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Coming soon: We're expecting this year's test scores from the Indiana Department of Education any day now — new rankings will be posted the moment they're released!

Coming soon: This year's test scores are expected from the Indiana Department of Education any day now — new rankings will follow the moment they're released!

Pierce Middle School

Public Grades 7-8

363^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 480 Indiana Middle Schools

Better than 24% of Indiana middle schools

Summary

Pierce Middle School is a public middle school located in Merrillville, Indiana, serving grades 7-8 with a total enrollment of 899 students. The school is part of the Merrillville Community School Corporation, which is ranked 262 out of 380 school districts in Indiana and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pierce Middle School faces significant challenges, including consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 17.8% to 21.1% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average and the Merrillville Community School Corporation average. Academically, the school's performance, as measured by ILEARN test scores, is consistently below the state and district averages. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 24.91% of all students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 28.41% for the Merrillville Community School Corporation. In math, the proficiency rate was even lower at 16.07%, compared to 29.28% for the district. Additionally, Pierce Middle School has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 64.21% to 70.08% 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 compared to other nearby middle schools, such as Highland Middle School, which is part of the School Town of Highland district, Pierce Middle School performs significantly worse academically. Highland Middle School has much higher proficiency rates in both English Language Arts and Math, with 46.57% and 43.93% proficiency, respectively, in the 2024-2025 school year. Interestingly, Merrillville Intermediate School, which serves grades 5-6 and is part of the same district as Pierce Middle School, has slightly better academic performance than Pierce Middle School, suggesting that the academic challenges may be more pronounced in the upper grades.

878

Students ?

12.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,123

Per pupil spending ?

53.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

199 E 70th Pl
Merrillville, IN 46410

(219) 650-5308

District: Merrillville Community School Corp

Students who attend Pierce Middle School usually attend:

High:

Merrillville High School

Feeder schools for Pierce Middle School:

Elementary:	Edgar L Miller Elementary School
	Henry P Fieler Elementary School
	Homer Iddings Elementary School
	John Wood Elementary School
	More...
	Jonas E Salk Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

66.2%

Hispanic:

20.8%

White:

6.6%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 24th in 2025

Worth a look

!In the lower quartile statewide (24th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school21%

District avg29%

363^rd of 480

Indiana public middle schools ?

Bottom 24%▲ up 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

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	23.9	363 of 480	24.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.8	356 of 491	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	28.8	349 of 489	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	31.4	346 of 490	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	41.1	293 of 483	39.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.9	333 of 470	29.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	43.7	303 of 473	35.9%	★★☆☆☆
2017	41.2	316 of 472	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2016	49.1	291 of 494	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2015	31.1	374 of 485	22.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	31.4	377 of 470	19.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	31.2	350 of 444	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	35.8	342 of 447	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	37.2	351 of 451	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.5	295 of 428	31.1%	★★☆☆☆
2009	24.5	358 of 423	15.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	29.0	327 of 392	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	33.9	314 of 382	17.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	36.2	296 of 375	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	50.4	219 of 370	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts25%

