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Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

1003^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 1% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School is a PK–6 elementary school serving 391 students at 3651 N Kiel Ave on the west side of Indianapolis, part of Indianapolis Public Schools. In 2025–26 it ranked 1,003rd out of 1,015 Indiana elementary schools — the 1st percentile — with a 0-star rating, the lowest ranking in its ten-year record. That is not a one-year blip: the school has finished in the bottom 7–16% of the state every year for a decade, and its own district sits at the 16th percentile.

Academically, 2025–26 ILEARN results show 5.95% of students proficient in English language arts, 11.31% in math, and 8.93% in science, against district rates near 21% in every subject. The year before was the school's best on record, with math (24.12%) above the district and ELA (20.59%) roughly at parity; one year later, ELA fell about 15 points and math about 13, while the district stayed flat. Two genuine strengths stand out. Chronic absenteeism is 21.2% — well below the district's 32.2%, though above the state's 16.7% — and classes are small, with a student–teacher ratio of 12.2.

Comparisons with nearby schools are striking. Enlace Academy, essentially on the same street 0.15 miles away, serves a higher-poverty student body (81.78% free/reduced lunch versus 56.27%) and spends $3,476 less per student, yet posts roughly 2.5–4× Nicholson's proficiency and lower absenteeism. James A Allison Elementary School 3, about 1.8 miles away in the School Town of Speedway, spends roughly 30% less per pupil and posts around 13× Nicholson's ELA rate. Within the school, grade-level results swing widely — 4th-grade ELA is 1.79% while 4th-grade math is 17.86% — which points to inconsistent instruction rather than one school-wide cause, and to 4th-grade reading and 5th-grade math as the most urgent areas to address.

391

Students ?

12.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$18,739

Per pupil spending ?

56.3%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

3651 N Kiel Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46224

(317) 226-4296

District: Indianapolis Public Schools

Students who attend Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School usually attend:

Middle:	Northwest Middle School - an IB World School
High:	Arsenal Technical High School
	Crispus Attucks High School
	George Washington High School
	Purdue Polytechnic High School Ind
	More...
	Shortridge High School

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

82.6%

African American:

12.3%

White:

2.8%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 10th percentile in 2016 → 1st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (9% vs 47% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (1st percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school9%

District avg21%

Indiana avg47%

1,003^rd of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 1%▼ down 9 pts since 2016

From bottom 10% (2016) to bottom 1% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

33^rd of 36Elementary Schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools

316^th of 374Indianapolis Public 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
2026	4.6	1003 of 1015	1.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	16.8	845 of 1005	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	10.7	923 of 1011	8.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2023	13.0	884 of 1016	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.2	866 of 1020	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.4	932 of 1016	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	12.3	922 of 1031	10.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	7.4	960 of 1027	6.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	11.0	942 of 1033	8.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	14.0	939 of 1046	10.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	7.9	980 of 1040	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	28.4	856 of 1036	17.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	20.7	911 of 1035	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	23.5	862 of 1015	15.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	6.8	979 of 1025	4.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	18.6	881 of 1009	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	35.5	741 of 1003	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	35.8	755 of 996	24.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	24.5	828 of 985	15.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	34.6	718 of 961	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	38.8	682 of 959	28.9%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Math11%

Science9%

Social Studies8%-39 vs state

English Language Arts6%

4.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a student on FaceBook
Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I was once a student here..since I was in kindergarten till grade 2..
this school was nice and it consists of adorable teachers and staffs..
really miss it..
"p Close Quote

