Best Public Schools in Rochester, IN

Rochester, Indiana is home to six schools serving about 2,409 students across two districts — Rochester Community School Corp (four schools, roughly 1,593 students) and Caston School Corporation (two schools, roughly 816 students) — with grade spans ranging from PK–1 at Columbia Elementary School up through 8–12 at Rochester Community High School, so "all grades" test results compare different student populations. Both districts rank above the state median, with Rochester Community School Corp at 143 of 374 (62nd percentile, 3 stars) and Caston School Corp at 177 of 374 (53rd percentile, 3 stars).

Rochester Community Middle School is the clear standout: 95 of 486, 80th percentile and 4 stars in 2025–2026, up from 47th percentile and 2 stars in 2023–2024, with chronic absenteeism of just 3.6% and math and ELA scores well above district and state — 5th-grade math 69.77 and 6th-grade math 66.37 against state rates of 42.0 and 40.2. Rochester Community High School posts a 100.0% graduation rate versus the state's 89.7% and strong reading, but its math is weak (SAT Math 11.71 vs state 25.6; ILEARN Math all grades 21.43 vs district 47.62). Caston Junior-Senior High School is strong in biology and science (Biology EOC 59.62; Science all grades 52.17) with a 94.5% graduation rate, though its rank fell from 74th percentile and 4 stars to 44th–45th percentile and 2 stars.

Elementary performance is the weakest link: Caston Elementary School and George M Riddle Elementary School both sit near the 40th percentile with 2 stars and trail in several ELA, math, and science measures. Absenteeism varies widely, from 3.6% at Rochester Middle to 16.3% at Columbia Elementary. Poverty is high everywhere, from 58.2% to 67.08% free/reduced lunch, yet Rochester Middle shows high poverty and high achievement can coexist.