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Aspire Charter Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8

829^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 18% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Aspire Charter Academy is a K–8 charter school at 4900 W 15th Ave on Gary, Indiana's west side, serving 684 students — the largest enrollment of any school located within Gary — and it operates as its own single-school district.

For families choosing among Gary schools, Aspire is the strongest option in the city: it posts the highest proficiency of any school physically located in Gary in all three tested subjects, with 25.13% in English/language arts, 20.85% in math, and 15.22% in science in 2025–26. That is roughly double to seven times the results at Gary Community School Corp schools such as Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School (13.98% ELA), Longfellow New Technical Elementary School (9.41%), and Beveridge Elementary School (3.66%). Even so, in absolute terms Aspire sits well below state averages and below its suburban and charter peers: Southridge Elementary School and Judith Morton Johnston Elementary in Highland reach 29–51% proficiency, and the nearby charter East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy outperforms Aspire by 11 points in ELA, 12 in math, and 22 in science.

Context matters. Aspire has the highest poverty rate in its peer group (96.05% free/reduced lunch) and one of the largest class sizes (20.7 students per teacher), while spending $16,911 per pupil — near the top of the group. Chronic absenteeism has improved nearly 19 points since 2020–21 to 25.8%, far better than Gary district schools, but still above the state. Grade 6 ELA is at the state average (41.1% vs. 41.3%), a genuine bright spot; grade 5 math (7.55%) and science overall are the clearest gaps. After a decade-long climb to 2 stars in 2023–24, the school has slipped to 1 star and the 18th percentile in 2025–26, with ELA falling 5.5 points in a single year.

684

Students ?

20.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,911

Per pupil spending ?

96.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4900 W 15th Ave
Gary, IN 46406

(219) 944-7400

District: Aspire Charter Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

81.3%

Hispanic:

10.2%

Two or more races:

8.2%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Aspire Charter Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Recently slipping — 32nd percentile in 2024 → 18th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (22% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (18th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (26% vs 17% Indiana)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school22%

District avg22%

Indiana avg47%

Elementary school

829^th of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 18%▲ up 11 pts since 2016

From bottom 8% (2016) to bottom 18% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

341^st of 486

Indiana public middle schools ?

Bottom 30%▲ up 20 pts since 2016

From bottom 10% (2016) to bottom 30% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

297^th of 374Aspire Charter Academy 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)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	19.3	829 of 1015	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	24.5	780 of 1005	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	33.8	684 of 1011	32.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.9	784 of 1016	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	21.0	816 of 1020	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.3	933 of 1016	8.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	22.1	839 of 1031	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	13.8	907 of 1027	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	14.1	919 of 1033	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	10.4	967 of 1046	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	16.0	930 of 1040	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	19.3	925 of 1036	10.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	25.3	875 of 1035	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	9.1	958 of 1015	5.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	3.6	999 of 1025	2.5%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	31.6	341 of 486	29.8%	★★☆☆☆
2025	28.7	346 of 480	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.6	363 of 491	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	20.0	391 of 489	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.5	370 of 490	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	16.3	402 of 483	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	19.4	399 of 470	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	8.1	444 of 473	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	9.0	427 of 472	9.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	12.4	443 of 494	10.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	6.0	450 of 485	7.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.3	443 of 470	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	7.5	427 of 444	3.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	2.9	433 of 447	3.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	6.5	431 of 451	4.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts25%

Math21%

Social Studies21%-26 vs state

Science15%

★

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Schools Near Aspire Charter Academy

