Joseph Block Middle School

Summary:

Joseph Block Middle School is a public middle school located in East Chicago, Indiana, serving 487 students in grades 7-8. The school has a diverse student population, with a majority of African American (48.87%) and Hispanic (47.64%) students. Unfortunately, Joseph Block Middle School has consistently struggled academically, ranking in the bottom 10% of Indiana middle schools over the past decade.

The school's academic performance is a major concern, with proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Math significantly lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 19.22% of students were proficient in ELA, and just 3.43% were proficient in Math, compared to the district's 15.03% and 12.62%, respectively. This stagnant performance indicates the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student learning. Additionally, Joseph Block Middle School has experienced high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.4% to 53.9% over the past three years, which is significantly higher than the state average and suggests issues with student engagement.

Interestingly, nearby schools, such as River Forest Middle School, Merrillville Intermediate School, and Highland Middle School, have higher proficiency rates, lower chronic absenteeism, and better overall rankings compared to Joseph Block Middle School, despite facing some challenges of their own. This stark contrast in performance highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the underlying issues at Joseph Block Middle School, which may include re-evaluating resource allocation and implementing evidence-based strategies to improve student outcomes.


Detail:

Public 7-8

 2700 Cardinal Dr
       East Chicago, IN  46312


(219) 391-4084

District: School City of East Chicago

SchoolDigger Rank:
429th of 485 Indiana Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,396 Help


Students who attend Joseph Block Middle School usually attend:

High:    East Chicago Central High School

Feeder schools for Joseph Block Middle School:

Elementary:    Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
    George Washington Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio:  12.3 Help
Number of students:  487

Racial breakdown:

African American:
48.9%
Hispanic:
47.6%
Two or more races:
2.1%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  81.9% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Joseph Block Middle School ranks worse than 88.5% of middle schools in Indiana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 11.92. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (48.9%), Hispanic (47.6%), two or more races (2.1%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 81.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Joseph Block Middle School is 12.3. (See more...)
Help
Compare Joseph Block Middle School employs 39.2 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Joseph Block Middle School is $13,396.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Joseph Block Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.
SchoolDigger ranks Joseph Block Middle School 429th of 485 Indiana public middle schools. (See Joseph Block Middle School in the ranking list.)

School City of East Chicago:

SchoolDigger ranks School City of East Chicago 344th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Joseph Block Middle School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Middle Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 2.48 364th 370 1.6%
2006 6.89 362nd 375 3.5%
2007 7.08 370th 382 3.1%
2008 2.60 384th 392 2.0%
2009 1.01 421st 423 0.5%
2010 8.38 409th 428 4.4%
2011 3.86 435th 451 3.5%
2012 1.23 442nd 447 1.1%
2013 0.73 438th 444 1.4%
2014 2.66 458th 470 2.6%
2015 2.99 461st 485 4.9%
2016 7.82 460th 494 6.9%
2017 12.93 415th 472 12.1%
2018 15.36 416th 473 12.1%
2019 7.05 445th 470 5.3%
2021 7.28 456th 483 5.6%
2022 9.33 452nd 490 7.8%
2023 10.23 447th 489 8.6%
2024 11.92 429th 485 11.5%
See the entire list of Indiana Middle School Rankings!

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

Joseph Block Middle School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
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Data source: Indiana Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Joseph Block Middle School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 19 271 0 302 0 n/a n/a 0 592
1989 18 255 0 269 0 n/a n/a 0 542
1990 20 268 1 284 0 n/a n/a 0 573
1991 22 263 0 282 0 n/a n/a 0 567
1992 15 259 0 276 0 n/a n/a 0 550
1993 19 271 0 317 0 n/a n/a 0 607
1994 14 278 0 288 0 n/a n/a 0 580
1995 15 266 1 258 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1996 15 266 1 258 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1997 15 266 0 250 1 n/a n/a 0 532
1998 22 251 0 236 2 n/a n/a 0 511
1999 13 229 0 214 1 n/a n/a 0 457
2000 10 230 0 198 0 n/a n/a 0 438
2001 10 215 3 193 0 n/a n/a 0 421
2002 8 229 0 233 0 n/a n/a 0 470
2003 8 229 0 233 0 n/a n/a 0 470
2004 10 226 1 238 0 n/a n/a 0 475
2005 13 308 0 191 0 n/a n/a 0 512
2006 8 271 1 198 1 n/a n/a 0 479
2007 3 275 0 208 1 n/a n/a 6 493
2008 4 283 0 196 0 n/a n/a 11 494
2009 7 215 1 160 0 n/a n/a 6 389
2010 3 189 0 148 0 n/a n/a 1 341
2011 11 292 0 338 0 1 2 0 644
2012 13 322 2 321 1 0 4 0 663
2013 11 340 1 287 1 0 6 0 646
2014 3 183 0 85 0 0 1 0 272
2015 3 298 0 163 0 0 9 0 473
2016 1 201 0 94 0 0 5 0 301
2017 9 292 0 277 0 0 7 0 585
2018 11 242 0 249 0 0 12 0 514
2019 10 248 0 244 0 0 12 0 514
2020 13 272 1 272 2 0 10 0 570
2021 10 267 1 265 2 0 16 0 561
2022 7 242 0 243 0 0 11 0 503
2023 7 238 0 232 0 0 10 0 487

