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Jonas E Salk Elementary School

Q: Is Jonas E Salk Elementary School a good school?

Jonas E Salk Elementary School ranks 483 rd of 1005 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-4

483^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 52% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Jonas E Salk Elementary School is a public elementary school in Merrillville, Indiana, serving 593 students in grades PK-4. The school is part of the Merrillville Community School Corporation, which is ranked 262 out of 380 school districts in the state.

Academically, Jonas E Salk Elementary has shown mixed performance compared to the district and state. In the 2024-2025 school year, 42.29% of students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, higher than the district's 28.41% but lower than the state's 40.3%. In Math, the school had 46.83% proficiency, outpacing the district's 29.28%. However, when compared to higher-performing districts like Lake Central School Corporation and Crown Point Community School Corporation, Jonas E Salk's academic performance lags significantly.

Other areas of concern include high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 15.3% to 21.1% over the past few years, and a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 59.53% to 64.4%. While the school has higher per-student spending and a lower student-teacher ratio compared to nearby schools, these factors alone do not appear to be driving significant improvements in student outcomes. The school and district may need to take a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of these challenges and implement targeted strategies to support student success.

565

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,755

Per pupil spending ?

52.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

3001 W 77th Ave
Merrillville, IN 46410

(219) 650-5304

District: Merrillville Community School Corp

Students who attend Jonas E Salk Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Merrillville Intermediate School
	Pierce Middle School
High:	Merrillville High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

57.5%

Hispanic:

23.0%

White:

11.5%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Jonas E Salk Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 29th percentile in 2021 → 52nd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 52nd (2025) from a 29th-percentile low (2021)

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Merrillville Community School Corp

✓Above the Indiana median (52nd percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school43%

District avg29%

483^rd of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Top 48%▼ down 26 pts since 2015

From top 22% (2015) to top 48% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 5Elementary Schools in the Merrillville Community School Corp

262^nd of 380Merrillville 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	52.1	483 of 1005	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.2	523 of 1011	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	44.8	588 of 1016	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	47.6	571 of 1020	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	33.6	719 of 1016	29.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	57.7	457 of 1031	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.5	464 of 1027	54.8%	★★★☆☆
2017	69.6	308 of 1033	70.2%	★★★★☆
2016	69.0	317 of 1046	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2015	74.1	230 of 1040	77.9%	★★★★☆
2014	75.5	193 of 1036	81.4%	★★★★☆
2013	89.4	15 of 1035	98.6%	★★★★★
2012	83.4	89 of 1015	91.2%	★★★★★
2011	68.8	316 of 1025	69.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	71.2	280 of 1009	72.2%	★★★★☆
2009	74.3	219 of 1003	78.2%	★★★★☆
2008	73.5	211 of 996	78.8%	★★★★☆
2007	76.5	177 of 985	82.0%	★★★★☆
2006	76.5	170 of 961	82.3%	★★★★☆
2005	77.9	145 of 959	84.9%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Math47%

English Language Arts42%

Science38%

2.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★1

1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 12, 2018

Hello Everyone, my child attends Jonas Salk Elementy. Yesterday my son says a girl back hand slapped him during recess. Several of her friends circled him screaming you bet not hit her back. One of the recess monitors saw what happened and asked him do you want to me do something about this? My son says no out of fear and the little girl and group continues to play undisciplined. Why was it left to my child to make this decision? Why are some adults not taking things like this seriously. I have complained about the bullying for 2 years. My son has been kicked, kicked in his privates, slapped, and spit on with no resolution. Has anyone had this same experience? Thank you for reading. Close Quote

