P-H-M Students Continue Strong Literacy Performance with 94.7% IREAD-3 Pass Rate

MISHAWAKA, IN —With the Indiana Department of Education’s release Tuesday, August 11 of 2026 IREAD-3 results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Heather Short is proud to share that 94.7% of P-H-M students passed IREAD.

P-H-M’s corporation-wide pass rate increased over last school year (2025-2026) and is 6 percentage points higher than this year’s statewide overall passing rate of 88.7%.

Five P-H-M elementary schools achieved an outstanding 95% or higher passing rate, including one Title I school.

  • Prairie Vista Elementary: 98.8% pass rate
  • Horizon Elementary: 97.7% pass rate
  • Northpoint Elementary: 96.9% pass rate
  • Elsie Rogers Elementary: 96.4% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Bittersweet Elementary: 95.9% pass rate

Statewide, results show that 88.7% of Indiana’s third grade students demonstrated proficient reading skills on the IREAD assessment. This is an improvement of nearly 1.5 percentage points over results for the 2024-2025 school year, the second-largest single-year increase since the assessment began (click here for more information on state results in today’s IDOE news release).

Five other P-H-M elementary schools had pass rates above the State average, with four of those scoring 90% or higher, including three of P-H-M’s Title I schools: 

  • Moran Elementary: 94.8% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Walt Disney: 94.4% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Elm Road Elementary: 93.1% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Madison Elementary: 90.5% pass rate
  • Mary Frank: 88.9% pass rate

“These results are a reflection of the incredible dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the partnership of our families,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “I am especially proud of the growth we are seeing across our schools, including our Title I schools that have achieved a 90% or higher passing rate. These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when we maintain high expectations and provide students with the support they need.”

P-H-M continues to prioritize research-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, providing educators with professional learning, instructional resources, and opportunities to collaborate around student data and effective instructional practices.

The 2026 IREAD-3 results reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to building on a culture of academic excellence and ensuring every student develops the foundational literacy skills necessary for continued academic growth.

“We are proud of these results, but our work does not stop here,” Dr. Short added. “We will continue to use student data to identify opportunities for growth, strengthen instruction, and make sure every child has the opportunity to become a confident and capable reader.”

By the Numbers

  • 94.7% — P-H-M corporation-wide IREAD-3 passing rate
  • 6 percentage points — P-H-M performance above the state passing rate
  • 5 schools — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
  • 1 Title I school — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
  • 3 schools — Increased their passing rates by 6–8 percentage points compared to 2025
  • Year-over-year growth — P-H-M’s overall passing percentage has continued to increase since 2024
Name of Elementary School 2025 IREAD Pass Rate 2026 IREAD Pass Rate
Bittersweet 95.9% 95.9%

Elm Road

(Title I school)

 84.4% 93.1%

Elsie Rogers

(Title I school)

 94.6% 96.4% 
Horizon 100% 97.7%
Madison 84.2% 90.5%
Mary Frank 98.2% 88.9%

Meadow’s Edge

(Title I school)

 89.0%  86.0%

Moran

(Title I school)

 93.9% 94.8%
Northpoint 97.1% 96.9%
Prairie Vista 98.9% 98.8%

Walt Disney

(Title I school)

 86.2% 94.4%


All second grade students participate in the IREAD assessment – a tactic that has already proven successful at providing educators and families an early indicator of whether a student is on-track to read by the end of third grade. 

P-H-M’s second grade results were an impressive 72.1% of students passing in 2026.

Community Tailgate, Friday August 21, 2026

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be against Valparaiso. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza to buy your $6.00 Meal Ticket.

An advertisement for a tailgate event at a high school football game on Friday, August 21st from 6:00 to 9:30pm

Do you have an incoming kindergartner or a Penn senior? 

P-H-M Education Foundation is hosting a special “Kindergarten Kickoff” before this year’s football game!

The Class of 2027 will welcome the future Class of 2039 into the P-H-M family by meeting kindergartners on the 50-yard line of the Kingsmen football field and presenting them with black and gold pom-poms.

Click here for more details and to sign your student up to participate.

Kicking off the Inaugural “Kindergarten Kickoff”

This school year Penn High School will launch a new tradition celebrating the connection between Penn’s incoming Senior Class of 2027 and the Kindergarten Class of 2039.

