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Little Turtle Elementary School

Q: Is Little Turtle Elementary School a good school?

Little Turtle Elementary School ranks 503 rd of 1005 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

503^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 50% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Little Turtle Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbia City, Indiana, serving 597 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Whitley County Con Schools district, which is ranked 189 out of 380 districts in the state.

While Little Turtle Elementary has seen an increase in per-student spending, from $7,789 in 2021-2022 to $9,523 in 2023-2024, its academic performance remains a concern. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts (39.03%), Math (44.66%), and Science (41.41%) are all lower than the district averages. Additionally, Little Turtle has experienced a concerning rise in chronic absenteeism, from 3.5% in 2020-2021 to 17.8% in 2023-2024, which is significantly higher than the state average and the rates at nearby schools like Northern Heights Elementary (17.8%) and Coesse School (17.8%).

Another factor that sets Little Turtle Elementary apart is its relatively high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 27.79% to 38.58% over the past few years. This is higher than the rates at nearby schools like Deer Ridge Elementary (31.02%) and Aboite Elementary (50.5%). The school's declining statewide ranking, from 290 out of 1,040 Indiana elementary schools in 2014-2015 to 503 out of 1,005 in 2024-2025, suggests that it is not keeping pace with the performance of other schools in the state.

583

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$9,523

Per pupil spending ?

40.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1710 S State Rd 9
Columbia City, IN 46725

(260) 244-3343

District: Whitley County Con Schools

Students who attend Little Turtle Elementary School usually attend:

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

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.9%

Two or more races:

6.0%

Hispanic:

3.3%

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Compare Little Turtle Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 43rd percentile in 2022 → 50th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 50th (2025) from a 43rd-percentile low (2022)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school40%

District avg39%

Indiana avg38%

503^rd of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Top 50%▼ down 22 pts since 2015

From top 28% (2015) to top 50% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd 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	50.9	503 of 1005	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.3	544 of 1011	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	49.0	548 of 1016	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.9	580 of 1020	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	47.6	575 of 1016	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	49.3	575 of 1031	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.0	551 of 1027	46.3%	★★☆☆☆
2017	62.7	420 of 1033	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2016	62.9	423 of 1046	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	70.0	290 of 1040	72.1%	★★★★☆
2014	66.1	377 of 1036	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	63.9	416 of 1035	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	62.2	415 of 1015	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.0	345 of 1025	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	57.7	507 of 1009	49.8%	★★☆☆☆
2009	58.9	471 of 1003	53.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	56.1	501 of 996	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	62.5	387 of 985	60.7%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Math45%

Science41%

English Language Arts39%

Social Studies31%-7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Little Turtle 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Aboite Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	5004 Homestead Rd	Fort Wayne	46814	Allen County	MSD Southwest Allen County Schls	No	No	No	No	(260) 431-2101	497	35	14.3	19.9%	385 (77.5%)	15 (3.0%)	35 (7.0%)	33 (6.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.6%)	96.4	17^th of 1005 public elementary schools	98.3%		95.1	26^th of 1011 public elementary schools	97.4%	9	72.8	82.5	72.0		76.2	79.0	89.7	67.1		79.2	82.5		82.5	63.4	$11,173	$675	$10,498

Frequently Asked Questions about Little Turtle Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Little Turtle Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Little Turtle Elementary School usually go on to attend:

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

What district is Little Turtle Elementary School in?

Whitley County Con Schools

What is the racial makeup of Little Turtle Elementary School?

Students at Little Turtle Elementary School are 89% White, 6% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 1% African American.

Is Little Turtle Elementary School a good school?

Little Turtle Elementary School ranks 503^rd of 1005 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Little Turtle Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 583 students attended Little Turtle Elementary School.

Rate Little Turtle 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.