John Simatovich Elementary School

Q: Is John Simatovich Elementary School a good school?

John Simatovich Elementary School ranks 114 th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

John Simatovich Elementary School is a public K-5 school in Valparaiso, Indiana, part of the highly-ranked Union Township School Corp. With 238 students, the school has consistently strong academic performance, particularly in math, where proficiency rates significantly exceed the state average. However, the school faces some challenges, including higher chronic absenteeism and a larger percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch compared to some top-performing schools in the region.

Academically, John Simatovich Elementary School ranks in the top 20% of Indiana elementary schools, with ILEARN test scores that are generally higher than state averages, especially in math. In 2023-2024, 73.02% of students were proficient or better in ILEARN Math, compared to the Indiana averages of 52.4% for 3rd grade, 48% for 4th grade, and 40.8% for 5th grade. The school's performance in ILEARN English Language Arts is also strong, though not as high as the math scores. Compared to nearby Portage Township Schools, John Simatovich Elementary has significantly higher test scores and statewide rankings, but it does not quite match the top-performing Valparaiso Community Schools elementary schools, such as Memorial Elementary and Central Elementary.

While John Simatovich Elementary School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and higher per-student spending than some nearby schools, it faces challenges with chronic absenteeism and a larger percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 9.6% in 2022-2023 is higher than the 3.1% rate at Union Center Elementary School, another high-performing school in the district. Additionally, John Simatovich Elementary has a free and reduced lunch rate ranging from 43.78% to 47.9% over the past three years, significantly higher than the 17.92% rate at Union Center Elementary.

Detail:

Public K-5

424 W 500 N
Valparaiso, IN 46385

(219) 759-2508

District: Union Township School Corp

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

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,268

Students who attend John Simatovich Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Union Township Middle School
High:	Wheeler High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.2

Number of students: 238

Racial breakdown:

White:

74.4%

Hispanic:

16.8%

Two or more races:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 47.9%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare John Simatovich Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details John Simatovich Elementary School ranks better than 88.7% of elementary schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 85.94. (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: White (74.4%), Hispanic (16.8%), two or more races (5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 47.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at John Simatovich Elementary School is 13.2. (See more...)

Compare John Simatovich Elementary School employs 18 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at John Simatovich Elementary School is $12,268.

Schooldigger Rankings:

John Simatovich Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Union Township School Corp:

SchoolDigger ranks Union Township School Corp 10^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for John Simatovich Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	IN State Percentile
2005	78.45	138^th	959	85.6%
2006	80.39	131^st	961	86.4%
2007	69.32	290^th	985	70.6%
2008	78.43	154^th	996	84.5%
2009	73.00	247^th	1003	75.4%
2010	72.61	254^th	1009	74.8%
2011	66.05	361^st	1025	64.8%
2012	69.76	287^th	1015	71.7%
2013	85.82	60^th	1035	94.2%
2014	80.72	126^th	1036	87.8%
2015	76.36	193^rd	1040	81.4%
2016	82.63	120^th	1046	88.5%
2017	83.88	119^th	1033	88.5%
2018	85.40	101^st	1027	90.2%
2019	85.09	110^th	1031	89.3%
2021	76.37	214^th	1016	78.9%
2022	78.87	185^th	1020	81.9%
2023	86.10	110^th	1016	89.2%
2024	85.94	114^th	1010	88.7%

