Career Academy Middle School

Summary:

Career Academy Middle School is a public charter school in South Bend, Indiana, serving 394 students in grades 6-8. The school has a diverse student population, with a racial makeup of 39.09% White, 36.04% African American, and 14.21% Hispanic students.

While Career Academy Middle School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 8.9, the school consistently underperforms academically compared to the state average. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 18.83% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and just 6.37% were proficient or better in Math, far below the state averages. The school also struggles with high chronic absenteeism rates, at 44.5% in 2022-2023, more than double the state average. Additionally, 71.07% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students.

When compared to nearby schools, such as Virgil I Grissom Middle School and Schmucker Middle School in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, Career Academy Middle School's academic performance is significantly lower, with higher proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Math. Despite the school's relatively high spending per student of $10,949 in 2021-2022, the academic outcomes do not reflect the level of investment.

Detail:

Public, Charter 6-8

3801 Cresent Circle - Suite B
South Bend, IN 46628

(574) 299-9800

District: Career Academy Middle School

SchoolDigger Rank:
422^nd of 485 Indiana Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,949

Student/teacher ratio: 8.9

Number of students: 394

Racial breakdown:

White:

39.1%

African American:

36.0%

Hispanic:

14.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 71.1%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Career Academy Middle School ranks worse than 87% of middle schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 13.16. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a high school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Student population at Career Academy Middle School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (39.1%), African American (36%), Hispanic (14.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 71.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Career Academy Middle School is 8.9. (See more...)

Compare Career Academy Middle School employs 44 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Career Academy Middle School is $10,949.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Career Academy Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Career Academy Middle School 422^nd of 485 Indiana public middle schools. (See Career Academy Middle School in the ranking list.)

Career Academy Middle School:

SchoolDigger ranks Career Academy Middle School 334^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Career Academy Middle School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	IN State Percentile
2018	38.70	329^th	473	30.4%
2019	27.77	362^nd	470	23.0%
2021	14.23	414^th	483	14.3%
2022	16.13	412^th	490	15.9%
2023	16.38	410^th	489	16.2%
2024	13.16	422^nd	485	13.0%

See the entire list of Indiana Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Career Academy Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2016	175	117	6	50	1	28	377
2017	199	122	4	39	1	34	399
2018	163	87	4	26	1	42	323
2019	170	95	4	36	1	34	340
2020	167	125	4	36	1	32	365
2021	166	141	2	37	1	20	367
2022	155	150	2	47	2	37	393
2023	154	142	3	56	3	36	394

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Career Academy Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	377	29.0	13.0	60.7
2017	399	25.6	15.5	62.7
2018	323	23.0	14.0	57.3
2019	340	22.0	15.4	62.4
2020	365	27.2	13.3	65.8
2021	367	24.5	14.9	61.3
2022	393	45.0	8.7	69.5
2023	394	44.0	8.9	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Career Academy Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2016	377	29.0	13.0	60.7
2017	399	25.6	15.5	62.7
2018	323	23.0	14.0	57.3
2019	340	22.0	15.4	62.4
2020	365	27.2	13.3	65.8
2021	367	24.5	14.9	61.3
2022	393	45.0	8.7	69.5
2023	394	44.0	8.9	71.1

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Career Academy Middle School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$869 (11.4%)	$6,740 (88.6%)	$7,608
2020	$658 (8.3%)	$7,258 (91.7%)	$7,917
2021	$1,942 (19.3%)	$8,145 (80.7%)	$10,087
2022	$1,860 (17.0%)	$9,089 (83.0%)	$10,949

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Career Academy Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 362^nd of 470 Middle schools	Ranks 410^th of 489 Middle schools	6.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	21.7	15.9	5.8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	21.7	15.9	5.8%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.8	40.8	7%
6th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	16	3.2	12.8%
6th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	16	3.2	12.8%
6th Grade Math (Indiana)	46.4	38.3	8.1%
6th Grade Science (Career Academy Middle School)	34	14.3	19.7%
6th Grade Science (Career Academy Middle School)	34	14.3	19.7%
6th Grade Science (Indiana)	48.6	38.2	10.4%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	44.2	24.8	19.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	44.2	24.8	19.5%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	49.7	39.5	10.2%
7th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	20	5	15.1%
7th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	20	5	15.1%
7th Grade Math (Indiana)	42	32.9	9.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	45	29.6	15.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Career Academy Middle School)	45	29.6	15.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	50.7	43.8	6.9%
8th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	32	8.9	23.1%
8th Grade Math (Career Academy Middle School)	32	8.9	23.1%
8th Grade Math (Indiana)	38	31.4	6.6%
End of Course Biology (Career Academy Middle School)	86.4	48.2	38.3%
End of Course Biology (Career Academy Middle School)	86.4	48.2	38.3%
End of Course Biology (Indiana)	38.6	29	9.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	340	394	15.9%
African American	95	142	49.5%
American Indian	1	3	200%
Asian	4	3	25%
Hispanic	36	56	55.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	170	154	9.4%
Two or More Races	34	36	5.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62.4%	71.1%	8.7%

