FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis Leads the Greater DC-Baltimore Region in Science of Reading, Achieving Exceptional Literacy Outcomes
Annapolis, Maryland — June 2026
Years ahead of Maryland public schools, St. Anne’s School is the leading independent school in the Annapolis area delivering Science of Reading instruction—and achieving measurable literacy gains as a result.
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis recently released Spring 2026 literacy data showing that 100% of St. Anne’s School’s second- and fourth-grade students and more than 95% of first- and third-grade students are performing at average or above-average levels in reading—results the school attributes to its early and comprehensive adoption of Science of Reading (SoR) instructional practices, first implemented in 2022.
The Science of Reading is an evidence-based approach to reading instruction grounded in more than 50 years of research. It centers on five interdependent pillars—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—and has been associated with significant literacy gains in states that have implemented comprehensive Science of Reading reforms.
“We made a deliberate decision in 2022 to build our reading program around the best research available well ahead of the state and other independent schools in the area,” said Connie Coker, Head of School. “Today, our students are demonstrating the benefits of that investment. These results validate our commitment to evidence-based instruction and to ensuring every child develops the literacy skills needed to thrive.”
St. Anne’s School’s Spring 2026 Reading Results at a Glance
95.7%
National Context: St. Anne’s School’s literacy outcomes stand in stark contrast to national trends. While only 31% of fourth-grade students nationwide performed at or above the NAEP proficient level in reading in 2024, 100% of St. Anne’s School fourth-grade students are performing at average or above-average levels in reading.
A National Model — Proven at the State Level
National data underscore the urgency of effective literacy instruction. According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 31% of fourth-grade students nationwide performed at or above the proficient level in reading, representing a decline from 2022. More recently, a 2026 analysis from the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA) and Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research found that while reading achievement continued to decline through 2024, states implementing comprehensive Science of Reading reforms were among the first to show signs of recovery between 2022 and 2025.
Science of Reading reforms have produced some of the most celebrated literacy improvements in U.S. education history. Mississippi—often cited as “The Mississippi Miracle”—rose from 49th to 21st in fourth-grade reading nationally after adopting the approach in 2013. Louisiana exceeded its pre-pandemic reading scores by 2023. Tennessee and North Carolina have both reported students performing above the national average following statewide implementation.
While the Maryland State Department of Education launched its statewide Science of Reading initiative during the 2024–2025 school year, St. Anne’s School had already begun implementing Science of Reading instruction in 2022—investing in teacher training, evidence-based resources, and classroom practices years before statewide
adoption—and already seeing measurable results.
“Many schools across the country are now beginning the important work of implementing Science of Reading practices,” said Dr. Hadley Moore, Associate Head of School. “Because St. Anne’s School began this journey in 2022, our teachers have had years to deepen their expertise, refine instruction, and fully integrate these practices into the classroom. The results we are seeing today are a testament to that sustained commitment and to the power of evidence-based literacy instruction.”
Leading Independent School in Annapolis Using this Approach
St. Anne’s School is the only independent school in the Annapolis area that explicitly delivers Science of Reading practices as its core instructional model. The school also provides Orton-Gillingham intervention—the gold standard structured literacy approach for students with dyslexia and other reading challenges—within the school community.
For families navigating school choice in the greater Washington D.C. and Baltimore region, St. Anne’s School offers a compelling and distinctive promise: every child taught to read through a proven, research-based approach grounded in the science of how children learn.
About the Science of Reading
The Science of Reading refers to a body of research from cognitive science, linguistics, and education that identifies the most effective methods for teaching children to read. The National Reading Panel identified five pillars of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Schools that implement all five pillars through structured, explicit instruction consistently produce stronger literacy outcomes.
About St. Anne’s School of Annapolis
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis is an independent Episcopal day school serving students from two-years-old through eighth grade. The school invests in the intellectual and spiritual promise of each student in a community that celebrates diversity and upholds the dignity of every human being. Students are challenged to think critically and creatively, to know themselves as learners, and to govern their lives with confidence, compassion, and integrity.
Tune in here to listen to The Satellite Podcast, Episode 3: The Science of Reading in Action to learn more about how St. Anne’s School brings Science of Reading instruction to life in the classroom.
Sources: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2024 Reading Assessment; Kane, T. J., Dewey, D. C., Fahle, E., & Staiger, D. O. (2026), From Learning Recession to Learning Recovery: Understanding the Sources of U.S. K–12 Improvement; National Center on Improving Literacy (2022).
MEDIA CONTACT
Hadley Moore, Associate Head of School
St. Anne’s School of Annapolis 410.263.8650 hmoore@st.annesschool.org stannesschool.org