Southern Wells Elementary School

Q: Is Southern Wells Elementary School a good school?

Southern Wells Elementary School ranks 507 th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Southern Wells Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Poneto, Indiana, serving 509 students in grades K-6 and part of the South Adams Schools district.

While Southern Wells Elementary has a significantly higher percentage of white students (93.91%) compared to the state average, it faces some unique challenges. The school's proficiency rates on the ILEARN assessments are generally lower than the state averages and the scores of surrounding schools, such as Salamonie Elementary, which has significantly higher proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Math. Additionally, Southern Wells Elementary has a relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (53.63%), which may be a contributing factor to the school's lower academic performance.

Interestingly, Southern Wells Elementary's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the past several years, from 341 out of 1,031 Indiana elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 507 out of 1,010 in 2023-2024. This suggests the school is struggling to keep pace with other elementary schools in the state. To address these challenges, the school could benefit from targeted interventions and support to improve student learning and achievement, particularly in addressing chronic absenteeism and exploring ways to better support economically disadvantaged students.

Detail:

Public K-6

9120 S 300 W
Poneto, IN 46781

(765) 728-2121

District: Southern Wells Com Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
507^th of 1,010 Indiana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $9,743

Students who attend Southern Wells Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Southern Wells Junior-Senior High School

Student/teacher ratio: 17.8

Number of students: 509

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.9%

Hispanic:

4.7%

Two or more races:

1.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.6%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Southern Wells Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Southern Wells Elementary School ranks worse than 50.2% of elementary schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.58. (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 Racial makeup is: White (93.9%), Hispanic (4.7%), two or more races (1%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Southern Wells Elementary School is 17.8. (See more...)

Compare Southern Wells Elementary School employs 28.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Southern Wells Elementary School is $9,743.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Southern Wells Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Southern Wells Com Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Southern Wells Com Schools 91^st of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Southern Wells Elementary School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IN State Percentile
2004	63.26	119^th	326	63.5%
2005	65.88	315^th	959	67.2%
2006	63.55	358^th	961	62.7%
2007	61.67	399^th	985	59.5%
2008	71.87	242^nd	996	75.7%
2009	70.78	286^th	1003	71.5%
2010	73.99	238^th	1009	76.4%
2011	72.95	243^rd	1025	76.3%
2012	78.69	165^th	1015	83.7%
2013	74.29	227^th	1035	78.1%
2014	53.34	570^th	1036	45.0%
2015	46.79	636^th	1040	38.8%
2016	47.75	644^th	1046	38.4%
2017	43.07	657^th	1033	36.4%
2018	54.92	525^th	1027	48.9%
2019	66.69	341^st	1031	66.9%
2021	62.74	375^th	1016	63.1%
2022	61.64	398^th	1020	61.0%
2023	56.51	470^th	1016	53.7%
2024	51.58	507^th	1010	49.8%

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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Reviews:
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Enrollment information for Southern Wells Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	500	0	0	16	0	n/a	n/a	0	516
1989	508	0	0	16	0	n/a	n/a	0	524
1990	481	2	0	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	496
1991	482	0	0	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	490
1992	471	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	472
1993	470	1	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	473
1994	471	0	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	474
1995	476	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	476
1996	476	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	476
1997	473	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	473
1998	466	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	466
1999	476	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	476
2000	456	0	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	457
2001	460	0	2	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	462
2002	444	0	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	448
2003	444	0	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	0	448
2004	417	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	418
2005	393	0	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	0	395
2006	377	0	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	0	379
2007	373	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	4	378
2008	359	0	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	5	364
2009	378	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	4	383
2010	384	0	0	1	0	n/a	n/a	3	388
2011	404	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	407
2012	403	1	1	5	0	0	0	0	410
2013	432	1	0	6	0	0	0	0	439
2014	422	1	0	3	0	0	1	0	427
2015	422	2	0	4	0	0	1	0	429
2016	414	3	1	11	1	0	3	0	433
2017	419	2	3	13	1	0	1	0	439
2018	467	1	1	8	1	0	2	0	480
2019	441	1	1	12	1	0	3	0	459
2020	449	1	0	11	1	0	4	0	466
2021	404	1	0	12	2	0	4	0	423
2022	431	1	1	17	1	1	4	0	456
2023	478	1	1	24	0	0	5	0	509

