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John I Meister Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

900^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 10% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

John I Meister Elementary School is a public elementary school located in Hobart, Indiana, serving grades K-5 with a student population of 364. The school is part of the River Forest Community School Corp district, which is ranked 322 out of 380 districts in Indiana and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

John I Meister Elementary School faces significant challenges in providing a high-quality education to its students. The school has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.8% to 25.7% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state and district averages. Additionally, the school's test scores are consistently below the state and district averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 13.54% of students were proficient or better in ILEARN/English Language Arts, compared to 20.97% for the River Forest Community School Corp district and 40.3% for the state in 3rd grade. The school also has a very high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 56.65% to 87.28% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average and indicates a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing John I Meister Elementary School to nearby schools, such as Joan Martin Elementary School, which is part of the School City of Hobart district, it becomes clear that John I Meister is struggling significantly compared to its peers. Joan Martin Elementary School has much higher test scores, lower chronic absenteeism rates, and a lower percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. The data suggests that addressing the underlying issues of chronic absenteeism and economic disadvantage among the student population at John I Meister Elementary School will be crucial in improving the school's performance and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed.

373

Students ?

16.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,504

Per pupil spending ?

72.9%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3300 Jay St
Hobart, IN 46342

(219) 962-1103

District: River Forest Community School Corp

Students who attend John I Meister Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	River Forest Middle School
High:	River Forest High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

45.0%

White:

36.5%

African American:

10.7%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare John I Meister Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 70th percentile in 2015 → 10th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (16% vs 38% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (10th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 60 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school16%

District avg19%

Indiana avg38%

900^th of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 10%▼ down 59 pts since 2015

From top 30% (2015) to bottom 10% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the River Forest Community School Corp

322^nd of 380River Forest Community 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
2025	11.7	900 of 1005	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	31.8	711 of 1011	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	39.5	640 of 1016	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	32.2	728 of 1020	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	27.0	766 of 1016	24.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.1	467 of 1031	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.1	628 of 1027	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.7	574 of 1033	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2016	37.3	755 of 1046	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	68.9	317 of 1040	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2014	74.1	217 of 1036	79.1%	★★★★☆
2013	66.8	362 of 1035	65.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	56.1	520 of 1015	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2011	58.2	499 of 1025	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2010	70.0	302 of 1009	70.1%	★★★★☆
2009	48.4	620 of 1003	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2008	43.9	670 of 996	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2007	32.8	762 of 985	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	56.3	466 of 961	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2005	22.2	835 of 959	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2004	32.0	267 of 326	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Science24%