At Penn’s first home football game on Friday, August 21 after the Community Tailgate (click here for more details on this event) and before the Penn-Valpo game, incoming kindergartners will be welcomed to the P-H-M family during our inaugural Kindergarten Kickoff celebration.

As part of this special event, Penn seniors will meet the kindergartners at the 50-yard line and pass them black and gold pom-poms, symbolizing the beginning of their journey as future Kingsmen and Lady Kingsmen.

This simple but meaningful moment represents the tradition, pride, and community that make Penn High School and P-H-M special. 

Info for Kindergarten Families

Interested in signing your kindergarten student up to participate. Click here to fill out this form to register.
 
 

Three young girls holding pom poms, standing on a street next to a car and a truck.Event Details:

  • 5:30-7:00 p.m., come to the Community Tailgate. You can feed each member of your family for just $6.00! Click here for those event details.
  • Check in for Kindergarten Kickoff at the PHM Education Foundation Table by 6:00 p.m.
  • Pick up your child’s t-shirt (if purchased)
  • Enjoy the festivities and connect with other P-H-M families
  • One adult should stay with their child until they walk onto the field and will remain in the end zone to meet them afterwards
  • Get your cell phones ready to take pictures of your student participating in the Kindergarten Kickoff!

Stay for the game:

After the Community Tailgate and the Kindergarten Kickoff event, families are encouraged to stay and cheer on the Kingsmen as they take on Valparaiso in their home opener.

Kindergarten and younger siblings are FREE and do NOT need a ticket!

Purchase older student and adult tickets online by clicking here.

Info for Penn Seniors Class of 2027

Penn High School student section at football gameIf you would like to participate, please click here to sign up.

Space may be limited, so we encourage you to register early.

2026 Running is Elementary Video and Photo Gallery

Running is Elementary

Race day for the annual Running is Elementary, sponsored by P-H-M’s Education Foundation, was a little windy, but gorgeous: just enough sunshine, just enough warmth, and the raindrops held off until all the races were over.

This year was one of the biggest yet with 700+ students from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools.

The one mile run is held at Penn’s Cross-Country Course, which is located behind Elm Road Elementary School. Fourth and fifth graders are encouraged to sign up for the free running club. Designated coaches at each school then train with the runners for the 6-week club culminating in the one mile race.

Two 4th grade boys posing for pictures after their race

A Moment of Sportsmanship

This picture of two 4th grade runners exemplifies what Running is Elementary is all about. These two boys were running neck and neck all the way to the finish line, vying for first place. After the race, the Disney boy (dark navy t-shirt) went out of his way to find the Moran runner (pink shirt) so they could take a picture together.

The students from two different schools had never met before, but in that moment, it didn’t matter. Running is Elementary not only teaches students about fitness and wellness, it also teaches them sportsmanship, connection, and the importance of supporting and celebrating each other!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to all the students who participated! Click to see the list below of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for the four races. The list shows finish times listed by bib number and school. Parents should contact their school coach for their child’s specific time.

Community Support

What makes this event so special is that students are cheered on by their fellow students, families, teachers, running coaches, principals, PHM School Board members and administrators, and other PHM staff members. A photo gallery sample is below, but click here to visit the full photo gallery in the Education Foundation’s Canto photo portal.

Race Results

Below are the finish times for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners:

5th Grade Girls Winners

  1. 06:49.07, Bib #244, Northpoint
  2. 06:50.53, Bib #235, Northpoint
  3. 07:05.08, Bib #187, Mary Frank

School Team Rankings:

  1. Horizon
  2. Mary Frank
  3. Northpoint

5th Grade Boys Winners

  1. 06:14.75, Bib #597, Northpoint
  2. 06:16.06, Bib #650, Madison
  3. 06:29.29, Bib #590, Northpoint

School Team Rankings:

  1. Northpoint
  2. Horizon
  3. Elm Road

4th Grade Girls Winners

  1. 07:06.27, Bib #62, Horizon
  2. 07:30.09, Bib #31, Elm Road
  3. 07:31.47, Bib #75, Mary Frank

School Team Rankings:

  1. Prairie Vista
  2. Northpoint
  3. Bittersweet

4th Grade Boys Winners

  1. 06:34.34, Bib #438, Walt Disney
  2. 06:34.73, Bib #392, Moran
  3. 06:48.85, Bib #402, Northpoint

School Team Rankings:

