State Report

Indiana

Across the country, states are raising the bar for what high school can be—and Indiana is among those leading the way. In this state profile, we both celebrate the work done so far and offer a vision for continued progress.

State Report

Indiana

Overview

For over a decade, Indiana has been pioneering a new vision for high school education focused on better preparing students for postsecondary success, particularly in the workforce. In 2011, the state board of education adopted a new definition of credit based on student “demonstration of proficiency against the academic standards in a course.” This shift empowered the development of new high school models, like Purdue Polytechnic High School in Indianapolis, an industry-connected, STEM-focused network of high schools designed to expand college access. The state’s vision for secondary education features a strong emphasis on meaningful industry partnerships, workforce readiness, and the development of learner competencies and durable skills. Its graduate profile—Indiana Graduates Prepared to Succeed—was developed in parallel with efforts to expand work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeship programs and grants to support public-private partnerships that give students real-world learning experiences and opportunities for career exploration.

In 2024, Indiana adopted new high school diploma requirements that allow students to earn readiness seals in enrollment, employment, and enlistment and service. In addition to emphasizing academic mastery, these seals are designed to maximize the four years of high school and better connect students to their future goals. Along with its statewide direct admissions effort, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s program, called “Indiana Pre-Admissions: Your Path to College,” proactively informs seniors of in-state colleges that are ready to admit them, creating a more seamless pathway from high school to postsecondary education.

State leaders reinforced their vision by adopting a new data dashboard that provides a more holistic picture of high school student success, including the percentage of students enrolled in a postsecondary school or employed in Indiana one year after graduation. The state department of education also recently announced a partnership with the Carnegie Foundation and ETS to develop new assessment systems that align with the durable skills and competencies in the state’s graduate profile.

To further advance these efforts, state leaders could develop resources for high school educators that support their capacity to effectively implement powerful learning experiences.

Share your story

We want to hear how high school shaped your path—and how you think it needs to change.

Share your story

We want to hear how high school shaped your path—and how you think it needs to change.

Share your story

We want to hear how high school shaped your path—and how you think it needs to change.

Highlights from Indiana

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Highlights from Indiana

Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus.

Highlights from Indiana

Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus.

Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.

Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.

Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Indiana
Indiana’s economy will add an average of 378,000 job openings annually through 2031, of which 236,000 (62 percent) will be for workers with postsecondary education, including college degrees and workforce credentials.¹

¹ Carnevale, A. P. and others. (2023). After everything: Projections of jobs, education, and training requirements through 2031. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/projections2031/#resources
Indiana
Strong high schools are essential for meeting that demand, which will pay huge dividends to individuals and the state as a whole. Economists estimate that Indiana’s 6.8 percentage point increase in college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020 will translate into $215 billion in additional net lifetime earnings for the state’s residents.²
² Carnevale, A. P. and others (2024). Learning by degrees: Gains in college degree attainment have enriched the nation and every state, but racial and gender inequality persist. https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/attainmentgains/#resources
Indiana
In Indiana and elsewhere in the nation, boosting student achievement will be central to realizing these gains. In 2024, 31 percent of Indiana seniors graduated ready for college in math and 51 percent did so in English (100 percent of students participated in that year’s SAT).³ 31 percent of Indiana’s 8th graders (the high school graduating class of 2029) demonstrated proficient math skills on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) exam, down six percentage points from pre-pandemic levels. 33 percent were proficient in reading.⁴
³ The College Board. (2024). SAT Suite annual report 2024. https://reports.collegeboard.org/sat-suite-program-results
⁴ The Nation’s Report Card. (2024). Data tools: State profiles. The National Assessment of Educational Progress.https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile?sfj=NP&chort=2&sub=MAT&sj=&st=AP&year=2024R3
Indiana
Improving these results is important not only for college readiness, but also for earning power. Better math skills would boost the wages of Indiana workers by $3,608 annually, totaling $72,176 over a 20-year period. Stronger reading skills would increase their wages by $8,184 per year, adding up to $163,688 over two decades.⁵
⁵ Boser, U. (2020). Education and income: How learning boosts salary. https://media.the-learning-agency.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/01151624/white_paper_education_and_the_economy.pdf
Indiana
A range of studies underscore the role of durable competencies in supporting academic achievement. Their integration with academic coursework strengthens and reinforces the acquisition of knowledge and skills in disciplines like literacy, math, and science.⁶
⁶ Balfanz, R. (2023, September). Centering school connectedness. State Education Standard: The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education, 23(3). https://www.nasbe.org/centering-school-connectedness/; Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.

Progress

High school is where America’s future takes shape. Today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators, problem solvers, and leaders—but our schools are still rooted in a century-old model built for the industrial age. As automation and AI transform the job market, too many students leave high school unprepared for what comes next.

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Mastery-Based Credits

Core Competencies

K-16 Alignment

Community-Led Redesign

Postsecondary Credits

Internships and Apprenticeships

Professional Development

Next-Generation Assessments

Next-Generation Assessments

Success Data

Mastery-Based Credits

Core Competencies

K-16 Alignment

Community-Led Redesign

Postsecondary Credits

Internships and Apprenticeships

Professional Development

Next-Generation Assessments

Next-Generation Assessments

Success Data

Mastery-Based Credits

Core Competencies

K-16 Alignment

Community-Led Redesign

Postsecondary Credits

Internships and Apprenticeships

Professional Development

Next-Generation Assessments

Next-Generation Assessments

Success Data