS for all K-3 teachers certified in Early Childhood, Elementary, or Special Education. West Virginia funded statewide LETRS access, while Oklahoma provides training through Science of Reading Academies with $600 stipends for completion. Mississippi’s “Mississippi Miracle”—climbing from 49th to 21st nationally in 4th-grade reading—correlates directly with aggressive LETRS deployment and curriculum reform.
DC Public Schools trained 650+ teachers through LETRS and the DC Reading Clinic, complementing their development of 120 locally-created decodable books (Readers Next Door) with Dr. Julia Lindsey. Texas implemented mandatory Texas Reading Academies (100+ hours) for all K-3 teachers and principals under HB 3, with free Amplify Texas Elementary Literacy Program resources available to all districts.
Charter networks demonstrate distinctive instructional models
Success Academy operates with the highest reading proficiency rates among all schools in this study (94% at Bronx 5 Upper). Their proprietary THINK Literacy curriculum emphasizes five key reading tactics: visualization (“mind movies”), vocabulary in context, title analysis, identifying the big idea with evidence, and noticing interesting language. The network uses Success For All for K-1 phonics instruction, provides 250+ hours of annual professional development, and delivers uniform content across all schools on the same day. Extended school days and systematic phonics produce readers who significantly outperform district averages.
Icahn Charter Schools implement Core Knowledge Language Arts with extended school days (8:30 AM – 3:45 PM), extended school years (into July), class sizes of only 18 students, and Saturday Academy for struggling students. Multiple Icahn schools have earned Blue Ribbon designations. Bronx Charter School for Excellence produces kindergartners reading by November through two hours of daily reading instruction, one hour of daily writing, and a co-teaching model with two teachers in most classrooms.
Rocky Mountain Prep in Colorado stands out for its innovative Peak Family Tutor Program, which trains parents and caregivers as full-time reading tutors earning $40,000-$55,000 annually. Tutors provide small-group instruction using 95 Percent Group curriculum. The network moved students from the 33rd to the 69th percentile in literacy nationally.
MTSS frameworks and tiered interventions are universal
All 255 schools operate within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support frameworks, with remarkably consistent structures. Tier 1 provides universal core instruction meeting 80% of student needs. Tier 2 adds 30 minutes of small-group intervention 3-5 times weekly for students not meeting benchmarks. Tier 3 delivers intensive, often 1:1 support with weekly progress monitoring.
Progress monitoring frequencies follow predictable patterns: universal screening three times yearly (beginning, middle, end of year), Tier 2 progress monitoring every two weeks, and Tier 3 monitoring weekly with calculated Rate of Improvement tracking. Data meetings occur regularly with MTSS teams including teachers, specialists, and administrators analyzing screening data and adjusting tier placements.
Branching Minds emerges as the leading MTSS software platform, serving 545+ districts and 300,000+ teachers with tier automation, intervention libraries, and AI-powered tools. The platform demonstrates 426% ROI within three years and 40% reduction in tracking and meeting prep time. Other platforms include Illuminate Education, Otus, and FastBridge.
Attendance and family engagement follow three-tiered models
High-performing schools implement Attendance Works’ tiered approach: Tier 1 prevention for all students, emphasizing positive conditions and recognition programs; Tier 2 early intervention with personalized outreach for students missing 10%+ of school; and Tier 3 intensive case management for severely chronically absent students using evidence-based programs like Check & Connect mentoring.
ParentSquare dominates family communication software, serving 20+ million educators and families with two-way messaging and translation in 150+ languages. ClassDojo reaches 90% of U.S. schools with behavior tracking aligned to PBIS/MTSS frameworks. Raising a Reader provides weekly take-home books, building home libraries for 140,000+ children annually. Reading Corps (AmeriCorps) delivers high-impact tutoring, making students 3x less likely to be referred for special education.
DC Public Schools invested $40 million in high-impact tutoring, reaching 7,600+ students. Connecticut’s LEAP program reduced chronic absenteeism through coordinated home visits across 15 districts. California’s Community Schools approach—with coordinators serving as bridges between schools, families, and partners—significantly reduced chronic absenteeism at featured schools.
Regional patterns reveal state policy as primary driver
State legislation now drives curriculum selection more than individual school choice. The “Southern Surge” states—Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama—showed the most dramatic NAEP gains after mandating HQIM (High-Quality Instructional Materials) adoption and three-cueing bans. By 2024, 80% of Mississippi districts adopted one of six EdReports high-quality programs.
Ohio’s ReadOhio (HB 33) mandates science of reading-aligned curricula from state-approved lists and bans three-cueing in K-5 instruction. Wisconsin’s Act 20 requires LETRS training and provides reimbursement only for approved curricula (CKLA, Bookworms, EL Education, Wit & Wisdom + Fundations). North Carolina’s Excellent Public Schools Act mandated 160-hour LETRS training for all K-5 educators.
Charter school density correlates with exceptional performance in specific regions. New York’s top five schools are all charters (Success Academy, Bronx Excellence, Icahn), while Florida’s list includes Pinecrest, Somerset Academy, and Renaissance networks. California’s top performers include PUC Milagro Charter alongside LAUSD’s Hoover Street Elementary.
The pattern is unmistakable
Schools beating the odds share a remarkably consistent toolkit regardless of region:
- Knowledge-building ELA curriculum (CKLA, Wit & Wisdom, EL Education, or Wonders)
- Systematic foundational skills program (95 Percent Group, Fundations, Heggerty, Really Great Reading, or UFLI)
- Regular screening and progress monitoring (DIBELS, i-Ready, or STAR 3x yearly)
- Tiered intervention system (Lexia Core5 for Tier 2, Wilson/SPIRE for Tier 3)
- Comprehensive teacher training (LETRS or equivalent science of reading PD)
- Extended learning time (longer school days, Saturday programs, summer reading)
- Data-driven instruction with regular team analysis of student progress
The most consistent finding is not a single curriculum but the combination of high-quality materials, intensive professional development, systematic assessment, and structured intervention. These 255 schools demonstrate that poverty is not destiny when districts commit to evidence-based literacy instruction.