Indy Steam Academy

Summary:

Indy Steam Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 163 students in grades K-6 in a predominantly African American and Hispanic neighborhood in Indianapolis, Indiana. Despite its small class sizes, the school has consistently ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in the state, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger for the past three school years.

Indy Steam Academy faces significant challenges in terms of academic performance, student engagement, and socioeconomic factors. Only 19.05% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, and only 15.48% were proficient or better in Math, compared to the state averages of 38.6% and 52.4% respectively. The school also has an extremely high chronic absenteeism rate, with 51.6% of students chronically absent in the 2022-2023 school year, compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 12% to 40.6%. Additionally, 74.85% of Indy Steam Academy's students receive free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

Despite the low student-teacher ratio of 9:1, Indy Steam Academy's academic performance is significantly lower than the nearby public and charter schools, even those serving similar demographics. For example, Rousseau McClellan School 91, which is 1.56 miles away, outperformed Indy Steam Academy by a wide margin in both English Language Arts and Math proficiency. Addressing the complex, interrelated issues of high poverty, racial segregation, and chronic absenteeism will be crucial for improving the school's performance and providing a quality education for its students.

Detail:

Public, Charter K-6

4020 N Sherman Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46226

(317) 556-2307

District: Indy Steam Academy

SchoolDigger Rank:
853^rd of 1,010 Indiana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $17,486

Student/teacher ratio: 9.0

Number of students: 163

Racial breakdown:

African American:

74.2%

Hispanic:

14.1%

Two or more races:

8.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 74.8%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Indy Steam Academy ranks worse than 84.5% of elementary schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 16.64. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a 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 Racial makeup is: African American (74.2%), Hispanic (14.1%), two or more races (8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 74.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Indy Steam Academy is 9. (See more...)

Compare Indy Steam Academy employs 18 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Indy Steam Academy is $17,486.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Indy Steam Academy was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Indy Steam Academy:

SchoolDigger ranks Indy Steam Academy 324^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Indy Steam Academy

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	6.42	977^th	1016	3.8%
2024	16.64	853^rd	1010	15.5%

See the entire list of Indiana Elementary 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 Indy Steam Academy

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2022	3	47	0	5	0	1	10	0	66
2023	5	121	0	23	0	1	13	0	163

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 Indy Steam Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	66	12.0	5.5	95.5
2023	163	18.0	9.0	74.8

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 Indy Steam Academy

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2022	66	12.0	5.5	95.5
2023	163	18.0	9.0	74.8

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 Indy Steam Academy

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2022	$8,472 (48.5%)	$9,014 (51.5%)	$17,486

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Schools Near Indy Steam Academy