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 Southern Wells Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	516	27.0	19.1	9.5
1989	524	28.0	18.7	7.8
1990	496	28.0	17.7	8.1
1991	490	28.0	17.5	9.6
1992	472	26.4	17.8	10.4
1993	473	26.4	17.9	13.7
1994	474	25.5	18.6	13.5
1995	476	27.3	17.4	8.8
1996	476	27.3	17.4	8.8
1997	473	26.3	18.0	11.2
1998	466	25.3	18.4	11.8
1999	476	26.0	18.3	17.9
2000	457	27.0	16.9	16
2001	462	27.6	16.7	17.1
2002	448	26.1	17.2	14.5
2003	448	26.1	17.2	14.5
2004	418	25.1	16.7	14.4
2005	395	23.6	16.7	11.4
2006	379	22.6	16.8	19
2007	378	n/a	n/a	20.6
2008	364	23.1	15.8	22.8
2009	383	24.1	15.9	28
2010	388	21.5	17.9	33.2
2011	407	18.8	21.5	32.7
2012	410	26.0	15.7	35.6
2013	439	27.0	16.2	32.6
2014	427	26.0	16.4	36.5
2015	429	26.0	16.5	35.9
2016	433	26.0	16.6	34.6
2017	439	27.0	16.2	33.5
2018	480	30.0	16.0	41.7
2019	459	29.0	15.8	40.7
2020	466	28.0	16.6	40.6
2021	423	26.0	16.2	41.1
2022	456	27.0	16.8	39.3
2023	509	28.5	17.8	53.6

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 Southern Wells Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	516	27.0	19.1	9.5
1989	524	28.0	18.7	7.8
1990	496	28.0	17.7	8.1
1991	490	28.0	17.5	9.6
1992	472	26.4	17.8	10.4
1993	473	26.4	17.9	13.7
1994	474	25.5	18.6	13.5
1995	476	27.3	17.4	8.8
1996	476	27.3	17.4	8.8
1997	473	26.3	18.0	11.2
1998	466	25.3	18.4	11.8
1999	476	26.0	18.3	17.9
2000	457	27.0	16.9	16
2001	462	27.6	16.7	17.1
2002	448	26.1	17.2	14.5
2003	448	26.1	17.2	14.5
2004	418	25.1	16.7	14.4
2005	395	23.6	16.7	11.4
2006	379	22.6	16.8	19
2007	378	n/a	n/a	20.6
2008	364	23.1	15.8	22.8
2009	383	24.1	15.9	28
2010	388	21.5	17.9	33.2
2011	407	18.8	21.5	32.7
2012	410	26.0	15.7	35.6
2013	439	27.0	16.2	32.6
2014	427	26.0	16.4	36.5
2015	429	26.0	16.5	35.9
2016	433	26.0	16.6	34.6
2017	439	27.0	16.2	33.5
2018	480	30.0	16.0	41.7
2019	459	29.0	15.8	40.7
2020	466	28.0	16.6	40.6
2021	423	26.0	16.2	41.1
2022	456	27.0	16.8	39.3
2023	509	28.5	17.8	53.6

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 Southern Wells Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$155 (1.8%)	$8,389 (98.2%)	$8,544
2020	$226 (2.7%)	$8,235 (97.3%)	$8,461
2021	$802 (8.3%)	$8,864 (91.7%)	$9,666
2022	$561 (5.8%)	$9,182 (94.2%)	$9,743

