Charter School of the Dunes

The Charter School of the Dunes is the sole public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in the Charter School of the Dunes District located in Gary, Indiana. With an enrollment of 684 students, the school faces significant challenges, including a predominantly African American student population (89.77%), a very high chronic absenteeism rate of 36.5%, and academic performance that is drastically below state averages across all grade levels and subject areas.

The school's academic struggles are evident, with only 13.65% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and a mere 5.95% proficient or better in Math across all grades. This underperformance is particularly concerning given that 97.08% of the school's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The lack of diversity in the student population, with very low representation of other racial and ethnic groups, may also impact the school's ability to provide a well-rounded educational experience.

Addressing the root causes of the school's challenges, such as chronic absenteeism and the socioeconomic factors affecting the student population, will be crucial for the Charter School of the Dunes District to improve student outcomes and provide a high-quality education to the community it serves. Targeted interventions and support, as well as a focus on addressing the unique needs of this school, will be essential for driving meaningful progress.