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William Tell Elementary School

Q: Is William Tell Elementary School a good school?

William Tell Elementary School ranks 562 nd of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-6

562^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,015 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 45% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

William Tell Elementary School is a PK–6 public school in Tell City, Indiana, serving 734 students as part of the Tell City-Troy Township School Corp, in a rural southwest Indiana area where most students come from lower-income households. Its 2025–2026 state ranking is 562nd of 1,015 schools (45th percentile, 2 stars), down from 3 stars and the 62nd percentile the year before and from 4 stars in 2015–2016. About 57.63% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, chronic absenteeism is 15.5%, spending is $9,957 per student, and the student/teacher ratio is 15.2.

English language arts is the clearest weak spot. Overall ELA proficiency fell to 32.35% in 2025–2026 from 44.85% the year before, and it is lower than every nearby comparison school. Third grade (29.79% vs. the state's 40.8%) and fourth grade (27.83% vs. 42.2%) are the lowest grades, pointing to early literacy as the priority. Math (40.99%) and science (40.28%) are stronger but still trail most neighbors, while fifth-grade social studies (47.47%) is a bright spot — slightly above the state's 47.2% and near the nearby median of 48.61%.

William Tell serves the highest-poverty, highest-absenteeism population among nearby schools, although its 15.5% chronic absenteeism still beats the state (16.7%) and district (17.2%) and has improved from 18.9% in 2022–2023. Neighbors with lower poverty and absenteeism, such as Perry Central Elementary School (41.83% poverty, 8.0% absenteeism), outperform it in reading, math, and science. Rockport-Ohio Elementary School has similar poverty and lower absenteeism, yet scores lower in math and science and higher in ELA. Meanwhile, Lincoln Trail Elementary School and Nancy Hanks Elementary School achieve much better results with less money and larger classes, so funding does not appear to be the main bottleneck. Early literacy instruction and attendance supports look like the most promising levers.

734

Students ?

15.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,163

Per pupil spending ?

57.6%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

90.7%

Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) (2025-26)

1235 31st St
Tell City, IN 47586

(812) 547-9727

District: Tell City-Troy Township School Corp

Students who attend William Tell Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Tell City Junior-Senior High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.9%

Two or more races:

3.5%

Asian:

2.2%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare William Tell Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 73rd percentile in 2016 → 45th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (38% vs 47% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 28 percentile points since 2016

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg40%

Indiana avg47%

562^nd of 1,015

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 45%▼ down 29 pts since 2016

From top 27% (2016) to bottom 45% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

129^th of 374Tell City-Troy Township 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	46.0	562 of 1015	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	61.0	384 of 1005	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	64.3	362 of 1011	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.8	519 of 1016	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.6	467 of 1020	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.7	440 of 1016	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.0	412 of 1031	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.4	394 of 1027	61.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	68.2	330 of 1033	68.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	71.4	281 of 1046	73.1%	★★★★☆
2015	74.1	231 of 1040	77.8%	★★★★☆
2014	75.9	186 of 1036	82.0%	★★★★☆
2013	63.3	425 of 1035	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2012	71.7	263 of 1015	74.1%	★★★★☆
2011	62.4	437 of 1025	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2010	75.3	209 of 1009	79.3%	★★★★☆
2009	65.0	365 of 1003	63.6%	★★★☆☆
2008	55.1	524 of 996	47.4%	★★☆☆☆
2007	45.8	630 of 985	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2006	50.0	557 of 961	42.0%	★★☆☆☆
2005	48.5	570 of 959	40.6%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2025-2026) ?

Social Studies47%~ state avg

Math41%

Science40%

English Language Arts32%

5.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a teacher
Tuesday, March 13, 2012

William Tell is an amazing school to attend. I haven't subbed, taught, or coached in a school as friendly and warm as WTE. Close Quote