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Southern Wells 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 341^st of 1031 Elementary schools	Ranks 470^th of 1016 Elementary schools	13.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Elementary School)	44.6	34.2	10.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Com Schools)	44.6	34.2	10.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	46.3	39.7	6.6%
3rd Grade Math (Southern Wells Elementary School)	64.3	41.8	22.5%
3rd Grade Math (Southern Wells Com Schools)	64.3	41.8	22.5%
3rd Grade Math (Indiana)	58.7	53.1	5.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Elementary School)	47	34.3	12.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Com Schools)	47	34.3	12.7%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	45.8	40.3	5.5%
4th Grade Math (Southern Wells Elementary School)	59.1	52.2	6.9%
4th Grade Math (Southern Wells Com Schools)	59.1	52.2	6.9%
4th Grade Math (Indiana)	54	48.8	5.2%
4th Grade Science (Southern Wells Elementary School)	59.1	38.8	20.3%
4th Grade Science (Southern Wells Com Schools)	59.1	38.8	20.3%
4th Grade Science (Indiana)	46.3	37	9.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Elementary School)	54.4	35.7	18.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Com Schools)	54.4	35.7	18.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.5	40.2	7.3%
5th Grade Math (Southern Wells Elementary School)	58.8	38.6	20.2%
5th Grade Math (Southern Wells Com Schools)	58.8	38.6	20.2%
5th Grade Math (Indiana)	47.8	41.1	6.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Southern Wells Elementary School)	57.4	42.9	14.5%
5th Grade Social Studies (Southern Wells Com Schools)	57.4	42.9	14.5%
5th Grade Social Studies (Indiana)	46	39.1	6.9%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Elementary School)	53.5	44.8	8.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Southern Wells Com Schools)	53.5	44.8	8.7%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.8	40.8	7%
6th Grade Math (Southern Wells Elementary School)	46.5	46.3	0.2%
6th Grade Math (Southern Wells Com Schools)	46.5	46.3	0.2%
6th Grade Math (Indiana)	46.4	38.3	8.1%
6th Grade Science (Southern Wells Elementary School)	53.5	44.8	8.7%
6th Grade Science (Southern Wells Com Schools)	53.5	44.8	8.7%
6th Grade Science (Indiana)	48.6	38.2	10.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	459	509	10.9%
African American	1	1
American Indian	1	0	100%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	12	24	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	441	478	8.4%
Two or More Races	3	5	66.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	40.7%	53.6%	12.9%

