New Palestine Community Schools

New Palestine Community Schools is a highly rated Indiana district with six schools—three elementary (PK–4), two middle (5–8), and one high school (9–12)—serving about 3,959 students. Among elementary schools, New Palestine Elementary School is the standout: 72nd of 1,015, 93rd percentile, 5 stars, and the district’s highest all-grades math (77.05%), ELA (60.11%), and science (64.52%). Brandywine Elementary School is also strong (144th, 86th percentile, 4 stars) with the lowest student-teacher ratio (14.0) and highest per-student spending ($11,866). Sugar Creek Elementary School is the lowest-ranked school in the district (336th, 67th percentile, 3 stars), with science at 44.44%—below the district’s 49.51%—though some grade-level scores still beat state averages.

In the middle grades, New Palestine Intermediate School has very low chronic absenteeism (6.7%) and strong 5th-grade social studies (59.4% vs. 47.2% state), but the district’s highest student-teacher ratio (20.1) and lowest per-student spending ($9,268). New Palestine Junior High School posts extraordinary Biology EOC proficiency—93.52% in 2025-2026 and 97.09% in 2024-2025—far above district and state, but its all-grades math is only 43.19%, well below the district’s 53.99%, and its rank fell from 35th of 491 to 101st of 486. At the high school level, New Palestine High School has a 97.1% graduation rate (vs. 89.7% state) and SAT ERW of 67.22% (vs. 51.9% state), but SAT Math is 32.11%, Biology EOC is 52.11% (below the district’s 66.04%), and chronic absenteeism is the district’s highest at 13.7%—still below the state’s 16.7%.

Overall, New Palestine Community Schools is high-performing but uneven. Elementary schools drive standout math and science; middle school math is a relative soft spot; and Biology EOC results split sharply between the junior high and high school. Attendance is a clear district strength, with every school below the state’s 16.7% chronic absenteeism rate and elementary schools at 6.2% to 7.4%. Resource patterns are mixed: the highest-spending elementary schools also post strong outcomes, while the intermediate school has low spending and high class sizes but remains near district averages. Parents should look at each school’s specific academic and attendance profile rather than relying only on the district’s strong overall rating.