Best High Schools in Indianapolis, IN

The city of Indianapolis, Indiana is home to 38 high schools that serve students in grades 9-12, spanning a range of public, public charter, and private institutions. The data reveals stark disparities in academic performance and other key metrics between the top-performing and lowest-performing schools, suggesting significant inequities in educational opportunities and resources across the Indianapolis school system.

A few standout schools include Herron High School, a public charter school that ranks 19th out of 431 Indiana high schools and has exceptional academic performance, with 78.49% of 11th graders proficient in SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing and 40.24% proficient in SAT Math. Another high-performing school is Ben Davis University High School, a public school that ranks 118th out of 431 Indiana high schools and has a 98.0% four-year graduation rate. In contrast, Excel Center For Adult Learners has a concerning 2.8% four-year graduation rate.

The data also suggests a strong correlation between schools' student demographics (e.g., racial composition, free/reduced lunch rates) and their academic performance and other outcomes. Schools with higher proportions of minority and economically disadvantaged students, such as Arsenal Technical High School, tend to have lower test scores, graduation rates, and other indicators of success. Additionally, public charter schools, on average, appear to outperform traditional public schools in the Indianapolis area, as demonstrated by the success of schools like Herron High School. Addressing these disparities and ensuring equitable access to quality education will be a key challenge for Indianapolis Public Schools and other districts in the region.