The PATH School

The PATH School is the sole public charter elementary school serving grades K-8 in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a total enrollment of 556 students. While the school has a majority Hispanic student population (62.41%), it faces significant challenges, including consistently low academic performance, high chronic absenteeism, and a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Academically, The PATH School struggles, with proficiency rates well below the state averages across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 14.88% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 38.6-42.6%, and just 9.66% were proficient in math, compared to 31.4-52.4% statewide. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is also very high, at 38.5% for the 2022-2023 school year, indicating that a significant portion of the student population is missing a substantial amount of instructional time.

The challenges faced by The PATH School are further compounded by the socioeconomic status of its student population, with 81.83% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This suggests that the school serves a community facing significant economic disadvantages, which may contribute to the academic and attendance issues. While the school's spending per student is $13,027, it's unclear if this level of funding is adequate to address the needs of its students and improve educational outcomes.