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Joseph Hess Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

934^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 8% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Joseph Hess Elementary School is a PK–6 school in Hammond, Indiana, serving 611 students as part of the School City of Hammond, a district ranked 351st of 374 in Indiana (6th percentile, 0 stars). The school ranks 934th of 1,015 in 2025–26, placing it in the 8th percentile with 0 stars, down from the 15th percentile/1 star in 2023–24 and the 21st–27th percentile range in the late 2010s. In 2025–26, all-grade ILEARN proficiency was 15.79% in English Language Arts, 13.93% in math, and 14.29% in science.

Compared with nearby schools, Joseph Hess is in the bottom decile. Only Frank O'Bannon Elementary School has a slightly lower 2025–26 percentile (7 vs. 8), while Thomas Jefferson Elementary School is close at 10. However, most surrounding schools—especially Ernest R Elliott Elementary School in Munster, Beiriger Elementary School in Griffith, and schools in the School Town of Highland—rank far higher and post proficiency rates many times higher. Even within the same district, Warren G Harding Elementary School outperforms Hess in all three subjects. Chronic absenteeism is the clearest red flag: 33.5% in 2024–25, versus 28.9% for the district and 16.7% statewide, and higher than every nearby school in the comparison set, where suburban schools are in the 6.5%–10.0% range. Resources are not unusually high: $11,020 per student, lower than several Hammond and nearby schools, though poverty is mixed at 50.25% free/reduced-price lunch.

Grade-level results are uneven. Fourth grade is a relative bright spot—ELA 23.61% and math 20.83%—but upper grades are severe weaknesses: fifth-grade ELA is 10.39%, sixth-grade ELA is 11.84%, and sixth-grade math is only 2.63%, far below the state’s 40.2%. There are some signs of improvement: chronic absenteeism fell from 37.7% in 2021–22 to 33.5% in 2024–25, the student–teacher ratio improved from 18.8 to 16.8, and all-grade ELA rebounded from 11.71% in 2024–25 to 15.79% in 2025–26. Still, Joseph Hess faces bottom-decile achievement, very high absenteeism, and uneven grade-level performance; the most critical areas to watch are absenteeism, sixth-grade math, and upper-grade ELA.

611

Students ?

16.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,020

Per pupil spending ?

50.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3640 Orchard Dr
Hammond, IN 46323

(219) 989-7355

District: School City of Hammond

Students who attend Joseph Hess Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Charles N Scott Middle School
High:	Morton Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

43.2%

African American:

40.8%

White:

10.8%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Joseph Hess Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 24th percentile in 2016 → 8th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (15% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (34% vs 17% Indiana)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school15%

District avg15%

Indiana avg47%

934^th of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 8%▼ down 16 pts since 2016

From bottom 24% (2016) to bottom 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

5^th of 9Elementary Schools in the School City of Hammond

351^st of 374School City of Hammond 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	10.1	934 of 1015	8.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.8	922 of 1005	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	15.4	864 of 1011	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	14.8	862 of 1016	15.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.1	868 of 1020	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.0	908 of 1016	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	26.5	812 of 1031	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	27.2	814 of 1027	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	35.6	749 of 1033	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	33.6	793 of 1046	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	13.9	949 of 1040	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	25.1	888 of 1036	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	18.3	926 of 1035	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	10.6	951 of 1015	6.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	18.1	910 of 1025	11.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	17.5	891 of 1009	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies17%-30 vs state

English Language Arts16%

Science14%

Math14%

1.0

1 rating

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1★1

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Schools Near Joseph Hess 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 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
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
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
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
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
Mildred Merkley Elementary School	Public	K-5	9340 Fifth St	Highland	46322	Lake County	School Town of Highland	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 922-5640	290	14	21.4	47.9%	112 (38.6%)	26 (9.0%)	129 (44.5%)	10 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (4.5%)	61.5	378^th of 1015 public elementary schools	62.8%		59.3	413^th of 1005 public elementary schools	58.9%	35	34.0	47.9	53.7				45.4	60.0	56.3	38.9				51.3	43.8		43.8	48.2	$10,683	$529	$10,154
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
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6940 Northcote Ave	Hammond	46324	Lake County	School City of Hammond	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 989-7353	570	36	15.6	49.5%	62 (10.9%)	251 (44.0%)	226 (39.6%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (4.9%)	11.3	917^th of 1015 public elementary schools	9.7%		14.1	869^th of 1005 public elementary schools	13.5%	48	21.8	16.0	4.5	7.8			12.4	33.3	28.0	11.2	6.3			19.9	22.7	9.4	16.6	13.5	$13,994	$2,704	$11,290
Ernest R Elliott Elementary School	Public	K-5	8718 White Oak Ave	Munster	46321	Lake County	School Town of Munster	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 838-5250	463	31	14.7	24.8%	261 (56.4%)	15 (3.2%)	146 (31.5%)	12 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (6.3%)	86.6	117^th of 1015 public elementary schools	88.5%		85.9	126^th of 1005 public elementary schools	87.5%	9	65.2	64.5	67.9				65.8	69.6	73.1	53.6				65.8	55.9		55.9	64.3	$11,166	$502	$10,664
Frank O'Bannon Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1317 173rd St	Hammond	46324	Lake County	School City of Hammond	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 989-7360	557	36	15.5	56.4%	55 (9.9%)	285 (51.2%)	186 (33.4%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.0%)	9.1	948^th of 1015 public elementary schools	6.6%		10.2	917^th of 1005 public elementary schools	8.8%	31	10.8	27.9	5.9	8.1			12.8	6.0	26.2	5.9	0.0			9.1	26.2	9.7	17.9	10.3	$13,381	$2,923	$10,458
Beiriger Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	601 N Lillian St	Griffith	46319	Lake County	Griffith Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 924-4030	426	36	12.0	59.9%	177 (41.5%)	76 (17.8%)	153 (35.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.7%)	63.6	360^th of 1015 public elementary schools	64.5%		58.9	419^th of 1005 public elementary schools	58.3%	59	34.6	50.8	46.0				43.8	50.4	63.1	44.0				52.1	51.5		51.5	50.7	$13,319	$1,460	$11,859

Frequently Asked Questions about Joseph Hess Elementary School

Is Joseph Hess Elementary School a good school?

Joseph Hess Elementary School ranks in the bottom 8.0% of Indiana elementary schools.

What district is Joseph Hess Elementary School in?

School City of Hammond

How many students attend Joseph Hess Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 611 students attended Joseph Hess Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Joseph Hess Elementary School?

Students at Joseph Hess Elementary School are 43% Hispanic, 41% African American, 11% White, 5% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Joseph Hess Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Joseph Hess Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Charles N Scott Middle School
High : Morton Senior High 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.