Summary
Muessel Elementary School is a PK–5 school in South Bend, IN, with 295 students in South Bend Community School Corp. In 2025–2026 it ranked 1,012th of 1,015 Indiana elementary schools (0th percentile, 0 stars). Proficiency was 2.07% in English Language Arts, 2.78% in Math, and 2.63% in Science; fourth-grade ELA and Math were 0%. Chronic absenteeism was 54.1% in 2024–2025, down from 76.3% in 2020–2021 but still more than triple the state rate of 16.7%. Spending was $17,264 per student in 2023–2024, with a student-teacher ratio of 11.5 in 2024–2025, yet outcomes remain extremely low.
Nearby comparisons show how far below peers Muessel is. Kennedy Academy, about a mile away in the same district, ranks 286th of 1,015 (72nd percentile, 4 stars), has 11.1% chronic absenteeism, and scores 52.63% ELA, 53.07% Math, 43.48% Science, and 57.58% Social Studies, while spending less ($13,458) and having larger classes (ratio 15.0). Poverty alone does not explain results: Madison S.T.E.A.M. Academy (80.28% free/reduced lunch) and Success Academy Primary School (75.57%) have higher proficiency in several subjects. Harrison Elementary School also outperforms Muessel in tested subjects. Coquillard Elementary School ranks 1,015th of 1,015 with 0% Science; Muessel is slightly better in ELA and Science but lower in Math.
For parents, Muessel faces severe academic and attendance challenges, and trends are mixed rather than steadily improving: ELA rose from 3.7% in 2022–2023 to 8.03% in 2024–2025 before falling to 2.07%, Math declined to 2.78%, and fifth-grade Social Studies improved to 6.52% from 0% but remains far below district and state levels. The highest-leverage areas appear to be attendance, core instruction, and early literacy and math. With 295 students, the school is smaller than many nearby schools, which could support targeted intervention. Kennedy Academy may offer peer-learning opportunities, though differences between schools should be examined carefully. McKinley Elementary School’s reported data is an outlier and should be treated with caution. High spending and small classes alone have not translated into better results.
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