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The Nature School of Central Indiana

Q: Is The Nature School of Central Indiana a good school?

The Nature School of Central Indiana ranks 386 th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public, Charter Grades K-8

386^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 62% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

The Nature School of Central Indiana is a small K–8 school in Indianapolis (46226) serving 175 students and operating as its own district. In 2025–2026 it earned 3 stars and ranked 386 of 1,015 Indiana schools — the 62nd percentile — placing it among the stronger schools in its immediate area.

That marks a major turnaround. In 2023–2024, the school ranked 775 of 1,011 (23rd percentile, 1 star). All-grade proficiency is now 42.72% in English language arts, 33.01% in math, 60.53% in science, and 53.33% in 5th-grade social studies. Science is the standout: it is the highest in a comparison set of 11 nearby schools, 16.55 points ahead of Forest Glen Elementary School. ELA is second in that group, behind Forest Glen's 52.27%. Math is comparatively weaker at 33.01%, ranking fifth of 11 and trailing Forest Glen, Mary Evelyn Castle Elementary School, Circle City Preparatory Elementary School, and Crestview Elementary School.

Chronic absenteeism fell from 32.4% to 21.1% in 2024–2025, though it remains above Indiana's 16.7%. Only 5.14% of students were eligible for free or reduced lunch — far below every nearby school, where the next lowest is Forest Glen at 46.14%. The school also spends the least per student ($10,657) and has the highest student-teacher ratio (29.1) in the comparison group. Grade-level results show particular weakness in math across most grades and an unusually low 8th-grade ELA score (10% versus the state's 44%), though small grade-level cohorts can make percentages volatile. Overall, this is an improving school with real strengths in science and social studies.

175

Students ?

29.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,077

Per pupil spending ?

5.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

85.2%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

6102 Boy Scout Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46226

(317) 721-7282

District: The Nature School of Central Indiana

Racial breakdown:

White:

78.3%

Two or more races:

13.7%

Hispanic:

3.4%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare The Nature School of Central Indiana to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 52nd percentile in 2022 → 62nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 10 percentile points since 2022

✓Above the Indiana median (62nd percentile)

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (42% vs 47% meeting standards)

!High chronic absenteeism (23% vs 15% Indiana)

!Large classes — about 29 students per teacher

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school42%

District avg42%

Indiana avg47%

Elementary school

386^th of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Top 38%▲ up 10 pts since 2022

From top 48% (2022) to top 38% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

236^th of 486

Indiana public middle schools ?

Top 49%▼ down 23 pts since 2022

From top 26% (2022) to top 49% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

146^th of 374The Nature School of Central Indiana 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	60.8	386 of 1015	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	41.2	609 of 1005	39.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	24.3	775 of 1011	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.1	696 of 1016	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.5	490 of 1020	52.0%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Indiana percentile	Rating
2026	49.4	236 of 486	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.2	173 of 480	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	30.3	346 of 491	29.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	59.9	185 of 489	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	72.2	125 of 490	74.5%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Science61%

Social Studies53%+6 vs state

English Language Arts43%

Math33%

★

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Schools Near The Nature School of Central Indiana

