Washington Center Elementary School

Summary:

Washington Center Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving 517 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Fort Wayne Community Schools district, which has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Washington Center has a higher percentage of White students (61.32%) compared to nearby schools like Franke Park Elementary (44.69%) and Northcrest Elementary (23.94%), it faces several challenges. The school has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 17.8% to 26.9% over the past three years, which is higher than the surrounding schools. Additionally, Washington Center's test scores on the ILEARN assessments are generally lower than the district and state averages, with only 28.34% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 28.81% for the Fort Wayne Community Schools district and 38.6% for the state.

The school's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, from 351 out of 1040 Indiana elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 704 out of 1010 in 2023-2024. This suggests a concerning trend of underperformance compared to other schools in the state. Washington Center also has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 58.42% to 63.16% over the past three years, indicating a higher proportion of students from low-income families. Despite increased per-student spending, from $7,920 in 2018-2019 to $10,189 in 2021-2022, the school's academic outcomes have not improved, and it generally underperforms compared to neighboring schools in the Northwest Allen County Schools district.


Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

 1936 W Wallen Rd
       Fort Wayne, IN  46818


(260) 467-6250

District: Fort Wayne Community Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
704th of 1,010 Indiana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $10,189 Help


Students who attend Washington Center Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Shawnee Middle School
High:    Northrop High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.9 Help
Number of students:  512

Racial breakdown:

White:
57.6%
African American:
14.3%
Hispanic:
13.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  60.5% Help


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 Compare Washington Center Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends
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Compare Details Washington Center Elementary School ranks worse than 69.7% of elementary schools in Indiana. It also ranks 14th among 31 ranked elementary schools in the Fort Wayne Community Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 32.35. (See more...)
Help
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
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Compare Details Student population at Washington Center Elementary School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (57.6%), African American (14.3%), Hispanic (13.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 60.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Washington Center Elementary School is 14.9. 28 elementary schools in the Fort Wayne Community Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Washington Center Elementary School employs 34.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Washington Center Elementary School is $10,189. 30 elementary schools in the Fort Wayne Community Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Washington Center Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Fort Wayne Community Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Fort Wayne Community Schools 283rd of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Washington Center Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 70.75 242nd 959 74.8%
2006 63.03 366th 961 61.9%
2007 57.25 478th 985 51.5%
2008 51.08 571st 996 42.7%
2009 37.79 721st 1003 28.1%
2010 37.97 731st 1009 27.6%
2011 38.07 755th 1025 26.3%
2012 45.54 671st 1015 33.9%
2013 33.27 814th 1035 21.4%
2014 36.27 787th 1036 24.0%
2015 66.46 351st 1040 66.3%
2016 53.79 555th 1046 46.9%
2017 58.37 485th 1033 53.0%
2018 54.29 534th 1027 48.0%
2019 37.96 696th 1031 32.5%
2021 30.56 739th 1016 27.3%
2022 17.83 841st 1020 17.5%
2023 31.43 714th 1016 29.7%
2024 32.35 704th 1010 30.3%
See the entire list of Indiana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Washington Center Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

0%

0%

0%

0%

  

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!


Enrollment information for Washington Center Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 441 4 5 2 0 n/a n/a 0 452
1989 508 5 2 3 3 n/a n/a 0 521
1990 535 72 3 6 5 n/a n/a 0 621
1991 548 74 1 7 8 n/a n/a 0 638
1992 574 95 3 6 7 n/a n/a 0 685
1993 618 120 4 11 5 n/a n/a 0 758
1994 598 106 5 9 2 n/a n/a 0 720
1995 612 89 7 11 1 n/a n/a 0 720
1996 612 89 7 11 1 n/a n/a 0 720
1997 616 99 9 9 1 n/a n/a 0 734
1998 614 96 7 8 1 n/a n/a 0 726
1999 609 109 11 13 1 n/a n/a 0 743
2000 561 100 7 7 3 n/a n/a 0 678
2001 540 77 13 11 3 n/a n/a 0 644
2002 482 75 14 11 8 n/a n/a 0 590
2003 482 75 14 11 8 n/a n/a 0 590
2004 460 60 18 18 7 n/a n/a 0 563
2005 428 66 21 23 6 n/a n/a 0 544
2006 426 58 23 28 5 n/a n/a 0 540
2007 403 78 25 28 1 n/a n/a 23 558
2008 369 79 21 28 1 n/a n/a 33 531
2009 367 86 22 24 0 n/a n/a 18 517
2010 368 79 20 19 2 n/a n/a 24 512
2011 362 90 26 24 2 1 40 0 545
2012 377 86 21 34 0 1 48 0 567
2013 354 70 19 36 1 1 57 0 538
2014 359 65 15 34 2 1 49 0 525
2015 338 61 13 30 0 0 42 0 484
2016 350 47 11 39 0 3 46 0 496
2017 363 39 17 56 1 3 45 0 524
2018 342 36 18 55 1 3 50 0 505
2019 298 58 26 47 1 3 55 0 488
2020 305 60 22 52 1 2 51 0 493
2021 308 62 23 55 0 1 45 0 494
2022 305 49 25 58 1 0 43 0 481
2023 317 64 27 70 1 0 38 0 517
2024 295 73 27 71 3 0 43 0 512

