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Mary Raber Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-5

797^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Mary Raber Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Columbia City, Indiana, serving grades PK-5 with a student population of 290. The school is part of the Whitley County Con Schools district, which is ranked 189 out of 380 districts in Indiana and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Mary Raber Elementary School has seen a steady increase in chronic absenteeism rates, rising from 10.9% in 2021-2022 to 17.8% in 2023-2024 (significantly higher than the district average of 14.9%), the school's academic performance is a greater concern. Mary Raber consistently underperforms compared to the district and state averages in ILEARN assessments across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, only 25% of students were proficient or better in ELA and 23.15% in Math, compared to the district averages of 40.17% and 37.47%, respectively. Additionally, the school has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 47.93% to 51% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the district average of around 40%.

When comparing Mary Raber Elementary School to other nearby schools in the same district, it consistently underperforms. For instance, Northern Heights Elementary School and Coesse School both outperform Mary Raber in ILEARN assessments and have lower chronic absenteeism rates. Furthermore, Mary Raber Elementary School's performance has declined over the years, as evidenced by its statewide ranking dropping from 505 out of 1,040 Indiana elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 797 out of 1,005 in 2024-2025. Addressing these challenges through targeted interventions and increased resources will be crucial for the school's future success.

297

Students ?

15.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,540

Per pupil spending ?

32.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

700 E Jackson St
Columbia City, IN 46725

(260) 244-5857

District: Whitley County Con Schools

Students who attend Mary Raber Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Indian Springs Middle School
High:	Columbia City High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.9%

Hispanic:

3.4%

Two or more races:

3.4%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Mary Raber Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 51st percentile in 2015 → 21st in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (24% vs 38% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 30 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school24%

District avg39%

Indiana avg38%

797^th of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 31 pts since 2015

From top 49% (2015) to bottom 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

4^th of 4Elementary Schools in the Whitley County Con Schools

189^th of 380Whitley County Con Schools 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
2025	22.2	797 of 1005	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	29.2	737 of 1011	27.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.9	723 of 1016	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.7	666 of 1020	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	35.1	707 of 1016	30.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	29.3	783 of 1031	24.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	29.8	792 of 1027	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	31.1	793 of 1033	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	44.9	686 of 1046	34.4%	★★☆☆☆
2015	55.9	505 of 1040	51.4%	★★★☆☆
2014	61.6	453 of 1036	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.5	420 of 1035	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.0	438 of 1015	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	53.0	583 of 1025	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2010	37.4	738 of 1009	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	34.4	753 of 1003	24.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	48.0	622 of 996	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.7	633 of 985	35.7%	★★☆☆☆
2006	47.6	591 of 961	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2005	51.7	526 of 959	45.2%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Science36%