Schools Near William Tell 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 Vaccination Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ILEARN English Language Arts (2026)					ILEARN Math (2026)					ILEARN Science (2026)			ILEARN Social Studies (2026)	Vaccination (2025-26)		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 3rd Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 4th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 5th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 6th 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 All Grades	ILEARN Science 4th Grade	ILEARN Science 6th Grade	ILEARN Science All Grades	ILEARN Social Studies 5th Grade	Vaccination: Kindergartners vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)	Vaccination: Exemption rate	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
William Tell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1235 31st St	Tell City	47586	Perry County	Tell City-Troy Township School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 547-9727	734	48	15.2	57.6%	667 (90.9%)	7 (1.0%)	16 (2.2%)	16 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	26 (3.5%)	46	562^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	44.6%		61	384^th of 1005 public elementary schools	61.8%	178	29.8	27.8	37.4	35.1	32.4	51.1	41.7	34.3	37.1	41.0	40.0	40.6	40.3	47.5	90.7%		$11,163	$843	$10,320
Lincoln Trail Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	13726 N Sr 245	Lamar	47550	Spencer County	North Spencer County School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 937-2400	380	19	19.7	32.4%	356 (93.7%)	4 (1.1%)	9 (2.4%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.1%)	88.8	82^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	91.9%		87.7	110^th of 1005 public elementary schools	89.1%	28	72.5	62.3	55.8	61.1	62.3	82.5	77.4	53.9	63.0	68.3	64.2	59.3	61.7	61.5	97.2%		$8,073	$80	$7,992
Perry Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	18677 Old SR 37	Leopold	47551	Perry County	Perry Central Com Schools Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 843-5122	734	38	19.3	41.8%	707 (96.3%)	1 (0.1%)	11 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.0%)	68.6	302^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	70.2%		64.6	341^st of 1005 public elementary schools	66.1%	39	60.6	50.0	40.6	45.6	49.2	67.7	67.4	43.6	46.7	56.3	46.7	43.3	45.1	41.6	90.9%		$11,807	$3,189	$8,618
Nancy Hanks Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	19260 N Sr 162	Ferdinand	47532	Spencer County	North Spencer County School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 937-2400	296	16	18.9	32.8%	280 (94.6%)	1 (0.3%)	8 (2.7%)	4 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	94.5	24^th of 1015 public elementary schools	97.6%		93.8	40^th of 1005 public elementary schools	96.0%	16	77.8	80.8	57.7	72.7	72.3	77.8	88.5	76.9	66.7	76.8	80.8	60.6	69.5	69.2	94.9%		$8,757	$80	$8,677
Chrisney Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	311 Church St	Chrisney	47611	Spencer County	North Spencer County School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 937-2400	216	15	14.3	38.4%	209 (96.8%)	1 (0.5%)	3 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.9%)	84.8	141^st of 1015 public elementary schools	86.1%		83.7	147^th of 1005 public elementary schools	85.4%	6	62.1	75.7	51.7	30.0	58.3	82.8	86.5	72.4	65.0	78.3	73.0	45.0	63.2	48.3	94.3%		$11,296	$438	$10,858
Rockport-Ohio Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	200 S 6th St	Rockport	47635	Spencer County	South Spencer County School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 649-2201	317	26	12.4	55.8%	283 (89.3%)	6 (1.9%)	8 (2.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (5.4%)	32.6	697^th of 1015 public elementary schools	31.3%		33.7	690^th of 1005 public elementary schools	31.3%	7	41.7	30.6	38.8		37.6	35.4	13.9	20.4		24.1	16.7		16.7	42.9	88.6%		$11,443	$849	$10,595
Ferdinand Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	402 E 8th St	Ferdinand	47532	Dubois County	Southeast Dubois County School Corp	No	No	No	No	(812) 817-0900	272	16	17.0	29.0%	255 (93.8%)	1 (0.4%)	12 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.5%)	76.4	222^nd of 1015 public elementary schools	78.1%		89	91^st of 1005 public elementary schools	90.9%	131	37.0	60.0			48.1	64.8	76.0			70.2	56.0		56.0		87.8%		$9,884	$131	$9,752
David Turnham Education Center	Public	PK, KG-6	Dunn & Locust Sts	Dale	47523	Spencer County	North Spencer County School Corp	No	No	No	Yes	(812) 937-2400	299	19	16.0	52.2%	208 (69.6%)	1 (0.3%)	87 (29.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.0%)	80.5	176^th of 1015 public elementary schools	82.7%		73.7	251^st of 1005 public elementary schools	75.0%	75	62.9	73.7	46.8	57.5	59.4	71.4	73.7	51.1	52.5	61.3	63.2	47.5	55.1	48.9	82.8%		$10,436	$614	$9,822

Frequently Asked Questions about William Tell Elementary School

What schools do graduates of William Tell Elementary School attend?

Students who attend William Tell Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Tell City Junior-Senior High School

What district is William Tell Elementary School in?

Tell City-Troy Township School Corp

How many students attend William Tell Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 734 students attended William Tell Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of William Tell Elementary School?

Students at William Tell Elementary School are 91% White, 4% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% Hispanic.

Is William Tell Elementary School a good school?

William Tell Elementary School ranks 562^nd of 1015 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate William Tell Elementary School!

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Schools in Tell City, IN

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Latest Indiana data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataNewOct 28, 2026

2025–26 attendance dataNewOct 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.