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 Joseph Block Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 592 35.3 16.7 65.5
1989 542 34.0 15.9 65.7
1990 573 38.0 15.0 61.1
1991 567 41.8 13.5 59.3
1992 550 40.6 13.5 63.1
1993 607 40.5 15.0 61.8
1994 580 40.5 14.3 57.9
1995 540 40.6 13.3 68.1
1996 540 40.6 13.3 68.1
1997 532 40.6 13.1 70.9
1998 511 41.5 12.3 67.9
1999 457 41.5 11.0 77.9
2000 438 41.5 10.6 74.9
2001 421 40.5 10.4 86.2
2002 470 35.0 13.4 81.1
2003 470 35.0 13.4 81.1
2004 475 35.0 13.6 80.8
2005 512 36.0 14.2 84.2
2006 479 33.1 14.5 87.1
2007 493 n/a n/a 89.7
2008 494 35.0 14.1 91.3
2009 389 32.0 12.2 92.4
2010 341 29.0 11.7 97.1
2011 644 38.1 16.9 94.1
2012 663 43.0 15.4 90.5
2013 646 49.0 13.1 94.3
2014 272 27.0 10.0 90.4
2015 473 30.0 15.7 95.6
2016 301 19.0 15.8 89.4
2017 585 40.0 14.6 91.5
2018 514 39.0 13.1 88.1
2019 514 37.0 13.8 83.3
2020 570 45.0 12.6 76.3
2021 561 39.0 14.3 83.8
2022 503 45.9 10.9 74.2
2023 487 39.2 12.3 81.9

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 Joseph Block Middle School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 592 35.3 16.7 65.5
1989 542 34.0 15.9 65.7
1990 573 38.0 15.0 61.1
1991 567 41.8 13.5 59.3
1992 550 40.6 13.5 63.1
1993 607 40.5 15.0 61.8
1994 580 40.5 14.3 57.9
1995 540 40.6 13.3 68.1
1996 540 40.6 13.3 68.1
1997 532 40.6 13.1 70.9
1998 511 41.5 12.3 67.9
1999 457 41.5 11.0 77.9
2000 438 41.5 10.6 74.9
2001 421 40.5 10.4 86.2
2002 470 35.0 13.4 81.1
2003 470 35.0 13.4 81.1
2004 475 35.0 13.6 80.8
2005 512 36.0 14.2 84.2
2006 479 33.1 14.5 87.1
2007 493 n/a n/a 89.7
2008 494 35.0 14.1 91.3
2009 389 32.0 12.2 92.4
2010 341 29.0 11.7 97.1
2011 644 38.1 16.9 94.1
2012 663 43.0 15.4 90.5
2013 646 49.0 13.1 94.3
2014 272 27.0 10.0 90.4
2015 473 30.0 15.7 95.6
2016 301 19.0 15.8 89.4
2017 585 40.0 14.6 91.5
2018 514 39.0 13.1 88.1
2019 514 37.0 13.8 83.3
2020 570 45.0 12.6 76.3
2021 561 39.0 14.3 83.8
2022 503 45.9 10.9 74.2
2023 487 39.2 12.3 81.9

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 Joseph Block Middle School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,359 (10.6%) $11,477 (89.4%) $12,836
2020 $1,254 (10.9%) $10,200 (89.1%) $11,454
2021 $2,006 (17.4%) $9,520 (82.6%) $11,526
2022 $2,195 (16.4%) $11,201 (83.6%) $13,396

Data source: Indiana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Joseph Block 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 445th of 470 Middle schoolsRanks 447th of 489 Middle schools
 3.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Joseph Block Middle School)18.818.3
 0.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (School City of East Chicago)18.818.3
 0.5%
   7th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)49.739.5
 10.2%
7th Grade Math (Joseph Block Middle School)12.23.9
 8.3%
   7th Grade Math (School City of East Chicago)12.23.9
 8.3%
   7th Grade Math (Indiana)4232.9
 9.1%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Joseph Block Middle School)24.615.7
 8.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (School City of East Chicago)24.615.7
 8.9%
   8th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)50.743.8
 6.9%
8th Grade Math (Joseph Block Middle School)11.83
 8.8%
   8th Grade Math (School City of East Chicago)11.83
 8.8%
   8th Grade Math (Indiana)3831.4
 6.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students514487
 5.3%
African American248238
 4%
American Indian00
Asian00
Hispanic244232
 4.9%
Pacific Islander00
White107
 30%
Two or More Races1210
 16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients83.3%81.9%
 1.3%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Block Middle School

Students who attend Joseph Block Middle School usually go on to attend East Chicago Central High School

In the 2022-23 school year, 487 students attended Joseph Block Middle School.

Joseph Block Middle School ranks in the bottom 11.5% of Indiana middle schools.

Students at Joseph Block Middle School are 49% African American, 48% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% White.


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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.





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