Elementary Schools in Indianapolis Public Schools

The Indianapolis Public Schools district contains 34 elementary schools serving grades ranging from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade, with the majority being traditional elementary schools for grades K-6. The data reveals stark performance gaps between the highest-performing and lowest-performing schools, with a few standout schools like Center for Inquiry School 84 and Center for Inquiry School 70 leading the pack in terms of academic achievement and low chronic absenteeism.

The top-performing schools, such as the Center for Inquiry schools, have exceptional test scores, with over 50% of students proficient or better in both English Language Arts and Math. These high-achieving schools also have very low chronic absenteeism rates, underscoring the importance of addressing attendance issues to improve student learning. In contrast, some of the lowest-performing schools, like James Whitcomb Riley School 43 and Arlington Woods School 99, have single-digit proficiency rates and chronic absenteeism as high as 52.1%.

The data also reveals racial disparities in academic outcomes, with schools serving predominantly minority student populations generally performing worse than those with majority white student bodies. This suggests systemic inequities that need to be addressed. Additionally, the schools with the highest rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, a proxy for poverty, tend to have the lowest academic outcomes, highlighting the challenges facing high-poverty schools and the need for targeted interventions and additional resources to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Overall, the analysis of Indianapolis Public Schools elementary schools underscores the importance of addressing chronic absenteeism, systemic inequities, and the unique needs of high-poverty schools to improve educational outcomes for all students.