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W D Richards Elementary School

Q: Is W D Richards Elementary School a good school?

W D Richards Elementary School ranks 529 th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

529^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 48% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

W D Richards Elementary School is a PK–6 school in Columbus, Indiana, serving 610 students as part of the Bartholomew Con School Corp, a district that ranks 162nd of 374 Indiana districts.

The school's recent academic standing has slipped. From 2015–2016 through 2022–2023, W D Richards was consistently a 3-star school, generally landing in the 53rd–64th percentile. Since 2023–2024, it has been rated 2 stars, with percentiles of 45, 47, and 48 — the latest year is a slight improvement, but the school remains below its earlier levels. In 2025–2026, W D Richards ranked 529th of 1,015 elementary schools (48th percentile). Its all-grades ILEARN results were 40.67% proficient in English Language Arts and 41.10% in Math, slightly below the district, while Science came in at 40.57%, above the district's 38.17%. Results vary widely by grade: 4th grade is a clear strength (ELA 44.44%, Math 51.02%, Science 45.92%) and 5th grade ELA is strong at 45.45%, but 3rd grade ELA (31.08%) and Math (37.84%) lag well behind district and state, and 6th grade is weak across ELA, Math, and Science. Fifth grade Social Studies has been a persistent weakness for four straight years, at 31.17% in 2025–2026 versus the district's 42.54% — far behind nearby Parkside Elementary School (65.63%) and Southside Elementary School (64.66%).

Attendance is a genuine bright spot: chronic absenteeism is just 8.3%, well below the district's 15.9% and the state's 16.7%, and lower than most nearby schools. Resources are more mixed. At 19.8 students per teacher, W D Richards has the highest ratio among nearby schools, and its $11,130 per-student spending is below most Bartholomew peers — yet CSA Lincoln Campus has nearly the same ratio (19.6) and spending ($11,253) with far higher proficiency. Compared with nearby schools, W D Richards sits in the middle-to-lower range academically: it trails Rockcreek Elementary School and Parkside, roughly matches or slightly trails CSA Fodrea Campus, but outperforms Taylorsville Elementary School and L F Smith Elementary School.

610

Students ?

19.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,130

Per pupil spending ?

45.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3311 Fairlawn Dr
Columbus, IN 47201

(812) 376-4311

District: Bartholomew Con School Corp

Students who attend W D Richards Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Northside Middle School
High:	Columbus East High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

62.3%

Hispanic:

22.8%

Two or more races:

5.7%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare W D Richards Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 64th percentile in 2016 → 48th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (40% vs 47% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 16 percentile points since 2016

!Social Studies scores 16 pts below the Indiana average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school40%

District avg42%

Indiana avg47%

529^th of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 48%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to bottom 48% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

6^th of 11Elementary Schools in the Bartholomew Con School Corp

162^nd of 374Bartholomew Con School Corp 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
2026	49.8	529 of 1015	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.3	536 of 1005	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	46.7	561 of 1011	44.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.8	393 of 1016	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.1	431 of 1020	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.2	395 of 1016	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.0	428 of 1031	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.6	420 of 1027	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	58.5	482 of 1033	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	66.0	378 of 1046	63.9%	★★★☆☆
2015	62.0	427 of 1040	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2014	64.6	408 of 1036	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	65.9	382 of 1035	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.7	289 of 1015	71.5%	★★★★☆
2011	64.4	397 of 1025	61.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	53.3	564 of 1009	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	55.9	517 of 1003	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2008	55.4	518 of 996	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2007	50.9	574 of 985	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.6	444 of 961	53.8%	★★★☆☆
2005	67.4	294 of 959	69.3%	★★★☆☆
2004	49.0	202 of 326	38.0%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Math41%

English Language Arts41%

Science41%

Social Studies31%-16 vs state

★

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Schools Near W D Richards Elementary School