Schools Near Jonas E Salk 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 (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
Jonas E Salk Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	3001 W 77th Ave	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5304	565	43	13.0	52.4%	65 (11.5%)	325 (57.5%)	130 (23.0%)	7 (1.2%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.4%)	52.1	483^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	51.9%		50.2	523^rd of 1011 public elementary schools	48.3%	40	44.9	39.7					42.3	45.7	48.0					46.8	37.6		37.6		$10,755	$1,055	$9,700
Homer Iddings Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	7249 VanBuren St	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5302	535	36	14.6	44.3%	59 (11.0%)	339 (63.4%)	97 (18.1%)	7 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	32 (6.0%)	15.6	854^th of 1005 public elementary schools	15.0%		18.5	830^th of 1011 public elementary schools	17.9%	24	13.2	21.6					17.8	33.7	26.4					29.7	18.0		18.0		$12,269	$2,089	$10,180
Edgar L Miller Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	5901 Waite St	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5303	330	26	12.4	61.2%	22 (6.7%)	244 (73.9%)	45 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.8%)	26.9	756^th of 1005 public elementary schools	24.8%		26.7	752^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	25.6%	4	19.0	34.8					26.0	22.4	37.0					28.9	37.0		37.0		$12,671	$2,389	$10,282
Henry P Fieler Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	407 W 61st Ave	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5301	466	31	14.9	62.4%	30 (6.4%)	308 (66.1%)	100 (21.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.8%)	45.7	564^th of 1005 public elementary schools	43.9%		35.1	674^th of 1011 public elementary schools	33.3%	110	20.2	53.3					36.9	32.6	45.6					39.1	46.2		46.2		$11,723	$1,847	$9,876
Higher Institute of Arts & Technical	Public, Charter	K-8	5861 Harrison Street	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Higher Institute of Arts & Technical	Yes	No	No	Yes	(219) 359-1522	259	18	14.3	79.5%	8 (3.1%)	221 (85.3%)	16 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (5.4%)	8.3	948^th of 1005 public elementary schools	5.7%		9.6	937^th of 1011 public elementary schools	7.3%	11	21.1	10.7	27.3	9.1	8.8	16.7	14.4	15.8	10.7	9.1	6.1	8.8	8.3	9.4	3.7	12.5	8.5	4.6	$15,371	$4,858	$10,514
Peifer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	1824 S Cline	Schererville	46375	Lake County	Lake Central School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 322-5335	420	30	14.0	36.7%	216 (51.4%)	60 (14.3%)	116 (27.6%)	11 (2.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.8%)	66	327^th of 1005 public elementary schools	67.5%		66.8	332^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	67.2%	5	48.1	47.4					47.8	60.6	50.0					56.0	42.9		42.9		$13,290	$943	$12,348
Timothy Ball Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	720 W Summit St	Crown Point	46307	Lake County	Crown Point Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 663-0047	638	39	16.2	33.7%	438 (68.7%)	33 (5.2%)	134 (21.0%)	14 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (2.8%)	79.9	182^nd of 1005 public elementary schools	81.9%		71.8	273^rd of 1011 public elementary schools	73.0%	91	45.8	47.5	50.9				48.2	75.0	64.7	58.5				65.8	54.6		54.6	60.4	$12,106	$658	$11,449
Glen Park Academy for Excel in Learning	Public	K-5	5002 Madison St	Gary	46408	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 318-2800	566	37	15.2	58.0%	6 (1.1%)	470 (83.0%)	65 (11.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.2%)	4.5	995^th of 1005 public elementary schools	1.0%		4	1009^th of 1011 public elementary schools	0.2%	14	5.7	6.4	9.6				7.2	13.3	6.4	7.7				9.1	7.4		7.4	2.9	$17,768	$5,663	$12,104
Homan Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	210 E Joliet	Schererville	46375	Lake County	Lake Central School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 322-4451	472	35	13.4	37.7%	250 (53.0%)	46 (9.7%)	132 (28.0%)	14 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	29 (6.1%)	76.4	217^th of 1005 public elementary schools	78.4%		74	253^rd of 1011 public elementary schools	75.0%	36	46.1	64.0					54.3	50.6	72.0					60.4	58.7		58.7		$15,642	$1,382	$14,261
Longfellow New Technical Elementary School	Public	K-4	45th/Calhoun Sts	Gary	46408	Lake County	Lake Ridge New Technical Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 923-7004	483	25	19.3	97.1%	153 (31.7%)	154 (31.9%)	146 (30.2%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (5.8%)	5.1	989^th of 1005 public elementary schools	1.6%		6.4	982^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	2.9%	7	9.5	9.3					9.4	12.1	12.8					12.4	10.5		10.5		$14,198	$3,558	$10,640

Frequently Asked Questions about Jonas E Salk Elementary School

Is Jonas E Salk Elementary School a good school?

Jonas E Salk Elementary School ranks 483^rd of 1005 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What district is Jonas E Salk Elementary School in?

Merrillville Community School Corp

How many students attend Jonas E Salk Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 565 students attended Jonas E Salk Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Jonas E Salk Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Jonas E Salk Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Merrillville Intermediate School
Middle : Pierce Middle School
High : Merrillville High School

What is the racial makeup of Jonas E Salk Elementary School?

Students at Jonas E Salk Elementary School are 58% African American, 23% Hispanic, 12% White, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2024–25 graduation ratesJan 5, 2026

2024–25 attendance dataSep 4, 2025

2022–23 through 2023–24 school spending dataJul 16, 2025

2024–25 ILEARN & SAT test scoresJul 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.