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2026)							ILEARN Math (2026)							ILEARN Science (2026)			ILEARN Social Studies (2026)	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 (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	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
Aspire Charter Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4900 W 15th Ave	Gary	46406	Lake County	Aspire Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(219) 944-7400	684	33	20.7	96.1%	2 (0.3%)	556 (81.3%)	70 (10.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (8.2%)	19.3	829^th of 1015 public elementary schools	18.3%		24.5	780^th of 1005 public elementary schools	22.4%	49	17.5	15.2	22.6	41.1	28.1	25.8	25.1	26.3	21.2	7.6	28.8	20.3	16.1	20.9	12.3	17.8	15.2	20.8	$16,911	$6,382	$10,529
Beveridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	1234 Cleveland St	Gary	46404	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 321-8546	374	22	16.7	66.6%	1 (0.3%)	322 (86.1%)	28 (7.5%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.3%)	4.8	1000^th of 1015 public elementary schools	1.5%		3.6	1000^th of 1005 public elementary schools	0.5%		1.2	9.4	1.8				3.7	9.9	20.8	3.6				11.1	18.9		18.9	3.6	$17,943	$5,485	$12,458
Frankie Woods McCullough Academy	Public	PK, KG-5	1110 W 21st Ave	Gary	46407	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 944-7301	472	30	15.6	57.4%	3 (0.6%)	422 (89.4%)	35 (7.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.5%)	7.8	960^th of 1015 public elementary schools	5.4%		4.5	993^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	1.2%	33	12.7	10.0	6.9				9.7	16.5	35.0	5.8				17.3	13.3		13.3	5.8	$18,045	$5,695	$12,351
Joseph Hess Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3640 Orchard Dr	Hammond	46323	Lake County	School City of Hammond	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 989-7355	611	36	16.8	50.2%	66 (10.8%)	249 (40.8%)	264 (43.2%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.6%)	10.1	934^th of 1015 public elementary schools	8.0%		9.8	922^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	8.3%	12	17.4	23.6	10.4	11.8			15.8	15.3	20.8	16.9	2.6			13.9	14.1	14.5	14.3	16.9	$11,020	$2,131	$8,889
Warren G Harding Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3211 165th St	Hammond	46323	Lake County	School City of Hammond	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 989-7351	755	43	17.6	54.4%	107 (14.2%)	235 (31.1%)	370 (49.0%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.4%)	22.1	808^th of 1015 public elementary schools	20.4%		21.1	804^th of 1005 public elementary schools	20.0%	4	17.8	12.4	35.5	20.8			21.8	22.9	37.1	28.0	20.8			27.0	25.8	21.8	23.7	29.0	$12,652	$2,674	$9,979
Judith Morton Johnston Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	8220 Fifth St	Highland	46322	Lake County	School Town of Highland	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 923-2428	383	16	24.7	46.2%	183 (47.8%)	31 (8.1%)	153 (39.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.9%)	43.6	590^th of 1015 public elementary schools	41.9%		51.3	494^th of 1005 public elementary schools	50.8%	96	34.2	27.3	28.0				29.3	63.4	47.0	44.0				50.3	37.9		37.9	34.0	$9,870	$557	$9,312
Longfellow New Technical Elementary School	Public	K-4	45th/Calhoun Sts	Gary	46408	Lake County	Lake Ridge New Technical Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 923-7004	483	25	19.3	97.1%	153 (31.7%)	154 (31.9%)	146 (30.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.8%)	5.4	992^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	2.3%		5.1	989^th of 1005 public elementary schools	1.6%	3	4.0	14.6					9.4	12.1	11.8					11.9	12.8		12.8		$14,198	$3,558	$10,640
Southridge Elementary School	Public	K-5	9221 Johnston St	Highland	46322	Lake County	School Town of Highland	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 922-5650	439	20	22.5	42.4%	233 (53.1%)	36 (8.2%)	150 (34.2%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.6%)	60.3	389^th of 1015 public elementary schools	61.7%		64.6	342^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	66.0%	47	40.9	50.0	38.5				42.6	64.2	56.1	37.2				51.5	46.6		46.6	47.4	$10,047	$478	$9,570
George Washington Elementary School	Public	K-6	2400 Cardinal Drive	East Chicago	46312	Lake County	School City of East Chicago	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 391-4169	433	28	15.5	72.3%	2 (0.5%)	239 (55.2%)	180 (41.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	10.6	928^th of 1015 public elementary schools	8.6%		8.1	950^th of 1005 public elementary schools	5.5%	22	14.0	17.7	14.1	6.0			12.7	24.4	41.2	14.1	9.0			21.3	13.7	6.1	9.4	9.4	$14,342	$2,763	$11,580
Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School	Public	K-5	1320 E 19th Ave	Gary	46407	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 881-3600	450	28	15.9	69.8%	8 (1.8%)	406 (90.2%)	24 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	10 (2.2%)	6.3	979^th of 1015 public elementary schools	3.5%		5.5	988^th of 1005 public elementary schools	1.7%	9	9.9	15.8	19.3				14.0	4.4	13.2	0.0				4.8	10.5		10.5	10.5	$17,091	$5,390	$11,701

Frequently Asked Questions about Aspire Charter Academy

What is the racial makeup of Aspire Charter Academy?

Students at Aspire Charter Academy are 81% African American, 10% Hispanic, 8% Two or more races.

How many students attend Aspire Charter Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 684 students attended Aspire Charter Academy.

What district is Aspire Charter Academy in?

Aspire Charter Academy

Is Aspire Charter Academy a good school?

Aspire Charter Academy ranks in the bottom 18.3% of Indiana elementary schools.

Rate Aspire Charter Academy!

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2025–26 ILEARN & SAT test scoresNewSep 25, 2026

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 5, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataSep 4, 2025

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJul 16, 2025

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.