Schools Near Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory 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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	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
Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School	Public	PK, KG-6	3651 N Kiel Ave	Indianapolis	46224	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4296	391	32	12.2	56.3%	11 (2.8%)	48 (12.3%)	323 (82.6%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.8%)	4.6	1003^rd of 1015 public elementary schools	1.2%		16.8	845^th of 1005 public elementary schools	15.9%	158	7.8	1.8	8.2				6.0	13.7	17.9	3.3				11.3	8.9		8.9	8.2	$18,739	$3,370	$15,369
Enlace Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3725 Kiel Avenue	Indianapolis	46224	Marion County	Enlace Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 383-0607	686	51	13.4	81.8%	18 (2.6%)	108 (15.7%)	547 (79.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	26.4	760^th of 1015 public elementary schools	25.1%		16.6	846^th of 1005 public elementary schools	15.8%	86	21.3	16.2	22.1	36.8	31.0	19.7	24.6	32.0	35.1	22.1	35.5	46.5	21.1	32.0	12.2	39.5	26.0	14.3	$15,263	$3,603	$11,660
Lew Wallace School 107 - an Exploratory School	Public	PK, KG-6	3307 Ashway Dr	Indianapolis	46224	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4107	440	34	13.1	59.5%	4 (0.9%)	185 (42.0%)	214 (48.6%)	25 (5.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (2.7%)	13.3	883^rd of 1015 public elementary schools	13.0%		10.5	914^th of 1005 public elementary schools	9.1%	31	19.1	28.4	11.3				20.2	29.4	28.4	9.4				23.4	10.5		10.5	7.7	$17,951	$3,533	$14,418
Jonathan Jennings School 109 - an Exploratory School	Public	PK, KG-6	6150 Gateway Dr	Indianapolis	46254	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4109	275	23	11.9	57.5%	9 (3.3%)	74 (26.9%)	177 (64.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.1%)	9.1	947^th of 1015 public elementary schools	6.7%		8.9	937^th of 1005 public elementary schools	6.8%	10	14.3	15.9	8.1				13.0	19.1	29.6	5.4				18.7	13.6		13.6	13.5	$18,898	$3,483	$15,415
Carl Wilde School 79 Center For Inquiry - an Inquiry School	Public	PK, KG-6	5002 W 34th St	Indianapolis	46224	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4279	472	36	13.2	58.1%	25 (5.3%)	83 (17.6%)	345 (73.1%)	14 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	9.7	941^st of 1015 public elementary schools	7.3%		9.8	921^st of 1005 public elementary schools	8.4%	20	8.8	9.4	12.7				10.4	17.7	29.7	13.9				19.9	20.3		20.3	15.2	$18,069	$3,605	$14,464
Frank H Wheeler Elementary School 4	Public	K-6	5700 Meadowood Dr	Speedway	46224	Marion County	School Town of Speedway	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 291-4274	311	23	13.6	65.9%	102 (32.8%)	89 (28.6%)	78 (25.1%)	21 (6.8%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (6.1%)	80.6	175^th of 1015 public elementary schools	82.8%		81.7	164^th of 1005 public elementary schools	83.7%	11	61.2	54.6	42.1	48.8			52.3	67.4	75.0	63.2	53.5			64.9	75.0	48.8	62.1	50.0	$12,144	$1,114	$11,030
North Wayne Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	6950 W 34th St	Indianapolis	46214	Marion County	MSD Wayne Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 988-6100	837	46	18.1	61.9%	34 (4.1%)	534 (63.8%)	236 (28.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	30 (3.6%)	11.1	921^st of 1015 public elementary schools	9.3%		8.8	940^th of 1005 public elementary schools	6.5%	19	9.6	12.7	18.1	18.7			14.8	9.6	22.8	8.6	9.4			11.8	19.0	22.4	21.0	20.0	$13,158	$1,530	$11,628
IN Math & Science Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	4575 W 38th St	Indianapolis	46254	Marion County	IN Math & Science Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(317) 298-0025	554	41	13.5	72.0%	9 (1.6%)	388 (70.0%)	150 (27.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (0.9%)	79	196^th of 1015 public elementary schools	80.7%		72.4	262^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	73.9%	66	66.7	58.3	58.8	55.4	63.8	46.2	57.8	65.1	72.9	64.7	59.5	66.0	52.3	62.6	34.7	47.3	42.3	45.1	$13,699	$2,627	$11,072
Eagle Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	6905 W 46th St	Indianapolis	46254	Marion County	MSD Pike Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 291-1311	533	33	16.2	51.2%	53 (9.9%)	309 (58.0%)	121 (22.7%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (8.6%)	39.3	625^th of 1015 public elementary schools	38.4%		37.1	652^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	35.1%	27	42.6	33.7	37.3				38.0	53.2	29.1	32.0				38.8	33.7		33.7	24.0	$12,878	$1,372	$11,506
Clarence Farrington School 61 - an Exploratory School	Public	PK, KG-6	4326 Patricia St	Indianapolis	46222	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 226-4261	451	40	11.4	58.5%	24 (5.3%)	131 (29.0%)	276 (61.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (4.2%)	7.2	967^th of 1015 public elementary schools	4.7%		4.9	992^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	1.3%	25	7.1	2.5	2.1				4.4	31.4	17.5	6.3				20.3	5.0		5.0	12.5	$18,757	$3,575	$15,182

Frequently Asked Questions about Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School

How many students attend Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 391 students attended Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School.

What is the racial makeup of Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School?

Students at Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School are 83% Hispanic, 12% African American, 3% White, 2% Two or more races.

Is Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School a good school?

Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School ranks in the bottom 1.2% of Indiana elementary schools.

What schools do graduates of Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School attend?

Students who attend Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Northwest Middle School - an IB World School
High : Arsenal Technical High School
High : Crispus Attucks High School
High : George Washington High School
High : Purdue Polytechnic High School Ind
High : Shortridge High School

What district is Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School in?

Indianapolis Public Schools

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2025–26 ILEARN & SAT test scoresSep 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.