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 Social Studies (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 3rd Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 4th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	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 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Indy Steam Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	4020 N Sherman Drive	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	Indy Steam Academy	Yes	No	No	No	(317) 556-2307	163	18	9.0	74.8%	5 (3.1%)	121 (74.2%)	23 (14.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	13 (8.0%)	16.6	853^rd of 1010 public elementary schools	15.5%		6.4	977^th of 1016 public elementary schools	3.8%	124	28.6	27.8	0.0	18.2			19.1	42.9	11.1	6.3	4.8			15.5	0.0	$17,486	$8,472	$9,014
The Genius School	Public, Charter	K-6	4010 N Sherman Drive	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	The Genius School	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(317) 643-5430	74	11	6.7	95.9%	7 (9.5%)	58 (78.4%)	7 (9.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.7%)	13.6	890^th of 1010 public elementary schools	11.9%					(n/a)	5.3	20.0	11.8	35.7			16.9	15.8	13.3	11.8	23.1			15.6	0.0
Avondale Meadows Academy	Public, Charter	K-4	3980 Meadows Dr	Indianapolis	46205	Marion County	Avondale Meadows Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 803-3182	301	23	13.0	91.4%	3 (1.0%)	262 (87.0%)	17 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.0%)	4.6	1003^rd of 1010 public elementary schools	0.7%		8.3	941^st of 1016 public elementary schools	7.4%	62	5.0	7.9					6.1	11.7	13.2					12.2		$13,242	$5,109	$8,133
Tindley Genesis Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	4020 Meadows Pkwy	Indianapolis	46205	Marion County	Tindley Genesis Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 545-1745	420	31	13.5	87.6%	4 (1.0%)	355 (84.5%)	39 (9.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.5%)	8.5	949^th of 1010 public elementary schools	6.0%		7.7	958^th of 1016 public elementary schools	5.7%	9	4.6	9.1	19.5	26.7			13.9	6.2	6.8	2.4	8.9			6.2	2.4	$9,654	$3,299	$6,355
Rousseau McClellan School 91	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-8	5111 Evanston Ave	Indianapolis	46205	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(317) 226-4291	542	37	14.8	39.7%	288 (53.1%)	108 (19.9%)	89 (16.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (10.5%)	45	579^th of 1010 public elementary schools	42.7%		44.6	591^st of 1016 public elementary schools	41.8%	12	35.6	37.7	35.9	50.0	41.5	58.5	42.1	39.0	32.1	22.6	50.0	39.0	39.0	36.1	30.2	$16,533	$1,729	$14,804
ACE Preparatory Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	5326 Hillside Avenue	Indianapolis	46220	Marion County	ACE Preparatory Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 744-9847	149	15	9.9	81.9%	15 (10.1%)	104 (69.8%)	16 (10.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (9.4%)	25.1	768^th of 1010 public elementary schools	24.0%		21.2	810^th of 1016 public elementary schools	20.3%	42	12.5	25.0	31.6				23.6	12.5	30.0	36.8				27.3	21.1	$12,329	$5,133	$7,196
KIPP Indy Unite Elementary	Public, Charter	K-5	1740 E 30th St	Indianapolis	46218	Marion County	KIPP Indy Unite Elementary	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 547-5477	695	54	12.8	93.7%	8 (1.2%)	559 (80.4%)	95 (13.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.3%)	10.3	930^th of 1010 public elementary schools	7.9%		8.4	939^th of 1016 public elementary schools	7.6%	9	12.2	9.7	11.2				11.0	17.8	24.0	21.5				21.1	4.7	$14,973	$4,447	$10,525
James Russell Lowell School 51	Public	PK, KG-6	3426 Roosevelt Ave	Indianapolis	46218	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4251	294	23	12.6	82.0%	10 (3.4%)	152 (51.7%)	119 (40.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.4%)	3.9	1009^th of 1010 public elementary schools	0.1%		4.8	1000^th of 1016 public elementary schools	1.6%	9	5.2	1.5	3.1	7.6	15.6	21.4	6.3	5.2	7.7	4.7	0.0	3.1	0.0	4.2	3.1	$19,620	$2,736	$16,884
Robert Lee Frost School 106	Public	PK, KG-6	5301 Roxbury Rd	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4106	252	22	11.4	81.7%	15 (6.0%)	179 (71.0%)	38 (15.1%)	1 (0.4%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (6.7%)	4.7	1000^th of 1010 public elementary schools	1.0%		6.2	980^th of 1016 public elementary schools	3.5%	20	3.8	3.3	8.3	2.3			4.4	7.6	11.7	12.5	0.0			8.3	2.1	$16,571	$2,575	$13,996
IPS/Butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55	Public	PK, KG-8	1349 E 54th St	Indianapolis	46220	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4255	444	29	15.3	46.6%	206 (46.4%)	134 (30.2%)	61 (13.7%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (8.6%)	34.2	683^rd of 1010 public elementary schools	32.4%		27.3	754^th of 1016 public elementary schools	25.8%	71	34.0	46.0	29.8	4.7	7.1	5.3	22.5	44.7	40.0	23.4	7.0	0.0	0.0	20.6	27.7	$14,535	$1,744	$12,791

Frequently Asked Questions about Indy Steam Academy

What district is Indy Steam Academy in?

Indy Steam Academy

How many students attend Indy Steam Academy?

In the 2022-23 school year, 163 students attended Indy Steam Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Indy Steam Academy?

Students at Indy Steam Academy are 74% African American, 14% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 3% White.

Is Indy Steam Academy a good school?

Indy Steam Academy ranks in the bottom 15.5% of Indiana elementary schools.

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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.