  1. Northpoint
  2. Bittersweet
  3. Elm Road

School Colors Reference

P-H-M Elementary School Colors
School Shirt Color
Bittersweet Yellow
Elm Road Kelly Green
Elsie Rogers Teal
Horizon Orange
Madison Purple
Mary Frank Lime Green
Meadow’s Edge Turquoise
Moran Hot Pink
Northpoint Royal Blue
Prairie Vista Red
Walt Disney Navy Blue

Thank You

Special Thanks

Thank you to Cindy Batalis (physical education teacher at Mary Frank Elementary School) whose own love for running and her desire to pass that love on is the passion and driving force behind Running is Elementary. Thank you to all the PHM teachers, running coaches, school staff, and Penn Cross Country student-athletes who help out every year, along with P-H-M Education Foundation Board members and volunteers.

Event Sponsors

Thank you PHMEF and all their amazing sponsors that make this event possible for our students:

  • Martin’s donated the post-race snacks
  • Royal Excursion donated transportation to auxiliary parking lots
  • Benchmark Family Services helped PHMEF offset costs
  • Culver’s provided gift baskets for a prize drawing
  • Kona Ice and Tom’s Coffee did givebacks
  • Attorney Katy Wrona was also a sponsor

Post-race snack table with food and refreshments
Post-race snack table

Tom's Coffee truck at Running is Elementary event
Tom’s Coffee truck

Kona Ice truck at Running is Elementary event
Kona Ice truck


View Full Photo Gallery

Moran March Madness Photo Gallery

Below are some of the pictures for the Moran March Madness event. 

Click here to visit Moran’s School Canto photo gallery portal to see all the pictures and download them. Check ParentSquare for the Moran March Madness post for the photo gallery password.

 

Moran staff cheer as students play basketball
Group picture of all the Moran teachers and staff who participated in the staff on staff basketball game
Moran teachers and staff playing in the staff on staff basketball game
Moran teachers and staff playing in the staff on staff basketball game
Group picture of the Moran teachers and staff, "White Team," who participated in the staff on staff basketball game
Moran teachers and staff playing in the staff on staff basketball game
Second grade "White Team" student players with their coach
Second grade "Blue Team" student players with their coaches
Second graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
Second graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
First grade "White Team" student players with their coach
First graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
First graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
First graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
First graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
First graders playing in their March Madness basketball game
Girl student cheerleaders cheering for the players during the games
Girl student cheerleaders cheering for the players during the games
Student players "Blue Team" taking a break on the sidelines
Girl student cheerleaders cheering for the players during the games
Girl student cheerleaders cheering for the players during the games

 

 

Copy of Summer 2020 Kids Club registration Now Open!Archived

Click here to register your child today for Summer 2020 Kids Club!

The last day for P-H-M Schools is Thursday, June 4. Full-day childcare will be offered at two locations (Northpoint and Walt Disney Elementary Schools) for current P-H-M students in grades K-5  June 8 – August 17. Children will enjoy a variety of educational and recreational activities, crafts and field trips.

Cost is $150 a week, for five days a week.

All children not currently enrolled in Kids Club are required to pay a $25 registration fee, along with a non-refundable $125 activity fee deposit.

Space is limited so families must register by midnight, Friday, May 29. Click here to register online.

Locations:   Northpoint Elementary School

                       Walt Disney Elementary School

Dates:          Monday, June 8 – Monday, August 17, 2020
*Please note Kids Club will not be operating Friday, June 5 or Tuesday, August 18. Kids Club will also be closed Friday, July 3 for the Independence Day holiday. The first day of school for P-H-M Schools is Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

Times:          6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Questions: If you have questions about Kids Club Summer Session, please call:

  • Binti Shah, Kids Club Program Director, 574-258-9514
  • Ashley Stoffl, Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator, 574-258-9587
  • Diane Dyer, Kids Club Assistant Program Coordinator, 574-286-1982

Non-resident Application Window Opens March 2, 2026

Penn-Harris-Madison is pleased to be able to offer enrollment to non-resident students on a limited basis for the 2026-27 school year.

Families living in neighboring school districts interested in having their elementary children attend a P-H-M elementary school can apply for that opportunity.

calendar iconThe window to apply for available non-resident seats will open Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. and close on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. 

On March 2 at 8:30 a.m., P-H-M will post the schools, grades and number of seats available for the upcoming school year. Families must complete an online application between March 2 – 20.

The NRS application will be posted on www.phmschools.org/non-resident-student-enrollment/ on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

There is no first-come, first-served advantage. 