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 John Simatovich Elementary School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	383	0	5	19	3	n/a	n/a	0	410
1989	439	0	3	29	0	n/a	n/a	0	471
1990	417	0	2	31	0	n/a	n/a	0	450
1991	390	0	5	27	7	n/a	n/a	0	429
1992	408	0	6	29	0	n/a	n/a	0	443
1993	360	0	3	24	2	n/a	n/a	0	389
1994	322	0	5	16	1	n/a	n/a	0	344
1995	323	0	2	7	2	n/a	n/a	1	335
1996	323	0	2	7	2	n/a	n/a	1	335
1997	291	0	3	2	1	n/a	n/a	11	308
1998	295	0	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	0	300
1999	253	5	5	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	269
2000	277	1	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	286
2001	275	0	3	9	0	n/a	n/a	0	287
2002	282	0	2	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	293
2003	282	0	2	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	293
2004	280	0	2	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	291
2005	289	0	1	15	1	n/a	n/a	0	306
2006	306	0	1	20	2	n/a	n/a	0	329
2007	290	0	1	21	2	n/a	n/a	22	336
2008	279	0	1	18	1	n/a	n/a	24	323
2009	299	1	3	23	1	n/a	n/a	27	354
2010	293	2	2	20	3	n/a	n/a	23	343
2011	261	8	1	40	2	0	8	0	320
2012	264	4	1	42	2	0	4	0	317
2013	229	4	0	32	3	0	4	0	272
2014	227	2	1	32	3	0	4	0	269
2015	217	6	2	29	3	0	6	0	263
2016	196	5	2	28	1	0	5	0	237
2017	178	8	2	27	0	0	4	0	219
2018	196	8	3	29	0	0	4	0	240
2019	183	8	3	30	0	0	5	0	229
2020	189	10	1	26	0	0	9	0	235
2021	185	10	1	29	1	0	8	0	234
2022	175	7	2	36	3	0	10	0	233
2023	177	5	2	40	2	0	12	0	238

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 John Simatovich Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	410	21.6	18.9	11.2
1989	471	22.9	20.5	5.5
1990	450	23.2	19.3	5.6
1991	429	23.9	17.9	5.6
1992	443	22.3	19.8	10.4
1993	389	21.3	18.3	15.4
1994	344	22.0	15.6	13.1
1995	335	19.7	17.0	9.6
1996	335	19.7	17.0	9.6
1997	308	19.2	16.0	10.4
1998	300	18.1	16.6	11.3
1999	269	15.5	17.4	17.8
2000	286	17.4	16.4	17.8
2001	287	18.0	15.9	18.5
2002	293	15.1	19.4	21.5
2003	293	15.1	19.4	21.5
2004	291	14.6	19.9	23
2005	306	15.0	20.4	27.1
2006	329	17.6	18.7	28
2007	336	n/a	n/a	31.2
2008	323	20.2	16.0	35.1
2009	354	19.3	18.3	29.1
2010	343	22.3	15.3	36.6
2011	320	19.0	16.7	30.9
2012	317	19.4	16.3	38.5
2013	272	15.9	17.1	36.4
2014	269	15.5	17.3	39.8
2015	263	16.0	16.4	43.7
2016	237	15.0	15.8	40.9
2017	219	14.0	15.6	42.5
2018	240	14.0	17.1	43.3
2019	229	14.0	16.3	41.5
2020	235	14.0	16.7	46.4
2021	234	15.0	15.6	44.4
2022	233	17.0	13.7	43.8
2023	238	18.0	13.2	47.9

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 John Simatovich Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	410	21.6	18.9	11.2
1989	471	22.9	20.5	5.5
1990	450	23.2	19.3	5.6
1991	429	23.9	17.9	5.6
1992	443	22.3	19.8	10.4
1993	389	21.3	18.3	15.4
1994	344	22.0	15.6	13.1
1995	335	19.7	17.0	9.6
1996	335	19.7	17.0	9.6
1997	308	19.2	16.0	10.4
1998	300	18.1	16.6	11.3
1999	269	15.5	17.4	17.8
2000	286	17.4	16.4	17.8
2001	287	18.0	15.9	18.5
2002	293	15.1	19.4	21.5
2003	293	15.1	19.4	21.5
2004	291	14.6	19.9	23
2005	306	15.0	20.4	27.1
2006	329	17.6	18.7	28
2007	336	n/a	n/a	31.2
2008	323	20.2	16.0	35.1
2009	354	19.3	18.3	29.1
2010	343	22.3	15.3	36.6
2011	320	19.0	16.7	30.9
2012	317	19.4	16.3	38.5
2013	272	15.9	17.1	36.4
2014	269	15.5	17.3	39.8
2015	263	16.0	16.4	43.7
2016	237	15.0	15.8	40.9
2017	219	14.0	15.6	42.5
2018	240	14.0	17.1	43.3
2019	229	14.0	16.3	41.5
2020	235	14.0	16.7	46.4
2021	234	15.0	15.6	44.4
2022	233	17.0	13.7	43.8
2023	238	18.0	13.2	47.9