Math16%

English Language Arts14%

Social Studies10%-29 vs state

★

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Schools Near John I Meister 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 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
John I Meister Elementary School	Public	K-5	3300 Jay St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	River Forest Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-1103	373	23	16.5	72.9%	136 (36.5%)	40 (10.7%)	168 (45.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (7.2%)	11.7	900^th of 1005 public elementary schools	10.4%		31.8	711^th of 1011 public elementary schools	29.7%	189	9.1	20.3	9.6				13.5	9.2	32.0	1.9				16.2	24.0		24.0	9.6	$10,504	$1,108	$9,396
Alexander Hamilton Elementary School	Public	K-5	2900 Lake St	Lake Station	46405	Lake County	Lake Station Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-1824	200	14	13.9	76.5%	70 (35.0%)	16 (8.0%)	100 (50.0%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (6.0%)	17.3	842^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	16.2%		29.6	732^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	27.6%	110	30.8	11.5	6.7				17.9	26.3	26.9	13.3				22.3	34.6		34.6	6.9	$12,913	$1,971	$10,943
Early Learning Center-George Earle	Public	PK-K	400 N Wilson St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 942-7263	264	14	18.8	41.7%	137 (51.9%)	19 (7.2%)	82 (31.1%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (8.7%)								(n/a)																			$10,852	$1,125	$9,727
Liberty Elementary School	Public	1-5	130 N Liberty St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 942-4251	398	22	18.5	58.0%	215 (54.0%)	52 (13.1%)	113 (28.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.3%)	55.4	454^th of 1005 public elementary schools	54.8%		62.7	379^th of 1011 public elementary schools	62.5%	75	34.7	24.1	41.7				33.3	59.7	59.8	61.9				60.5	32.2		32.2	36.9	$11,550	$1,022	$10,528
Veterans Elementary School at Mundell	Public	1-5	52 North Wisconsin St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 942-5614	594	31	19.4	67.7%	320 (53.9%)	61 (10.3%)	165 (27.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	45 (7.6%)	47.1	547^th of 1005 public elementary schools	45.6%		54.1	480^th of 1011 public elementary schools	52.5%	67	37.7	34.7	33.1				35.1	52.3	41.9	36.0				43.3	37.1		37.1	37.5	$10,076	$866	$9,210
Virgil I Bailey Elementary School	Public	K-5	2100 Union St	Lake Station	46405	Lake County	Lake Station Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-1302	235	17	13.5	86.4%	79 (33.6%)	26 (11.1%)	106 (45.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (9.8%)	18.5	831^st of 1005 public elementary schools	17.3%		16.2	858^th of 1011 public elementary schools	15.1%	27	18.4	31.1	17.2				22.8	22.5	26.7	10.3				21.1	31.1		31.1	13.8	$12,192	$1,678	$10,513
Henry S Evans Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2915 E 35th Ave	Lake Station	46405	Lake County	River Forest Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-1608	400	23	17.7	82.3%	151 (37.8%)	51 (12.8%)	163 (40.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (8.3%)	19	829^th of 1005 public elementary schools	17.5%		23.5	777^th of 1011 public elementary schools	23.1%	52	13.7	22.6	33.3				23.0	29.4	20.8	29.2				26.3	15.1		15.1	14.6	$10,180	$1,174	$9,006
Joan Martin Elementary School	Public	1-5	301 E 10th St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 947-7869	497	24	20.7	51.5%	274 (55.1%)	35 (7.0%)	161 (32.4%)	6 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (4.0%)	56.6	440^th of 1005 public elementary schools	56.2%		59.8	415^th of 1011 public elementary schools	59.0%	25	23.9	44.7	48.0				38.2	45.0	57.7	46.1				49.0	44.7		44.7	41.2	$10,901	$793	$10,108
Charter School of the Dunes	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	7300 East Melton Rd	Gary	46403	Lake County	Charter School of the Dunes	Yes	No	No	Yes	(219) 939-9690	836	47	17.7	67.5%	9 (1.1%)	708 (84.7%)	74 (8.9%)	2 (0.2%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (4.5%)	5.8	980^th of 1005 public elementary schools	2.5%		5.7	991^st of 1011 public elementary schools	2.0%	11	8.9	3.8	12.1	14.1	16.0	24.3	13.1	7.6	2.5	4.6	11.0	2.7	12.2	6.9	7.6	12.1	10.0	6.2	$13,255	$3,152	$10,103
George L Myers Elementary School	Public	K-5	3100 Willowdale	Portage	46368	Porter County	Portage Township Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 763-8035	332	22	15.0	41.3%	182 (54.8%)	20 (6.0%)	101 (30.4%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	26 (7.8%)	44.2	579^th of 1005 public elementary schools	42.4%		32.7	697^th of 1011 public elementary schools	31.1%	118	27.4	47.1	42.6				38.1	25.8	56.9	27.7				36.3	43.1		43.1	27.7	$11,588	$1,273	$10,315

Frequently Asked Questions about John I Meister Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of John I Meister Elementary School?

Students at John I Meister Elementary School are 45% Hispanic, 36% White, 11% African American, 7% Two or more races.

Is John I Meister Elementary School a good school?

John I Meister Elementary School ranks in the bottom 10.4% of Indiana elementary schools.

What district is John I Meister Elementary School in?

River Forest Community School Corp

What schools do graduates of John I Meister Elementary School attend?

Students who attend John I Meister Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : River Forest Middle School
High : River Forest High School

How many students attend John I Meister Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 373 students attended John I Meister Elementary School.

Rate John I Meister Elementary School!

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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.