Math16%

1.0

1 rating

5★0

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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Schools Near Pierce 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2025)					ILEARN Math (2025)					ILEARN Science (2025)		ILEARN Social Studies (2025)	ILEARN Biology (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 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 5th Grade	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 Social Studies 5th Grade	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Pierce Middle School	Public	7-8	199 E 70th Pl	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5308	878	69	12.8	53.2%	58 (6.6%)	581 (66.2%)	183 (20.8%)	5 (0.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (5.7%)	23.9	363^rd of 480 public middle schools	24.4%		27.8	356^th of 491 public middle schools	27.5%	7			20.3	29.3	24.9			18.5	13.8	16.1					$11,123	$835	$10,288
Merrillville Intermediate School	Public	5-6	1400 W 61st Ave	Merrillville	46410	Lake County	Merrillville Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 650-5306	788	61	13.0	54.4%	66 (8.4%)	494 (62.7%)	167 (21.2%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	58 (7.4%)								(n/a)	28.8	26.7			27.8	35.5	30.4			33.1	29.1	29.1	28.1		$11,520	$1,224	$10,296
Bailly Middle School	Public	6-8	4621 Georgia St	Gary	46409	Lake County	Gary Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 980-6326	355	28	12.7	60.0%	7 (2.0%)	292 (82.3%)	34 (9.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	20 (5.6%)	9.2	446^th of 480 public middle schools	7.1%		9.9	451^st of 491 public middle schools	8.1%	5		16.2	6.8	21.6	14.4		7.0	3.0	8.3	5.9	12.4	12.4			$18,063	$5,461	$12,602
Lake Ridge New Technical Middle School	Public	5-8	3601 W 41st Ave	Gary	46408	Lake County	Lake Ridge New Technical Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 980-0730	447	27	16.8	97.5%	125 (28.0%)	175 (39.1%)	122 (27.3%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (5.1%)	9.5	443^rd of 480 public middle schools	7.7%		7.6	472^nd of 491 public middle schools	3.9%	29	16.3	13.5	17.4	12.4	15.0	8.2	6.7	4.6	5.2	6.1	16.7	16.7	17.5		$13,528	$2,656	$10,873
Hobart Middle School	Public	6-8	36 E 8th St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	School City of Hobart	No	No	No	No	(219) 942-8541	905	50	18.2	52.6%	574 (63.4%)	85 (9.4%)	210 (23.2%)	5 (0.6%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.0%)	62.1	169^th of 480 public middle schools	64.8%		60.3	184^th of 491 public middle schools	62.5%	15		41.1	40.7	46.7	42.7		39.2	37.2	32.0	36.2	38.3	38.3		86.5	$12,110	$406	$11,705
Colonel John Wheeler Middle School	Public	6-8	401 W Joliet St	Crown Point	46307	Lake County	Crown Point Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 663-2173	1,061	57	18.5	27.0%	784 (73.9%)	28 (2.6%)	167 (15.7%)	24 (2.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (5.4%)	84.7	60^th of 480 public middle schools	87.5%		75.3	108^th of 491 public middle schools	78.0%	48		52.6	49.0	48.2	49.9		60.1	62.4	47.6	56.7	51.4	51.4		97.5	$11,253	$385	$10,868
River Forest Middle School	Public	6-8	3300 Indiana St	Hobart	46342	Lake County	River Forest Community School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 962-7551	369	25	14.7	74.0%	117 (31.7%)	64 (17.3%)	157 (42.5%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	27 (7.3%)	21.1	375^th of 480 public middle schools	21.9%		17.6	402^nd of 491 public middle schools	18.1%	27		28.5	22.6	21.4	24.1		18.1	11.2	4.8	11.2	30.4	30.4			$9,950	$713	$9,237
Hal E Clark Middle School	Public	5-8	8915 W 93rd Ave	Saint John	46373	Lake County	Lake Central School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 365-8507	1,032	60	17.2	22.1%	691 (67.0%)	79 (7.7%)	203 (19.7%)	10 (1.0%)	3 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	46 (4.5%)	78.1	91^st of 480 public middle schools	81.0%		79.9	81^st of 491 public middle schools	83.5%	10	53.7	51.5	46.2	59.3	52.8	58.5	47.0	38.4	43.7	47.1	48.1	48.1	52.9		$10,313	$518	$9,796
Robert Taft Middle School	Public	6-8	1000 S Main	Crown Point	46307	Lake County	Crown Point Community School Corp	No	No	No	No	(219) 663-1507	1,067	59	18.2	22.4%	758 (71.0%)	59 (5.5%)	182 (17.1%)	37 (3.5%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (2.5%)	87.2	47^th of 480 public middle schools	90.2%		86.8	49^th of 491 public middle schools	90.0%	2		52.7	48.3	54.6	51.8		58.8	55.0	57.3	57.1	54.3	54.3		100.0	$11,216	$371	$10,846
Michael Grimmer Middle School	Public	5-8	225 W 77th Ave	Schererville	46375	Lake County	Lake Central School Corporation	No	No	No	Yes	(219) 865-6985	814	44	18.5	30.7%	455 (55.9%)	86 (10.6%)	203 (24.9%)	22 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (0.9%)	41 (5.0%)	86	54^th of 480 public middle schools	88.8%		79.4	83^rd of 491 public middle schools	83.1%	29	53.3	53.1	45.7	65.0	54.7	52.8	51.6	45.7	48.4	49.6	66.0	66.0	54.4		$10,765	$144	$10,622

Frequently Asked Questions about Pierce Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Pierce Middle School?

Students at Pierce Middle School are 66% African American, 21% Hispanic, 7% White, 6% Two or more races.

Is Pierce Middle School a good school?

Pierce Middle School ranks in the bottom 24.4% of Indiana middle schools.

What district is Pierce Middle School in?

Merrillville Community School Corp

What high school do graduates of Pierce Middle School attend?

Students who attend Pierce Middle School usually go on to attend Merrillville High School

How many students attend Pierce Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 878 students attended Pierce Middle School.

Rate Pierce Middle School!

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Schools in Merrillville, IN

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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.