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 John Simatovich Elementary School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$667 (6.6%)	$9,370 (93.3%)	$10,038
2020	$378 (3.7%)	$9,788 (96.3%)	$10,166
2021	$468 (4.0%)	$11,154 (96.0%)	$11,622
2022	$411 (3.4%)	$11,857 (96.6%)	$12,268

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on John Simatovich 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 110^th of 1031 Elementary schools	Ranks 110^th of 1016 Elementary schools	0.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (John Simatovich Elementary School)	88.2	68.3	19.9%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Union Township School Corp)	80.9	73.2	7.8%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	46.3	39.7	6.6%
3rd Grade Math (John Simatovich Elementary School)	82.4	78.1	4.3%
3rd Grade Math (Union Township School Corp)	80.9	83.3	2.4%
3rd Grade Math (Indiana)	58.7	53.1	5.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (John Simatovich Elementary School)	57.1	56.8	0.3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Union Township School Corp)	62.9	63.3	0.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	45.8	40.3	5.5%
4th Grade Math (John Simatovich Elementary School)	77.1	84.1	7%
4th Grade Math (Union Township School Corp)	69.7	81.7	12%
4th Grade Math (Indiana)	54	48.8	5.2%
4th Grade Science (John Simatovich Elementary School)	62.9	63.6	0.7%
4th Grade Science (Union Township School Corp)	66.3	68.3	2%
4th Grade Science (Indiana)	46.3	37	9.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (John Simatovich Elementary School)	50	56.1	6.1%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Union Township School Corp)	68.5	67.6	0.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)	47.5	40.2	7.3%
5th Grade Math (John Simatovich Elementary School)	71.4	61	10.4%
5th Grade Math (Union Township School Corp)	71.2	65.8	5.4%
5th Grade Math (Indiana)	47.8	41.1	6.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (John Simatovich Elementary School)	71.4	36.6	34.8%
5th Grade Social Studies (Union Township School Corp)	82	58.6	23.4%
5th Grade Social Studies (Indiana)	46	39.1	6.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	229	238	3.9%
African American	8	5	37.5%
American Indian	0	2
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	30	40	33.3%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	183	177	3.3%
Two or More Races	5	12	140%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	41.5%	47.9%	6.4%

