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Virgil I Grissom Middle School

Q: Is Virgil I Grissom Middle School a good school?

Virgil I Grissom Middle School ranks 129 th of 486 Indiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

129^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 486 Indiana Middle Schools

Better than 73% of Indiana middle schools

Summary

Virgil I Grissom Middle School is a grade 6–8 middle school in Mishawaka, IN serving 662 students as part of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp, a highly ranked district (34th of 374 Indiana districts, 91st percentile, 5 stars). Grissom itself ranked 129th of 486 middle schools in 2025–26 — the 73rd percentile with 4 stars — a meaningful improvement from the 57th percentile in 2021–22, and it has now earned 4 stars two years in a row.

Academically, Grissom is above Indiana averages in most tested areas but below its own district's high bar. In 2025–26, all-grade ILEARN proficiency was 52.61% in ELA, 37.56% in math, and 44.21% in science — trailing the district by 10.87, 23.39, and 17.70 points respectively. Math is the clearest weakness: grade 6 math (38.42%) fell below the state average, and math slipped from 40.84% the prior year. ELA is a relative strength and improving, with grade 8 ELA at 58.67%, 14.67 points above the state. Among P-H-M middle schools, Grissom is the lowest performing of the three: Discovery Middle School (78.51% ELA, 69.71% math) and Schmucker Middle School (61.62% ELA, 53.50% math) both score higher. Against nearby non-district schools, Grissom outperforms most, including Pierre Moran Middle School, West Side Middle School, Jefferson Traditional School, John J Young Middle School, and Jackson Middle School, but trails North Wood Middle School and LaSalle Academy. Versus Jimtown Junior High School, Grissom has higher ELA but lower math.

Context matters: 50.6% of Grissom students were eligible for free/reduced lunch in 2024–25 — the highest among the P-H-M middle schools shown (Discovery 19.45%, Schmucker 40.06%) — and chronic absenteeism was 16.0%, near the state average of 16.7% but above the district's 8.4%, Discovery's 5.4%, and Schmucker's 13.8%. Resources do not appear to be the problem: Grissom spent $11,165 per student in 2023–24, more than Discovery and Schmucker, with a lower student-teacher ratio (15.5) than both. Overall, Grissom is a solid 4-star school whose main area to watch is math.

662

Students ?

15.5

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,683

Per pupil spending ?

50.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

13881 Kern Rd
Mishawaka, IN 46544

(574) 633-4061

District: Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp

Students who attend Virgil I Grissom Middle School usually attend:

High:

Penn High School

Feeder schools for Virgil I Grissom Middle School:

Elementary:	Elm Road Elementary School
	Madison Elementary School
	Meadow's Edge Elementary School
	Moran Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

68.0%

Hispanic:

12.2%

Two or more races:

9.5%

See top rated Indiana middle schools

Compare Virgil I Grissom Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 72nd percentile in 2016 → 73rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Above the Indiana median (73rd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg62%

129^th of 486

Indiana public middle schools ?

Top 27%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 3Middle Schools in the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp

34^th of 374Penn-Harris-Madison 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
2026	71.3	129 of 486	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	71.3	120 of 480	75.0%	★★★★☆
2024	66.7	160 of 491	67.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.3	180 of 489	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.7	213 of 490	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	58.4	186 of 483	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.3	169 of 470	64.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	67.0	153 of 473	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.6	125 of 472	73.5%	★★★★☆
2016	67.4	140 of 494	71.7%	★★★★☆
2015	75.0	93 of 485	80.8%	★★★★☆
2014	78.6	62 of 470	86.8%	★★★★☆
2013	76.5	69 of 444	84.5%	★★★★☆
2012	78.7	55 of 447	87.7%	★★★★☆
2011	63.6	165 of 451	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	60.1	190 of 428	55.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.1	135 of 423	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	55.7	190 of 392	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.0	77 of 382	79.8%	★★★★☆
2006	67.7	111 of 375	70.4%	★★★★☆
2005	72.5	75 of 370	79.7%	★★★★☆
2004	67.2	58 of 222	73.9%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