 

 

2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, February 13

Click to register:

bit.ly/BooksandBots2026

 

PHM Education Foundation Books and BotsSaturday, March 7, 2026   

9:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. 

Penn High School

for P-H-M students K – 5th grade

FREE! There is no cost for this event, but registration is required and limited.

Click here to register online today!

OPTIONAL T-SHIRT PURCHASE: If you would like to order a t-shirt, CLICK HERE to be taken to Time for Tees website to place your order. Please note, this is an OPTION and not required. 

Sponsored by the P-H-M Education Foundation, Young Authors’ Conference is an opportunity for P-H-M students in Kindergarten – 5th grade to meet and hear from well-known children’s author and speaker Jill Esbaum, participate in a variety of robotic explorations and engage in a dinosaur exploration activity. This is a FREE event thanks to the Foundation!

Jill Esbaum is the award-winning author of more than 65 children’s books, both fiction and nonfiction. A few recent titles include It’s Corn Picking Time!, Polecat Has a Superpower, and Bird Girl – How Gene Stratton Porter Shares Her Love of Nature with the World. Back in 2012 National Geographic Kids asked Jill to write a book featuring the Angry Birds and dinosaurs titled Angry Birds Playground: Dinosaurs, which gave her Dino Fever. Her dinosaur books since then include If a T. Rex Crashes Your Birthday Party, How to Grow a Dinosaur, and a three-book graphic early reader series, Thunder & Cluck. Jill lives on a family farm near Davenport. 

2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots 2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots

As part of the morning activities, students will participate in three rotations: one session with author Jill Esbaum, one dinosaur exploration session thanks to the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, and one session where students will enjoy the hands-on exploration of technology with Sphero Bots, Dot and Dosh, Bee Bots, Ozobots and more! Our amazing P-H-M teachers and volunteers will guide students and their parents through the interactive session guiding them on how develop a character and create their own puppet.

2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots 2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots 2026 Young Authors’ Conference, Books & Bots

At least one parent or guardian must accompany the student(s)!  If more than one child is registering for Books and Bots, the family will stay together so only one adult is needed. Siblings YOUNGER than kindergarten may not accompany adults. This experience is for your young author(s) and the parent/guardian.

CONFIRMATION: Participating students will receive additional information prior to the conference through their home school at the end of February.

COST: Free!

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, please contact Candace Cussen at ccussen@phm.k12.in.us.

Click here to register online today!

Kindergarten & Preschool Registration for 2026-27 Opens Jan. 20th

This registration opportunity is for families who

  1. Live within the P-H-M district AND
  2. Have students who will be five-years-old on or before September 1, 2026.

Registration will take place at the schools during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in most cases. The offices at Elsie Rogers Elementary School and Moran Elementary School will take registrations from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A parent or guardian must appear in person to register their child. 

Click here for more registration forms and more details on P-H-M Kindergarten Registration.

Penn-Harris-Madison also operates two preschool programs: Early Learning Academy (ELA) and Penn PALS. 

ELA registration for the 2026-27 school year also opens Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. Click here to learn more about ELA.

Penn PALS registration for the 2026-27 school year has not opened yet.

If you are a not a P-H-M resident and you are interested in enrolling your kindergartner, please click here for more information on our non-resident lottery.

 

PHMEF Grant for Elementary Fidget Tools Featured on Local TV

In 2024, Penn High School Robotics Coach Kyle Marsh and students came up with an idea on how to help students with ADHD, on the Autism Spectrum, or who just need help concentrating at school. Their idea was to use 3D printers to create and produce fidget tools for students. The key to making these tools more accessible and quickly available to the elementary students who needed them was to put a 3D printer at all 11 of P-H-M’s elementary schools.

close up of student playing with fidget toolsFortunately, P-H-M teachers and staff members can apply for classroom grants  through the P-H-M Education Foundation to pay for innovative ideas like this. Marsh was awarded a $5,000 grant to bring his idea to fruition. Penn High School students also benefit on this project because Marsh’s Robotics students not only install the 3D printers at the elementary schools, but they also help Marsh manage the project.

This inspiring story was recently featured on WSBT “Operation Education” highlighting the program in action at Elsie Rogers Elementary School where Marsh’s son Cooper attends third grade. Elsie Rogers was highlighted as of P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools with the 3D printers. Click to watch the story below on WSBT’s YouTube channel.