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Merle J Abbett Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

974^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Merle J Abbett Elementary School is a public elementary school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, serving around 450 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Fort Wayne Community Schools district, which is ranked 267 out of 380 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Merle J Abbett Elementary consistently ranks among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Indiana, with proficiency rates well below the state and district averages across all subject areas and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 9.91% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 30.62% for the Fort Wayne Community Schools district and 40.3% statewide for 3rd grade. The school also has very high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.8% to 30.4% in recent years, significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, the school has a very high percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 81.11% to 87.3% in recent years, indicating a high-poverty student population.

Despite the relatively high per-student spending at Merle J Abbett Elementary, ranging from $10,237 to $13,567 in recent years, the school's academic outcomes remain significantly below the state and district averages. In comparison, the nearby Fairfield Elementary and South Wayne Elementary schools, as well as the John S Irwin Elementary and Weisser Park Elementary magnet schools, generally perform better academically than Merle J Abbett Elementary.

467

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,567

Per pupil spending ?

72.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4325 Smith St
Fort Wayne, IN 46806

(260) 467-5800

District: Fort Wayne Community Schools

Students who attend Merle J Abbett Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Lane Middle School
High:	South Side High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.6%

African American:

30.6%

Asian:

11.6%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Merle J Abbett Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 9th percentile in 2015 → 3rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (9% vs 38% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 17% Indiana)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school9%

District avg29%

Indiana avg38%

974^th of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 6 pts since 2015

From bottom 9% (2015) to bottom 3% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

30^th of 31Elementary Schools in the Fort Wayne Community Schools

267^th of 380Fort Wayne Community Schools among Indiana districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2025	6.2	974 of 1005	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	7.5	961 of 1011	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	5.2	995 of 1016	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	4.1	1014 of 1020	0.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	6.6	966 of 1016	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	3.0	1014 of 1031	1.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	1.4	1020 of 1027	0.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	2.0	1011 of 1033	2.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	1.8	1033 of 1046	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	14.5	945 of 1040	9.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	3.8	1012 of 1036	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	11.3	970 of 1035	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	25.4	847 of 1015	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	8.9	968 of 1025	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	4.1	987 of 1009	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	4.2	981 of 1003	2.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2008	20.6	865 of 996	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	12.7	905 of 985	8.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2006	3.5	939 of 961	2.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2005	21.4	841 of 959	12.3%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Science10%