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 Washington Center Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 452 20.6 21.9 7.1
1989 521 24.1 21.6 5.6
1990 621 24.1 25.7 12.2
1991 638 28.2 22.6 14.4
1992 685 29.0 23.6 20.3
1993 758 30.0 25.3 23
1994 720 31.5 22.9 21.3
1995 720 33.5 21.5 23.6
1996 720 33.5 21.5 23.6
1997 734 30.5 24.1 22.9
1998 726 30.5 23.8 21.9
1999 743 35.5 20.9 27.5
2000 678 35.5 19.1 24.2
2001 644 33.5 19.2 23.9
2002 590 29.1 20.3 27.8
2003 590 29.1 20.3 27.8
2004 563 26.5 21.2 33.7
2005 544 29.5 18.4 35.5
2006 540 29.5 18.3 39.1
2007 558 n/a n/a 43.2
2008 531 29.6 17.9 54.6
2009 517 28.5 18.1 56.9
2010 512 29.2 17.4 59
2011 545 30.3 17.9 60.6
2012 567 33.5 16.9 61.4
2013 538 29.5 18.2 69.1
2014 525 28.0 18.7 65.5
2015 484 26.0 18.6 54.8
2016 496 24.0 20.6 53.4
2017 524 26.0 20.1 52.3
2018 505 24.0 21.0 56.4
2019 488 23.0 21.2 50.2
2020 493 23.0 21.4 56.2
2021 494 26.0 19.0 63.2
2022 481 29.2 16.4 58.4
2023 517 30.0 17.2 61.7
2024 512 34.3 14.9 60.5

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 Washington Center Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 452 20.6 21.9 7.1
1989 521 24.1 21.6 5.6
1990 621 24.1 25.7 12.2
1991 638 28.2 22.6 14.4
1992 685 29.0 23.6 20.3
1993 758 30.0 25.3 23
1994 720 31.5 22.9 21.3
1995 720 33.5 21.5 23.6
1996 720 33.5 21.5 23.6
1997 734 30.5 24.1 22.9
1998 726 30.5 23.8 21.9
1999 743 35.5 20.9 27.5
2000 678 35.5 19.1 24.2
2001 644 33.5 19.2 23.9
2002 590 29.1 20.3 27.8
2003 590 29.1 20.3 27.8
2004 563 26.5 21.2 33.7
2005 544 29.5 18.4 35.5
2006 540 29.5 18.3 39.1
2007 558 n/a n/a 43.2
2008 531 29.6 17.9 54.6
2009 517 28.5 18.1 56.9
2010 512 29.2 17.4 59
2011 545 30.3 17.9 60.6
2012 567 33.5 16.9 61.4
2013 538 29.5 18.2 69.1
2014 525 28.0 18.7 65.5
2015 484 26.0 18.6 54.8
2016 496 24.0 20.6 53.4
2017 524 26.0 20.1 52.3
2018 505 24.0 21.0 56.4
2019 488 23.0 21.2 50.2
2020 493 23.0 21.4 56.2
2021 494 26.0 19.0 63.2
2022 481 29.2 16.4 58.4
2023 517 30.0 17.2 61.7
2024 512 34.3 14.9 60.5

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 Washington Center Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $807 (10.2%) $7,113 (89.8%) $7,920
2020 $638 (7.7%) $7,614 (92.3%) $8,252
2021 $992 (10.5%) $8,496 (89.5%) $9,488
2022 $1,334 (13.1%) $8,855 (86.9%) $10,189

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Washington Center Elementary 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 696th of 1031 Elementary schoolsRanks 714th of 1016 Elementary schools
 2.8%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Washington Center Elementary School)34.634.5
 0.1%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Fort Wayne Community Schools)34.229.4
 4.8%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)46.339.7
 6.6%
3rd Grade Math (Washington Center Elementary School)60.538.1
 22.4%
   3rd Grade Math (Fort Wayne Community Schools)44.436.5
 7.9%
   3rd Grade Math (Indiana)58.753.1
 5.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Washington Center Elementary School)25.729.2
 3.5%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Fort Wayne Community Schools)34.230.6
 3.7%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)45.840.3
 5.5%
4th Grade Math (Washington Center Elementary School)4030.8
 9.2%
   4th Grade Math (Fort Wayne Community Schools)40.933.6
 7.3%
   4th Grade Math (Indiana)5448.8
 5.2%
4th Grade Science (Washington Center Elementary School)37.133.9
 3.3%
   4th Grade Science (Fort Wayne Community Schools)31.325.4
 5.9%
   4th Grade Science (Indiana)46.337
 9.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Washington Center Elementary School)42.922.6
 20.3%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Fort Wayne Community Schools)34.929.5
 5.4%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)47.540.2
 7.3%
5th Grade Math (Washington Center Elementary School)45.728.2
 17.5%
   5th Grade Math (Fort Wayne Community Schools)37.325.8
 11.5%
   5th Grade Math (Indiana)47.841.1
 6.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Washington Center Elementary School)38.618.8
 19.8%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Fort Wayne Community Schools)31.224.8
 6.4%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Indiana)4639.1
 6.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students488517
 5.9%
African American5864
 10.3%
American Indian11
Asian2627
 3.8%
Hispanic4770
 48.9%
Pacific Islander30
 100%
White298317
 6.4%
Two or More Races5538
 30.9%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients50.2%61.7%
 11.5%


Schools Near Washington Center Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Washington Center Elementary School

Students at Washington Center Elementary School are 58% White, 14% African American, 14% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races, 5% Asian.

In the 2023-24 school year, 512 students attended Washington Center Elementary School.

Washington Center Elementary School ranks 704th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Students who attend Washington Center Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Shawnee Middle School
High : Northrop High 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.





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