Schools Near John Simatovich 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 All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th 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
John Simatovich Elementary School	Public	K-5	424 W 500 N	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Union Township School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 759-2508	238	18	13.2	47.9%	177 (74.4%)	5 (2.1%)	40 (16.8%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.0%)	85.9	114^th of 1010 public elementary schools	88.7%		86.1	110^th of 1016 public elementary schools	89.2%	4	64.3	51.2	58.5	57.9	78.6	79.1	61.0	73.0	43.9	$12,268	$411	$11,857
South Haven Elementary School	Public	K-5	395 W Midway Dr	Valparaiso	46383	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 763-8045	281	16	18.1	64.4%	189 (67.3%)	25 (8.9%)	47 (16.7%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.7%)	36.8	662^nd of 1010 public elementary schools	34.5%		36.8	666^th of 1016 public elementary schools	34.4%	4	28.3	31.9	29.3	29.9	50.0	46.8	22.0	40.3	22.0	$11,754	$1,486	$10,268
Paul Saylor Elementary School	Public	K-5	331 Midway	Valparaiso	46383	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 763-8040	292	17	17.1	74.7%	139 (47.6%)	70 (24.0%)	63 (21.6%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.5%)	17.1	845^th of 1010 public elementary schools	16.3%		23.5	790^th of 1016 public elementary schools	22.2%	55	18.2	18.8	14.0	17.0	29.6	28.6	27.9	28.7	9.3	$10,937	$1,468	$9,469
Union Center Elementary School	Public	K-5	272 N 600 W	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Union Township School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 759-2544	413	22	18.7	17.9%	345 (83.5%)	4 (1.0%)	48 (11.6%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.4%)	94.7	30^th of 1010 public elementary schools	97.0%		96.1	19^th of 1016 public elementary schools	98.1%	11	63.6	78.3	67.5	69.8	78.8	81.2	67.5	75.5	64.9	$8,937	$57	$8,880
Central Elementary School	Public	K-5	653 Hayes Leonard Rd	Valparaiso	46385	Porter County	Valparaiso Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 531-3030	134	10	13.5	54.5%	87 (64.9%)	7 (5.2%)	35 (26.1%)	1 (0.7%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.2%)	92.2	56^th of 1010 public elementary schools	94.5%		88.7	74^th of 1016 public elementary schools	92.7%	18	61.9	92.0	55.0	71.2	71.4	88.0	65.0	75.8	60.0	$11,279	$1,198	$10,081
Cooks Corners Elementary School	Public	K-5	358 Bullseye Lake Rd	Valparaiso	46383	Porter County	Valparaiso Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(219) 531-3040	470	21	22.1	23.4%	377 (80.2%)	9 (1.9%)	62 (13.2%)	12 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (1.9%)	87.9	97^th of 1010 public elementary schools	90.4%		85.8	119^th of 1016 public elementary schools	88.3%	22	53.3	59.5	63.8	58.9	66.2	73.8	58.8	66.4	67.5	$7,590	$489	$7,101
Memorial Elementary School	Public	K-5	1052 Park Ave	Valparaiso	46383	Porter County	Valparaiso Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(219) 531-3090	477	22	21.4	24.9%	373 (78.2%)	7 (1.5%)	68 (14.3%)	8 (1.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.2%)	97.7	10^th of 1010 public elementary schools	99.0%		97.1	9^th of 1016 public elementary schools	99.1%	1	73.4	79.5	87.6	80.5	77.5	86.8	84.3	82.9	83.2	$7,858	$352	$7,506
Northview Elementary School	Public	K-5	257 Northview Dr	Valparaiso	46383	Porter County	Valparaiso Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(219) 531-3100	271	16	16.5	37.3%	218 (80.4%)	12 (4.4%)	36 (13.3%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	70.5	293^rd of 1010 public elementary schools	71.0%		85.9	117^th of 1016 public elementary schools	88.5%	176	69.4	79.1	32.1	58.1	81.6	79.1	33.9	62.8	32.1	$9,563	$914	$8,649
Rowena Kyle Elementary School	Public	K-5	2701 Hamstrom Rd	Portage	46368	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 763-8030	472	22	21.9	55.3%	210 (44.5%)	66 (14.0%)	166 (35.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.9%)	46.2	568^th of 1010 public elementary schools	43.8%		46.6	572^nd of 1016 public elementary schools	43.7%	4	47.7	44.6	29.5	40.8	51.1	52.7	20.5	41.7	12.8	$9,604	$1,117	$8,487
George L Myers Elementary School	Public	K-5	3100 Willowdale	Portage	46368	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 763-8035	331	18	18.9	57.4%	178 (53.8%)	25 (7.6%)	99 (29.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.5%)	32.7	697^th of 1010 public elementary schools	31.0%		33.4	694^th of 1016 public elementary schools	31.7%	3	30.0	46.8	30.0	35.0	25.5	48.9	16.7	29.1	15.0	$11,230	$1,346	$9,885

Frequently Asked Questions about John Simatovich Elementary School

Is John Simatovich Elementary School a good school?

John Simatovich Elementary School ranks 114^th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend John Simatovich Elementary School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 238 students attended John Simatovich Elementary School.

What district is John Simatovich Elementary School in?

Union Township School Corp

What schools do graduates of John Simatovich Elementary School attend?

Students who attend John Simatovich Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Union Township Middle School
High : Wheeler High School

What is the racial makeup of John Simatovich Elementary School?

Students at John Simatovich Elementary School are 74% White, 17% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 2% African American.

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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.