English Language Arts10%

Social Studies9%-29 vs state

Math8%

★

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Schools Near Merle J Abbett Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2025)							ILEARN Math (2025)							ILEARN Science (2025)			ILEARN Social Studies (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
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 (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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 Science 4th Grade	ILEARN Science 6th Grade	ILEARN Science All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Merle J Abbett Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4325 Smith St	Fort Wayne	46806	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 467-5800	467	39	11.9	72.6%	18 (3.9%)	143 (30.6%)	213 (45.6%)	54 (11.6%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.7%)	6.2	974^th of 1005 public elementary schools	3.1%		7.5	961^st of 1011 public elementary schools	4.9%	13	1.2	11.4	19.1				9.9	7.1	8.6	9.0				8.1	10.0		10.0	9.2	$13,567	$2,910	$10,656
Levan R Scott Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	950 E Fairfax Ave	Fort Wayne	46806	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 467-8050	419	35	12.0	75.4%	22 (5.3%)	126 (30.1%)	113 (27.0%)	134 (32.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.5%)	7.7	958^th of 1005 public elementary schools	4.7%		6.6	975^th of 1011 public elementary schools	3.6%	17	12.5	17.7	17.0				15.5	8.3	11.3	13.2				10.7	12.9		12.9	3.8	$13,935	$2,710	$11,225
John S Irwin Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	3501 S Anthony Blvd	Fort Wayne	46806	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(260) 467-5310	302	21	14.3	62.9%	79 (26.2%)	147 (48.7%)	35 (11.6%)	13 (4.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.3%)	66.8	322^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	68.0%		47.1	557^th of 1011 public elementary schools	44.9%	235	48.0	52.2	51.1				50.4	62.0	39.1	46.8				49.7	45.7		45.7	42.6	$14,267	$2,909	$11,358
Weisser Park Elementary School	Public, Magnet	1-5	902 Colerick St	Fort Wayne	46806	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(260) 467-8875	632	48	13.1	64.1%	210 (33.2%)	229 (36.2%)	128 (20.3%)	8 (1.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	54 (8.5%)	53.3	472^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	53.0%		58.9	423^rd of 1011 public elementary schools	58.2%	49	29.8	54.0	40.8				41.6	38.8	50.0	28.5				39.0	48.4		48.4	43.1	$12,811	$2,015	$10,796
Timothy L Johnson Academy	Public, Charter	K-5	4625 Werling Dr	Fort Wayne	46806	Allen County	Timothy L Johnson Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(260) 441-8727	440	22	20.0	82.7%	2 (0.5%)	96 (21.8%)	25 (5.7%)	305 (69.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	12.2	890^th of 1005 public elementary schools	11.4%		6	987^th of 1011 public elementary schools	2.4%	97	8.5	10.5	32.2				16.2	17.1	12.3	20.3				16.7	10.5		10.5	15.3	$13,073	$2,582	$10,491
Whitney M Young Early Childhood	Public, Magnet	PK-K	1026 E Pontiac St	Fort Wayne	46803	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(260) 467-8950	218	19	11.4	45.9%	69 (31.7%)	67 (30.7%)	58 (26.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (10.6%)								(n/a)																			$18,972	$6,050	$12,921
Harrison Hill Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	355 S Cornell Cir	Fort Wayne	46807	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 467-7000	612	48	12.7	70.9%	92 (15.0%)	168 (27.5%)	219 (35.8%)	93 (15.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	38 (6.2%)	24.3	781^st of 1005 public elementary schools	22.3%		19.9	815^th of 1011 public elementary schools	19.4%	34	21.3	29.4	39.0				29.5	29.8	23.5	19.5				24.5	27.1		27.1	18.3	$11,810	$2,329	$9,481
Jeff H Towles Intermediate School	Public	1-8	420 E Paulding Rd	Fort Wayne	46815	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 467-4300	600	46	13.0	60.0%	241 (40.2%)	164 (27.3%)	119 (19.8%)	9 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (11.0%)	50.2	513^th of 1005 public elementary schools	49.0%		37.1	658^th of 1011 public elementary schools	34.9%	145	45.1	42.5	35.1	43.0	30.3	40.9	39.4	43.7	43.8	22.7	29.1	18.4	26.8	30.6	45.2	48.1	46.7	27.0	$19,715	$7,031	$12,685
Bunche Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK-K	1111 Greene St	Fort Wayne	46803	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	Yes	No	No	(260) 467-4790	234	18	13.3	44.0%	93 (39.7%)	62 (26.5%)	38 (16.2%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (15.8%)								(n/a)																			$13,355	$1,663	$11,692
Fairfield Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2825 Fairfield Ave	Fort Wayne	46807	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 467-5900	481	40	12.0	69.6%	62 (12.9%)	109 (22.7%)	237 (49.3%)	18 (3.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	55 (11.4%)	10.6	913^th of 1005 public elementary schools	9.2%		10.3	927^th of 1011 public elementary schools	8.3%	14	13.8	15.7	19.4				16.4	18.6	21.7	17.9				19.6	9.8		9.8	10.5	$12,168	$2,062	$10,105

Frequently Asked Questions about Merle J Abbett Elementary School

What district is Merle J Abbett Elementary School in?

Fort Wayne Community Schools

How many students attend Merle J Abbett Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 467 students attended Merle J Abbett Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Merle J Abbett Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Merle J Abbett Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Lane Middle School
High : South Side High School

Is Merle J Abbett Elementary School a good school?

Merle J Abbett Elementary School ranks in the bottom 3.1% of Indiana elementary schools.

What is the racial makeup of Merle J Abbett Elementary School?

Students at Merle J Abbett Elementary School are 46% Hispanic, 31% African American, 12% Asian, 8% Two or more races, 4% White.

Rate Merle J Abbett Elementary 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.