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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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2026)							ILEARN Math (2026)							ILEARN Science (2026)			ILEARN Social Studies (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
The Nature School of Central Indiana	Public, Charter	K-8	6102 Boy Scout Rd	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	The Nature School of Central Indiana	Yes	No	No	No	(317) 721-7282	175	6	29.1	5.1%	137 (78.3%)	4 (2.3%)	6 (3.4%)	3 (1.7%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (13.7%)	60.8	386^th of 1015 public elementary schools	62.0%		41.2	609^th of 1005 public elementary schools	39.4%	223	56.0	45.0	46.7	38.9	40.0	10.0	42.7	36.0	50.0	26.7	33.3	20.0	20.0	33.0	60.0	61.1	60.5	53.3	85.2%		$11,077	$1,212	$9,865
Harrison Hill Elementary School	Public	1-6	7510 E 53rd St	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 964-4300	750	42	17.7	69.5%	45 (6.0%)	306 (40.8%)	361 (48.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (5.1%)	12.6	894^th of 1015 public elementary schools	11.9%		11.8	897^th of 1005 public elementary schools	10.7%	3	6.8	21.5	13.4	19.2			15.3	25.6	35.5	15.6	15.0			22.2	14.2	10.7	12.3	14.9			$11,238	$949	$10,289
Brook Park Elementary School	Public	1-6	5259 N David St	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 964-4100	637	44	14.4	74.7%	27 (4.2%)	441 (69.2%)	119 (18.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	48 (7.5%)	10.8	925^th of 1015 public elementary schools	8.9%		8.2	949^th of 1005 public elementary schools	5.6%	24	8.6	11.8	22.6	11.3			13.1	24.8	15.3	25.0	18.4			20.9	7.1	10.4	9.0	10.8			$12,740	$1,581	$11,159
Skiles Test Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	7001 Johnson Rd	Indianapolis	46220	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 964-4700	558	34	16.4	59.7%	71 (12.7%)	212 (38.0%)	226 (40.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	46 (8.2%)	25.1	774^th of 1015 public elementary schools	23.7%		19.9	815^th of 1005 public elementary schools	18.9%	41	26.4	37.7	23.4	25.0			27.7	34.7	36.1	20.8	14.1			26.3	27.9	23.4	25.6	28.6	96.4%		$13,323	$850	$12,473
Crestview Elementary School	Public	1-6	7600 E 71st St	Indianapolis	46256	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 964-4200	591	37	16.1	52.6%	123 (20.8%)	311 (52.6%)	89 (15.1%)	16 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (8.8%)	48.6	540^th of 1015 public elementary schools	46.8%		36.7	661^st of 1005 public elementary schools	34.2%	121	36.0	40.4	34.3	34.0			36.2	53.9	47.4	36.1	34.0			42.5	36.0	37.7	36.8	47.2			$12,791	$680	$12,111
Robert Lee Frost School 106 - a STEM School	Public	PK, KG-6	5301 Roxbury Rd	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4106	308	19	15.9	69.8%	9 (2.9%)	203 (65.9%)	83 (26.9%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.9%)	3.2	1010^th of 1015 public elementary schools	0.5%		3	1004^th of 1005 public elementary schools	0.1%	6	2.1	7.9	2.0				3.7	2.1	5.3	5.9				4.4	2.7		2.7	8.0	84.6%		$20,829	$1,963	$18,866
Forest Glen Elementary School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	6333 Lee Rd	Indianapolis	46236	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	Yes	No	No	(317) 964-4900	971	44	22.0	46.1%	228 (23.5%)	148 (15.2%)	525 (54.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (7.2%)	69.8	290^th of 1015 public elementary schools	71.4%		69.6	294^th of 1005 public elementary schools	70.7%	4	51.7	53.9	46.1	57.7			52.3	60.3	57.7	38.3	53.2			53.1	41.5	46.9	44.0	51.3	100%		$10,331	$453	$9,878
Circle City Preparatory Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-6	4002 N Franklin Road	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	Circle City Prep Charter School	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 721-8515	321	20	16.0	94.7%	4 (1.2%)	249 (77.6%)	59 (18.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	7 (2.2%)	30.2	717^th of 1015 public elementary schools	29.4%		14	873^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	13.1%	156	40.0	11.6	7.0				21.3	60.0	51.2	20.9				45.4	20.9		20.9	0.0	75.4%		$18,092	$1,781	$16,311
Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 - an Exploratory School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	8620 Montery Rd	Indianapolis	46226	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(317) 226-4105	398	30	13.2	61.6%	7 (1.8%)	175 (44.0%)	207 (52.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.0%)	5.6	990^th of 1015 public elementary schools	2.5%		5.8	982^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	2.3%	8	4.6	1.8	7.1				4.5	15.4	19.3	10.7				15.2	7.0		7.0	16.1	95.4%		$19,906	$1,887	$18,019
Mary Evelyn Castle Elementary School	Public	1-6	8502 E 82nd St	Indianapolis	46256	Marion County	MSD Lawrence Township	No	No	No	No	(317) 964-4600	778	43	17.9	52.2%	181 (23.3%)	302 (38.8%)	218 (28.0%)	11 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	66 (8.5%)	48.5	541^st of 1015 public elementary schools	46.7%		41.7	602^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	40.1%	61	32.9	30.7	33.8	42.5			35.0	50.0	42.7	40.7	61.9			48.8	38.7	29.9	34.1	36.6			$11,553	$334	$11,220

Frequently Asked Questions about The Nature School of Central Indiana

What district is The Nature School of Central Indiana in?

The Nature School of Central Indiana

Is The Nature School of Central Indiana a good school?

The Nature School of Central Indiana ranks 386^th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of The Nature School of Central Indiana?

Students at The Nature School of Central Indiana are 78% White, 14% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 2% African American, 2% Asian.

How many students attend The Nature School of Central Indiana?

In the 2024-25 school year, 175 students attended The Nature School of Central Indiana.

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 28, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 28, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2023–24 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.