English Language Arts53%

Science44%

Math38%

★

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Schools Near Virgil I Grissom Middle 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 Biology (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
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 6th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 6th Grade	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Science 6th Grade	ILEARN Science All Grades	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Virgil I Grissom Middle School	Public	6-8	13881 Kern Rd	Mishawaka	46544	St. Joseph County	Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 633-4061	662	43	15.5	50.6%	450 (68.0%)	58 (8.8%)	81 (12.2%)	8 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	63 (9.5%)	71.3	129^th of 486 public middle schools	73.5%		71.3	120^th of 480 public middle schools	75.0%	9	47.1	51.0	58.7	52.6	38.4	37.5	36.9	37.6	44.2	44.2		$12,683	$957	$11,725
Schmucker Middle School	Public	6-8	56045 Bittersweet Rd	Mishawaka	46545	St. Joseph County	Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 259-5661	1,041	56	18.7	40.1%	702 (67.4%)	99 (9.5%)	114 (11.0%)	46 (4.4%)	5 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	75 (7.2%)	89.7	36^th of 486 public middle schools	92.6%		86.2	52^nd of 480 public middle schools	89.2%	16	60.9	57.6	66.5	61.6	53.2	52.4	54.9	53.5	56.6	56.6		$10,779	$590	$10,189
John J Young Middle School	Public	7-8	1801 N Main St	Mishawaka	46545	St. Joseph County	School City of Mishawaka	No	No	No	No	(574) 254-3600	709	50	14.1	29.2%	441 (62.2%)	112 (15.8%)	75 (10.6%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	79 (11.1%)	31.8	340^th of 486 public middle schools	30.0%		30	341^st of 480 public middle schools	29.0%	1		28.5	32.7	30.4		23.8	16.1	20.2				$13,947	$383	$13,564
Jackson Middle School	Public	6-8	5001 S Miami Rd	South Bend	46614	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4500	537	45	12.0	72.3%	81 (15.1%)	238 (44.3%)	153 (28.5%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (11.5%)	5.1	477^th of 486 public middle schools	1.9%		5.2	473^rd of 480 public middle schools	1.5%	4	8.1	8.9	7.1	8.0	2.4	1.9	1.4	1.9	8.1	8.1		$15,591	$2,434	$13,158
Jimtown Junior High School	Public	7-8	58903 Cr 3 S	Elkhart	46517	Elkhart County	Baugo Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(574) 294-6586	305	16	19.2	42.6%	221 (72.5%)	4 (1.3%)	53 (17.4%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (7.5%)	68.4	146^th of 486 public middle schools	70.0%		81.5	74^th of 480 public middle schools	84.6%	72		37.8	41.5	39.9		61.4	38.6	48.3				$9,835	$298	$9,538
Jefferson Traditional School	Public	6-8	528 S Eddy St	South Bend	46617	St. Joseph County	South Bend Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 393-4100	591	37	15.9	59.4%	156 (26.4%)	248 (42.0%)	104 (17.6%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	78 (13.2%)	12.2	437^th of 486 public middle schools	10.1%		13.3	416^th of 480 public middle schools	13.3%	21	12.7	9.6	23.8	15.6	9.9	10.2	10.4	10.2	15.7	15.7		$13,562	$1,483	$12,079
North Wood Middle School	Public	6-8	301 N Elkhart	Wakarusa	46573	Elkhart County	Wa-Nee Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(574) 862-2710	653	51	12.8	37.2%	543 (83.2%)	10 (1.5%)	66 (10.1%)	7 (1.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.0%)	90.2	34^th of 486 public middle schools	93.0%		93.8	20^th of 480 public middle schools	95.8%	14	48.5	58.1	70.9	58.7	68.8	67.6	65.5	67.4	50.9	50.9		$13,326	$1,459	$11,867
West Side Middle School	Public	6-8	101 S Nappanee St	Elkhart	46514	Elkhart County	Elkhart Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(574) 295-4815	569	37	15.2	55.0%	232 (40.8%)	77 (13.5%)	205 (36.0%)	10 (1.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (7.7%)	26.5	354^th of 486 public middle schools	27.2%		32.7	333^rd of 480 public middle schools	30.6%	21	20.0	27.1	30.3	25.8	23.3	20.6	23.1	22.4	16.4	16.4	78.9	$12,568	$765	$11,803
Discovery Middle School	Public	6-8	10050 Brummitt Rd	Granger	46530	St. Joseph County	Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp	No	No	No	No	(574) 674-6010	941	46	20.6	19.4%	678 (72.1%)	29 (3.1%)	64 (6.8%)	106 (11.3%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	62 (6.6%)	98.3	3^rd of 486 public middle schools	99.4%		98.2	3^rd of 480 public middle schools	99.4%		76.1	75.2	84.3	78.5	66.7	66.9	75.6	69.7	75.5	75.5		$10,880	$725	$10,155
Pierre Moran Middle School	Public	6-8	200 W Lusher Ave	Elkhart	46517	Elkhart County	Elkhart Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(574) 295-4805	396	37	10.6	59.8%	89 (22.5%)	44 (11.1%)	230 (58.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (8.1%)	15.2	417^th of 486 public middle schools	14.2%		21.9	372^nd of 480 public middle schools	22.5%	45	12.4	17.6	14.4	14.8	17.1	20.2	16.1	17.8	11.6	11.6	55.0	$17,904	$1,607	$16,297

Frequently Asked Questions about Virgil I Grissom Middle School

How many students attend Virgil I Grissom Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 662 students attended Virgil I Grissom Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Virgil I Grissom Middle School?

Students at Virgil I Grissom Middle School are 68% White, 12% Hispanic, 10% Two or more races, 9% African American, 1% Asian.

What high school do graduates of Virgil I Grissom Middle School attend?

Students who attend Virgil I Grissom Middle School usually go on to attend Penn High School

What district is Virgil I Grissom Middle School in?

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp

Is Virgil I Grissom Middle School a good school?

Virgil I Grissom Middle School ranks 129^th of 486 Indiana middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Virgil I Grissom Middle School!

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Schools in Mishawaka, IN

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataOct 28, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataOct 28, 2026

2024–25 through 2025–26 immunization rates (updated)Oct 20, 2026

2023–24 immunization rates (updated)Oct 19, 2026

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.