The Whitewater Unified School District is thrilled to recognize the literacy growth achieved across our three elementary schools. This success reflects the unwavering commitment of our teachers, specialists, coaches, paraprofessionals, and administrators whose dedication to implementing research-based practices has begun to transform student outcomes.
Our staff have committed to continued learning and growing through structured literacy and the Science of Reading. WUSD educators have created impactful, data-driven instruction that is improving reading proficiency across all grade levels. The adoption of the universal literacy curriculum, Into Reading by HMH, has laid a strong foundation this year, grounding daily instruction in the five pillars of structured literacy: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Fluency. Additionally, consistent intervention practices using Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS) and Sound Partners have further bolstered student progress, ensuring targeted support for those who need it most.
With these practices in place, Whitewater Unified School District has become a model of excellence for improvement in literacy instruction. WUSD elementary literacy proficiencies have grown from 31.5% proficient at the start of the 2023-2024 school year to 53.4% proficiency in January 2025 according to the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) assessment (data as of 1/21 2:35pm).
During the first semester, WUSD has opened its doors to visits from Jefferson, Watertown, East Troy, Adams-Friendship, Lake Mills, Janesville, and Ripon school districts, to showcase Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 instructional practices in literacy.
This collective achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to student success. WUSD strives to shape confident, capable readers and envisions a future of literacy for all.