Schools Near Career Academy Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)				ILEARN Math (2024)				ILEARN Biology (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Career Academy Middle School	Public, Charter	6-8	3801 Cresent Circle - Suite B	South Bend	46628	St. Joseph County	Career Academy Middle School	Yes	No	No	No	(574) 299-9800	394	44	8.9	71.1%	154 (39.1%)	142 (36.0%)	56 (14.2%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (9.1%)	13.2	422^nd of 485 public middle schools	13.0%		16.4	410^th of 489 public middle schools	16.2%	12	17.7	18.0	20.8	18.8	8.0	3.6	8.0	6.4	79.2	$10,949	$1,860	$9,089
Dickinson Fine Arts Academy	Public	6-8	4404 Elwood	South Bend	46628	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-3900	449	30	15.2	86.2%	48 (10.7%)	231 (51.4%)	132 (29.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.5%)	7	473^rd of 485 public middle schools	2.5%		7.4	469^th of 489 public middle schools	4.1%	4	5.7	9.0	11.3	8.7	4.6	4.3	2.5	3.7		$14,478	$2,458	$12,020
LaSalle Academy	Public	6-8	2701 W Elwood	South Bend	46628	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4700	488	36	13.5	55.9%	182 (37.3%)	117 (24.0%)	137 (28.1%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (9.2%)	94.2	21^st of 485 public middle schools	95.7%		87	50^th of 489 public middle schools	89.8%	29	80.9	80.1	80.4	80.5	55.7	51.8	48.1	51.6		$15,553	$2,728	$12,825
Navarre Middle School	Public	6-8	4702 W Ford St	South Bend	46619	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(574) 393-4600	519	48	10.7	83.4%	45 (8.7%)	227 (43.7%)	207 (39.9%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	36 (6.9%)	5.8	479^th of 485 public middle schools	1.2%		5.3	483^rd of 489 public middle schools	1.2%	4	13.2	3.0	7.5	7.6	0.0	1.5	0.8	0.8		$16,110	$4,072	$12,038
Jefferson Traditional School	Public	6-8	528 S Eddy St	South Bend	46617	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4100	516	38	13.5	63.8%	200 (38.8%)	167 (32.4%)	98 (19.0%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	45 (8.7%)	18.8	393^rd of 485 public middle schools	19.0%		20.4	388^th of 489 public middle schools	20.7%	5	16.6	22.8	25.7	21.7	10.7	15.2	9.8	11.8		$14,027	$2,609	$11,419
Edison Middle School	Public	6-8	2701 Eisenhower Dr	South Bend	46615	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4400	381	41	9.2	83.5%	83 (21.8%)	187 (49.1%)	57 (15.0%)	7 (1.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (12.1%)	8.8	459^th of 485 public middle schools	5.4%		6.8	476^th of 489 public middle schools	2.7%	17	13.7	8.5	13.2	12.0	9.4	1.1	3.8	5.1		$18,512	$4,031	$14,481
John J Young Middle School	Public	7-8	1801 N Main St	Mishawaka	46545	St. Joseph County	School City of Mishawaka	No	No	No	No	(574) 254-3600	735	54	13.7	74.3%	452 (61.5%)	116 (15.8%)	75 (10.2%)	5 (0.7%)	5 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (11.2%)	37.8	312^th of 485 public middle schools	35.7%		29.5	346^th of 489 public middle schools	29.2%	34		35.1	35.8	35.4		18.1	17.0	17.6		$10,021	$1,451	$8,570
Jackson Middle School	Public	6-8	5001 S Miami Rd	South Bend	46614	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4500	528	33	16.0	82.4%	111 (21.0%)	208 (39.4%)	140 (26.5%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (12.3%)	8.3	462^nd of 485 public middle schools	4.7%		7.6	467^th of 489 public middle schools	4.5%	5	10.1	4.6	14.3	9.5	7.3	5.2	5.0	5.7		$14,271	$2,747	$11,523
Schmucker Middle School	Public	6-8	56045 Bittersweet Rd	Mishawaka	46545	St. Joseph County	Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 259-5661	1,004	51	19.6	35.7%	708 (70.5%)	81 (8.1%)	98 (9.8%)	39 (3.9%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	73 (7.3%)	85.4	56^th of 485 public middle schools	88.5%		86.4	53^rd of 489 public middle schools	89.2%	3	55.1	60.5	57.8	57.9	46.1	43.5	51.0	46.7		$9,215	$559	$8,655
New Prairie Middle School	Public	6-8	5325 N Cougar Rd	New Carlisle	46552	St. Joseph County	New Prairie United School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 654-3070	705	36	19.6	40.0%	605 (85.8%)	4 (0.6%)	73 (10.4%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.0%)	81.7	70^th of 485 public middle schools	85.6%		80.3	80^th of 489 public middle schools	83.6%	10	43.6	60.6	50.0	51.7	53.5	50.9	40.3	48.0		$9,462	$482	$8,980

Frequently Asked Questions about Career Academy Middle School

How many students attend Career Academy Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 394 students attended Career Academy Middle School.

Is Career Academy Middle School a good school?

Career Academy Middle School ranks in the bottom 13.0% of Indiana middle schools.

What is the racial makeup of Career Academy Middle School?

Students at Career Academy Middle School are 39% White, 36% African American, 14% Hispanic, 9% Two or more races.

What district is Career Academy Middle School in?

Career Academy Middle School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.