Schools Near Southern Wells Elementary 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 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 All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th 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
Southern Wells Elementary School	Public	K-6	9120 S 300 W	Poneto	46781	Wells County	Southern Wells Com Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 728-2121	509	29	17.8	53.6%	478 (93.9%)	1 (0.2%)	24 (4.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.0%)	51.6	507^th of 1010 public elementary schools	49.8%		56.5	470^th of 1016 public elementary schools	53.7%	37	26.9	40.3	40.0	35.5	35.6	43.6	44.2	47.1	39.5	43.5	38.6	$9,743	$561	$9,182
Salamonie Elementary School	Public	K-5	1063 E 900 S	Warren	46792	Huntington County	Huntington County Com School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 468-3093	286	21	13.9	46.2%	264 (92.3%)	1 (0.3%)	11 (3.8%)	3 (1.0%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (1.0%)	70.5	291^st of 1010 public elementary schools	71.2%		70.4	296^th of 1016 public elementary schools	70.9%	5	32.7	42.1	54.8		42.6	56.3	68.4	65.9		63.7	46.3	$10,427	$612	$9,815
Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1100 E Spring St	Bluffton	46714	Wells County	MSD Bluffton-Harrison	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 824-0333	747	54	13.8	55.4%	633 (84.7%)	17 (2.3%)	59 (7.9%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	35 (4.7%)	46.9	560^th of 1010 public elementary schools	44.6%		48	559^th of 1016 public elementary schools	45.0%	1	28.3	39.4			33.5	53.1	43.3			48.5		$7,559	$824	$6,735
Blackford Intermediate School	Public	PK, KG-6	400 E McDonald	Hartford City	47348	Blackford County	Blackford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 348-7595	427	28	15.2	64.6%	380 (89.0%)	4 (0.9%)	15 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	26 (6.1%)	48	547^th of 1010 public elementary schools	45.8%		41.7	622^nd of 1016 public elementary schools	38.8%	75	37.3	19.1	35.3	34.3	32.1	60.9	38.2	37.1	33.3	42.8	37.1	$9,749	$1,488	$8,261
Eastbrook North Elementary	Public	K-5	504 S First St	Van Buren	46991	Grant County	Eastbrook Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 934-3551	307	19	16.2	52.4%	280 (91.2%)	3 (1.0%)	14 (4.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.6%)	48	548^th of 1010 public elementary schools	45.7%		35.9	672^nd of 1016 public elementary schools	33.9%	124	50.0	29.8	29.8		36.8	62.0	44.7	29.8		45.8	25.5	$11,346	$1,445	$9,901
Blackford Primary School	Public	PK, KG-2	1515 S Monroe St	Hartford City	47348	Blackford County	Blackford County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 348-7584	352	25	14.0	64.8%	309 (87.8%)	2 (0.6%)	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (7.4%)								(n/a)												$11,289	$2,210	$9,079
Lancaster Central School	Public	PK, KG-5	3240 E 300 N	Bluffton	46714	Wells County	Norwell Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 565-3135	544	36	15.3	37.1%	491 (90.3%)	7 (1.3%)	24 (4.4%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.1%)	72	271^st of 1010 public elementary schools	73.2%		65.6	353^rd of 1016 public elementary schools	65.3%	82	39.4	53.9	45.3		46.1	62.8	52.8	59.0		58.2	47.4	$9,428	$757	$8,671
Eastbrook South Elementary	Public	K-5	694 S Second St	Upland	46989	Grant County	Eastbrook Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 998-2208	377	25	14.9	47.5%	343 (91.0%)	4 (1.1%)	14 (3.7%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	13 (3.4%)	66.6	335^th of 1010 public elementary schools	66.8%		67.8	328^th of 1016 public elementary schools	67.7%	7	40.7	36.4	48.3		41.6	63.0	48.5	51.7		53.9	55.2	$9,790	$1,302	$8,488
West Jay Elementary	Public	K-6	140 Highland Ave	Dunkirk	47336	Jay County	Jay School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(765) 768-6075	249	21	11.8	74.7%	232 (93.2%)	2 (0.8%)	6 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.6%)	62.5	386^th of 1010 public elementary schools	61.8%		58.7	438^th of 1016 public elementary schools	56.9%	52	41.9	68.0	45.5	24.1	44.1	58.1	68.0	36.4	31.0	47.5	45.5	$12,117	$2,475	$9,642
South Adams Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1012 Starfire Way	Berne	46711	Adams County	South Adams Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 589-1101	660	48	13.7	51.2%	558 (84.5%)	3 (0.5%)	70 (10.6%)	8 (1.2%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	17 (2.6%)	66.3	342^nd of 1010 public elementary schools	66.1%		59.2	430^th of 1016 public elementary schools	57.7%	88	34.4	44.0	44.4		41.1	60.0	56.0	56.7		57.5	43.3	$10,870	$2,996	$7,874

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Wells Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Southern Wells Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Southern Wells Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Southern Wells Junior-Senior High School

What district is Southern Wells Elementary School in?

Southern Wells Com Schools

How many students attend Southern Wells Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 509 students attended Southern Wells Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Southern Wells Elementary School?

Students at Southern Wells Elementary School are 94% White, 5% Hispanic.

Is Southern Wells Elementary School a good school?

Southern Wells Elementary School ranks 507^th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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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.