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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 All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math 6th 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
W D Richards Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	3311 Fairlawn Dr	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 376-4311	610	31	19.8	45.2%	380 (62.3%)	23 (3.8%)	139 (22.8%)	33 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (5.7%)	49.8	529^th of 1015 public elementary schools	47.9%		48.3	536^th of 1005 public elementary schools	46.7%	7	31.1	44.4	45.5	40.3	40.7	37.8	51.0	37.7	35.1	41.1	45.9	33.8	40.6	31.2	$11,130	$772	$10,359
L F Smith Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	4505 Waycross Dr	Columbus	47203	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 376-4317	420	27	15.4	57.9%	297 (70.7%)	15 (3.6%)	68 (16.2%)	8 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.6%)	33.7	686^th of 1015 public elementary schools	32.4%		40.8	613^th of 1005 public elementary schools	39.0%	73	26.5	31.6	30.7	45.3	32.9	35.3	33.3	19.4	34.0	30.4	28.1	41.5	34.6	24.2	$14,082	$2,150	$11,932
Clifty Creek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4625 E 50 N	Columbus	47203	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 376-4342	705	48	14.6	66.0%	330 (46.8%)	35 (5.0%)	293 (41.6%)	8 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (5.2%)	32.8	695^th of 1015 public elementary schools	31.5%		27.9	745^th of 1005 public elementary schools	25.9%	50	41.9	31.5	20.7	25.6	30.7	55.2	32.6	28.1	26.7	36.7	30.0	20.9	25.6	24.4	$12,189	$1,383	$10,805
Parkside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1400 Parkside Dr	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 376-4314	733	45	16.3	42.0%	420 (57.3%)	13 (1.8%)	175 (23.9%)	77 (10.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.1%)	47 (6.4%)	70.7	281^st of 1015 public elementary schools	72.3%		72.5	260^th of 1005 public elementary schools	74.1%	21	46.2	41.8	59.4	47.0	48.4	61.5	51.8	59.4	45.3	53.6	41.8	50.0	46.0	65.6	$12,160	$1,064	$11,096
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	2675 California	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 376-4307	704	40	17.7	61.8%	408 (58.0%)	49 (7.0%)	154 (21.9%)	11 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	82 (11.6%)	32.6	698^th of 1015 public elementary schools	31.2%		34	684^th of 1005 public elementary schools	31.9%	14	40.0	24.5	22.7	41.7	31.6	43.9	33.0	23.9	31.0	32.7	27.2	31.0	28.9	28.4	$12,177	$1,428	$10,749
CSA Fodrea Campus	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	2775 Illinois St	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	Yes	No	No	(812) 376-4321	351	20	17.5	40.7%	177 (50.4%)	8 (2.3%)	45 (12.8%)	88 (25.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (9.1%)	59.3	401^st of 1015 public elementary schools	60.5%		45.1	571^st of 1005 public elementary schools	43.2%	170	42.9	45.7	50.0	47.4	46.5	47.6	50.0	52.2	42.1	48.3	37.0	39.5	38.1	41.3	$11,072	$625	$10,446
CSA Lincoln Campus	Public	K-6	750 5th St	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 376-4447	357	18	19.6	25.5%	278 (77.9%)	3 (0.8%)	37 (10.4%)	22 (6.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	15 (4.2%)	92.2	50^th of 1015 public elementary schools	95.1%		93.2	45^th of 1005 public elementary schools	95.5%	5	70.6	79.3	73.1	74.5	74.4	74.5	81.1	78.9	64.7	74.9	64.2	51.0	57.7	59.6	$11,253	$496	$10,757
Southside Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1320 W 200 S	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 376-4423	891	50	18.0	21.0%	439 (49.3%)	28 (3.1%)	104 (11.7%)	282 (31.6%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (4.0%)	87.3	105^th of 1015 public elementary schools	89.7%		86	125^th of 1005 public elementary schools	87.6%	20	52.3	55.9	60.2	68.6	59.5	68.2	65.3	68.4	66.9	67.2	63.6	58.7	61.1	64.7	$11,559	$733	$10,826
Taylorsville Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	9711 Walnut St	Taylorsville	47280	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 526-5448	580	35	16.4	62.8%	320 (55.2%)	6 (1.0%)	230 (39.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.0%)	23.7	791^st of 1015 public elementary schools	22.1%		21.6	803^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	20.1%	12	28.8	21.3	33.8	24.7	26.9	38.8	26.3	28.2	15.7	26.9	25.0	12.4	18.3	33.8	$13,067	$1,537	$11,530
Rockcreek Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	13000 E 200 S	Columbus	47201	Bartholomew County	Bartholomew Con School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 579-5221	351	19	18.4	32.2%	326 (92.9%)	2 (0.6%)	14 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.6%)	70.9	279^th of 1015 public elementary schools	72.5%		76.3	220^th of 1005 public elementary schools	78.1%	59	36.5	57.5	46.9	39.6	44.4	71.2	75.0	69.4	52.1	66.7	50.0	27.1	37.5	59.2	$11,892	$702	$11,190

Frequently Asked Questions about W D Richards Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of W D Richards Elementary School?

Students at W D Richards Elementary School are 62% White, 23% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 5% Asian, 4% African American.

What schools do graduates of W D Richards Elementary School attend?

Students who attend W D Richards Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northside Middle School
High : Columbus East High School

What district is W D Richards Elementary School in?

Bartholomew Con School Corp

Is W D Richards Elementary School a good school?

W D Richards Elementary School ranks 529^th of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend W D Richards Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 610 students attended W D Richards Elementary School.

Rate W D Richards Elementary School!

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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.