English Language Arts25%

Math23%

Social Studies9%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mary Raber Elementary School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2025)					ILEARN Math (2025)					ILEARN Science (2025)			ILEARN Social Studies (2025)	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	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	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
Mary Raber Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	700 E Jackson St	Columbia City	46725	Whitley County	Whitley County Con Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 244-5857	297	19	15.4	32.7%	270 (90.9%)	2 (0.7%)	10 (3.4%)	3 (1.0%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.4%)	22.2	797^th of 1005 public elementary schools	20.7%		29.2	737^th of 1011 public elementary schools	27.1%	60	18.8	35.7	25.0		25.0	16.7	46.4	12.5		23.2	35.7		35.7	9.4	$11,540	$1,885	$9,655
Little Turtle Elementary School	Public	K-5	1710 S State Rd 9	Columbia City	46725	Whitley County	Whitley County Con Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 244-3343	583	36	16.1	40.7%	518 (88.9%)	7 (1.2%)	19 (3.3%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.0%)	50.9	503^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	50.0%		48.3	544^th of 1011 public elementary schools	46.2%	41	37.9	37.4	41.7		39.0	45.1	42.4	46.3		44.7	41.4		41.4	31.5	$9,523	$925	$8,598
Coesse School	Public	K-5	2250 S 500 E	Columbia City	46725	Whitley County	Whitley County Con Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 244-3351	291	20	14.4	48.5%	266 (91.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (5.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.7%)	46.3	557^th of 1005 public elementary schools	44.6%		47.9	549^th of 1011 public elementary schools	45.7%	8	47.6	36.6	27.7		36.9	59.5	43.9	27.7		43.1	41.5		41.5	25.5	$10,731	$870	$9,860
Northern Heights Elementary School	Public	K-5	5209 N Sr 109	Columbia City	46725	Whitley County	Whitley County Con Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 691-2371	504	33	15.1	30.0%	467 (92.7%)	1 (0.2%)	16 (3.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (3.6%)	59.2	415^th of 1005 public elementary schools	58.7%		74.9	237^th of 1011 public elementary schools	76.6%	178	40.0	46.5	41.7		42.7	57.8	50.0	46.9		51.5	41.9		41.9	33.3	$9,869	$667	$9,202
Churubusco Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3 Eagle Dr	Churubusco	46723	Whitley County	Smith-Green Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 693-2188	500	34	14.9	35.4%	461 (92.2%)	2 (0.4%)	17 (3.4%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (3.4%)	59.6	409^th of 1005 public elementary schools	59.3%		61.8	391^st of 1011 public elementary schools	61.3%	18	44.6	47.8	38.0		43.4	73.0	43.5	27.2		46.1	52.2		52.2	40.2	$10,172	$228	$9,944
South Whitley Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	406 W Wayne St	South Whitley	46787	Whitley County	Whitko Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 723-6342	300	18	16.4	45.0%	275 (91.7%)	2 (0.7%)	12 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.3%)	60	402^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	60.0%		52.7	499^th of 1011 public elementary schools	50.6%	97	43.9	37.3	48.9	31.7	40.6	61.0	54.9	48.9	39.0	51.1	52.9	22.0	39.1	42.6	$11,697	$1,156	$10,542
Arcola School	Public	K-5	11006 Arcola Rd	Arcola	46704	Allen County	Northwest Allen County Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 625-3161	227	17	13.2	32.2%	181 (79.7%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (8.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (11.0%)	79.6	186^th of 1005 public elementary schools	81.5%		82.1	160^th of 1011 public elementary schools	84.2%	26	77.4	55.3	59.5		62.6	74.2	53.2	48.7		57.4	51.1		51.1	54.1	$11,956	$648	$11,309
Covington Elementary School	Public	K-5	2430 W Hamilton Rd - South	Fort Wayne	46814	Allen County	MSD Southwest Allen County Schls	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 431-0501	746	51	14.6	33.2%	421 (56.4%)	134 (18.0%)	75 (10.1%)	39 (5.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	76 (10.2%)	61.7	375^th of 1005 public elementary schools	62.7%		61.4	395^th of 1011 public elementary schools	60.9%	20	39.3	45.8	39.4		41.5	54.7	55.0	45.3		51.2	48.3		48.3	40.2	$10,723	$945	$9,779
Pierceton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	434 S First St	Pierceton	46562	Kosciusko County	Whitko Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(574) 594-2210	298	22	13.7	54.0%	266 (89.3%)	1 (0.3%)	20 (6.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.4%)	31.9	711^th of 1005 public elementary schools	29.3%		20	814^th of 1011 public elementary schools	19.5%	103	32.6	30.4	31.0	24.4	29.7	41.9	45.7	28.6	22.0	34.9	30.4	19.5	25.3	23.8	$11,372	$1,464	$9,908
Deer Ridge Elementary	Public	K-5	1515 Scott Rd	Fort Wayne	46814	Allen County	MSD Southwest Allen County Schls	No	No	No	No	(260) 431-0701	430	30	14.4	16.7%	327 (76.0%)	23 (5.3%)	25 (5.8%)	24 (5.6%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (6.5%)	86.4	121^st of 1005 public elementary schools	88.0%		87.8	99^th of 1011 public elementary schools	90.2%	22	50.7	64.5	72.1		62.1	58.7	72.4	58.8		63.5	60.5		60.5	72.1	$10,774	$705	$10,069

Frequently Asked Questions about Mary Raber Elementary School

How many students attend Mary Raber Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 297 students attended Mary Raber Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Mary Raber Elementary School?

Students at Mary Raber Elementary School are 91% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Mary Raber Elementary School in?

Whitley County Con Schools

What schools do graduates of Mary Raber Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mary Raber Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Indian Springs Middle School
High : Columbia City High School

Is Mary Raber Elementary School a good school?

Mary Raber Elementary School ranks in the bottom 20.7% of Indiana elementary schools.

Rate Mary Raber Elementary School!

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Schools in Columbia City, IN

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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.