Lexia Core5 Reading and PowerUp Literacy accelerated achievement across diverse learners during the 2024-25 school year

According to the 2024 NAEP report, only 31% of fourth-grade students and 30% of eighth-grade students performed at or above NAEP Proficient, showing the national decline in reading skills is an ongoing challenge for educators. However, by the end of the 2024-25 school year, 83% of pre-K-5 students across the U.S. using Lexia Core5 Reading (Core5) with fidelity were working on skills at or above grade level. Progress reports also showed that 55% of middle and high school students using Lexia PowerUp Literacy (PowerUp) covered three grade levels of reading skills in that same school year.

Developed by Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, Core5 and PowerUp are science of reading-based adaptive blended learning programs that provide students with personalized learning paths. Core5 accelerates the development of literacy skills for pre-K-5 students of all abilities, from at-risk to on-level and advanced. PowerUp is an intervention for non-proficient readers in middle and high schools, helping them improve in three instructional strands (Word Study, Grammar, and Reading Comprehension).

“One of Lexia’s tenets is regularly researching the efficacy of the programs we offer,” said Lexia President Nick Gaehde. “In our latest report, we followed the progress of over 1.3 million students who were using Core5 or PowerUp with fidelity. Once again, the results show that the programs effectively accelerate the learning of students performing below grade level.”

Core5 Findings

• Pre-K-5 students reading on or above grade level rose from 41% to 83% within the 2024-25 school year.
• Over half (54%) of students working one grade below their grade level ended the school year working on grade level.
• More than a third (38%) of students working two or more grades below their own grade level ended the school year working on skills in their grade level or above.
• Over half (54%) of those students working two or more grades below grade level gained two or more grade levels of skills during the school year.

PowerUp Findings

• By the end of the 2024-25 school year, a large majority (85%) of students saw their reading skills improve by at least six grade levels.
• The percentage of students working in K-2 skills dropped below 6% in each strand of material.
• The percentage of students working on advanced skills in all strands grew from 1% to 41%.

“Lexia goes beyond ‘research-based’ to offer educators ‘research-proven’ support,” said Gaehde. “Year after year, Core5 and PowerUp prove that they empower teachers to have an indisputable effect on students’ reading skills. We look forward to helping many, many more teachers and students in the years to come.”

The findings highlight not only student growth but also the critical role Lexia plays in supporting educators and addressing the urgent literacy needs schools face nationwide.

“We consistently hear from teachers and administrators that one of their greatest challenges is the increasing range of student needs and skill development level in each grade level and classroom,” said Cambium Learning Group CEO Ashley Andersen Zantop. “We are incredibly proud of and committed to the incredible work the Lexia team does. From the research to the proof, Core5 and PowerUp accelerate student literacy outcomes and deliver the real results students and educators need today.”

About Lexia

Lexia, a Cambium Learning Group brand, is transforming literacy education, driving change in 1 of every 3 school districts across the United States. For more than 40 years, Lexia has been a thought leader in literacy education, delivering award-winning, research-based solutions grounded in the science of reading. With a full spectrum of offerings, including professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment tools, Lexia provides educators with Structured Literacy solutions that are proven effective and designed to drive meaningful literacy outcomes. By empowering educators with unparalleled ease of use and the knowledge and tools they need, Lexia helps more students unlock their potential to read, write, and speak with confidence. For more information, visit lexialearning.com.

About Cambium Learning Group

Cambium Learning Group is the education essentials company, providing award-winning education technology and services for K-12 educators and students. With an intentional collection of respected global brands, Cambium serves as a leader, helping millions of educators and students feel more seen, valued, and supported every day. In everything it does, the company focuses on the elements that are most essential to the success of education, delivering simpler, more certain solutions that make a meaningful difference right now.

To learn more, visit www.cambiumlearning.com or follow Cambium on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. The Cambium family of brands includes: Cambium Assessment, Lexia, Learning A-Z, ExploreLearning, and Time4Learning.

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