Park City third-grade teachers lead state in literacy achievement

Third-grade educators from McPolin and Jeremy Ranch Elementary Schools were honored at the Utah State Capitol for leading the state in literacy achievement. Park City School District ranked first among Utah’s public school districts for third-grade reading proficiency, with 69% of students reading on grade level. Teachers from Trailside and Parley’s Park Elementary Schools were also recognized but unable to attend the ceremony. Photo: Park City School District

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City School District has achieved the top ranking among Utah’s public school districts for third-grade reading proficiency, according to the Utah State Board of Education’s 2025 Reading on Grade Level report.

The district recorded a literacy rate of 69%, significantly higher than the statewide average of 48.7%. This accomplishment was recognized at the Utah State Capitol, where the district was celebrated for its outstanding progress in early literacy instruction. Several third-grade teachers were honored for achieving a reading proficiency rate of 70% or higher among their students.

Honorees include Rachel Hibbard, Heloise Munoz, and Elizabeth Hensler from Jeremy Ranch Elementary; Jill Thompson, Heather Iverson, Vicky Rudolph, and Noemi Bonilla from McPolin Elementary; Michele Owen, Sherry Johnson, and Nina Silitch from Trailside Elementary; and Tricia Perkins, Kathleen Tarmina, Jennifer Shane, and Raysha Carrasco from Parley’s Park Elementary.

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The district’s literacy growth has been consistent over the past three years, rising from 57.8% in 2023 to 64.8% in 2024, and now reaching 69% in 2025—the highest rate among Utah’s traditional public school districts. While some charter schools reported higher individual rates, Park City leads all public school systems in the state.

District leaders attribute this success to targeted reading interventions, effective instructional practices, the adoption of a new literacy curriculum, and collaborative efforts among teachers through professional learning communities.

“Our educators exemplify what’s possible when excellence in teaching is rooted in authentic relationships with students,” said Superintendent Lyndsay Huntsman. “Their focus on early literacy lays the groundwork for lifelong learning.”

The Utah State Board of Education defines “reading on grade level” as scoring above the benchmark on the end-of-year reading assessment and achieving a composite score of 405 or higher on the end-of-year Acadience Reading assessment.