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Willow Lake Elementary School

Public Grades K-5

793^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,005 Indiana Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of Indiana elementary schools

Summary

Willow Lake Elementary School is a public elementary school in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving 660 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the MSD Washington Township school district, which is ranked 195 out of 380 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Willow Lake Elementary School faces significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance compared to the district and state averages. In the 2024-2025 school year, only 21.13% of Willow Lake students were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 37.9% for the district and 40.3% statewide. In math, 28.27% of Willow Lake students were proficient or better, compared to 39.82% for the district and 51.5% statewide. The school also has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 16.0% to 19.2% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, Willow Lake has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 43.36% to 75.09% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing Willow Lake to other nearby schools in the MSD Washington Township district, such as Nora Elementary, Spring Mill Elementary, and Fox Hill Elementary, Willow Lake consistently underperforms on academic measures. These nearby schools have higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Math, and Science, as well as lower chronic absenteeism rates. The one exception is Center for Inquiry School 84, an Indianapolis Public Schools magnet school located about 3 miles from Willow Lake, which significantly outperforms Willow Lake and other nearby schools, suggesting that high-performing schools are possible within the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

739

Students ?

17.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,015

Per pupil spending ?

53%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7535 Harcourt Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46260

(317) 280-3701

District: MSD Washington Township

Students who attend Willow Lake Elementary School usually attend:

High:

North Central High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

44.2%

Hispanic:

34.1%

White:

13.3%

See top rated Indiana elementary schools

Compare Willow Lake Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 15th percentile in 2021 → 21st in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 6 percentile points since 2021

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Indiana average (25% vs 38% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!Social Studies scores 12 pts below the Indiana average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school25%

District avg39%

Indiana avg38%

793^rd of 1,005

Indiana public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▲ up 6 pts since 2021

From bottom 15% (2021) to bottom 21% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Indiana Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

8^th of 8Elementary Schools in the MSD Washington Township

195^th of 380MSD Washington Township 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	22.7	793 of 1005	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	24.2	776 of 1011	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	24.1	782 of 1016	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	18.6	835 of 1020	18.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	14.6	861 of 1016	15.3%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Indiana (2024-2025) ?

Math28%

Social Studies27%-12 vs state

Science23%

English Language Arts21%

3.0

2 ratings · 2 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★0

2★0

1★1

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 7, 2021

My daughter came home and told me that they taught her that "white people are bad." She's never had homework. She's hardly learned anything, and I'd put her education level, as a fourth grader, at somewhere between first and second grade. She says her teachers are mean, and I've only had negative experiences with the staff, who come across as pompous. In third grade, a kid showed her a gun in his backpack on the bus, he said that it was his father's, and the administration did nothing. This school is garbage. Your child's early years are too precious to allow a school like this to waste them. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, July 17, 2020

My child started Kindergarten in the 2019-2020 school year, which was Willow Lake’s first. Her teacher (Ms. Rybak) is an incredible teacher and handled the pandemic closure as well as any Kindergarten teacher could be expected. My child had really severe separation anxiety the first several weeks of school that she was able to overcome with the help of her teacher and Miss Emily (Yarger). The specials teachers are also very well liked by my child and myself. The principal, Ms. Brown, and vice principal, Mr. Fort, are always friendly and make themselves available to students and parents alike. For Kindergartners, there is a dual language program in Spanish. Every staff member I’ve encountered is someone I’d be happy to have around my child. Close Quote

Schools Near Willow Lake 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 All Grades	ILEARN Math 3rd Grade	ILEARN Math 4th Grade	ILEARN Math 5th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Science 4th 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
Willow Lake Elementary School	Public	K-5	7535 Harcourt Rd	Indianapolis	46260	Marion County	MSD Washington Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 280-3701	739	43	17.1	53.0%	98 (13.3%)	327 (44.2%)	252 (34.1%)	29 (3.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (4.5%)	22.7	793^rd of 1005 public elementary schools	21.1%		24.2	776^th of 1011 public elementary schools	23.2%	17	17.9	18.6	25.8	21.1	29.5	20.4	34.4	28.3	23.0	23.0	26.6	$13,015	$1,390	$11,625
Greenbriar Elementary School	Public	K-5	8201 N Ditch Rd	Indianapolis	46260	Marion County	MSD Washington Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 259-5445	509	37	13.7	54.6%	72 (14.1%)	287 (56.4%)	91 (17.9%)	23 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (7.1%)	27.8	749^th of 1005 public elementary schools	25.5%		30.4	727^th of 1011 public elementary schools	28.1%	22	28.8	22.5	24.1	25.1	44.4	38.0	27.6	36.1	25.4	25.4	20.7	$14,175	$1,464	$12,711
Girls IN STEM Academy	Public, Charter	K-6	6602 Hoover Rd.	Indianapolis	46260	Marion County	Girls IN STEM Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(317) 519-4588	55	8	6.8	67.3%	8 (14.5%)	33 (60.0%)	7 (12.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (12.7%)								(n/a)
Spring Mill Elementary School	Public	K-5	8250 Springmill Rd	Indianapolis	46260	Marion County	MSD Washington Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 259-5462	529	34	15.5	57.5%	76 (14.4%)	282 (53.3%)	121 (22.9%)	11 (2.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	38 (7.2%)	36.8	657^th of 1005 public elementary schools	34.6%		46.6	562^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	44.4%	95	42.3	33.7	20.3	33.6	45.4	41.1	23.4	38.3	29.5	29.5	23.4	$15,113	$1,737	$13,376
College Park Elementary School	Public	K-5	2811 Barnard Street	Indianapolis	46268	Marion County	MSD Pike Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 347-7400	518	32	16.1	56.2%	9 (1.7%)	315 (60.8%)	152 (29.3%)	15 (2.9%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	25 (4.8%)	14.9	864^th of 1005 public elementary schools	14.0%		15.4	865^th of 1011 public elementary schools	14.4%	1	24.1	20.5	17.3	20.7	27.6	19.5	8.6	18.8	22.9	22.9	16.1	$12,831	$1,444	$11,386
Fox Hill Elementary School	Public	K-5	802 Fox Hill Dr	Indianapolis	46228	Marion County	MSD Washington Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 259-5371	603	36	16.7	50.2%	118 (19.6%)	209 (34.7%)	195 (32.3%)	30 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (8.3%)	46.2	560^th of 1005 public elementary schools	44.3%		40.2	628^th of 1011 public elementary schools	37.9%	68	30.7	41.4	35.0	35.7	42.6	42.3	40.2	41.6	42.3	42.3	31.6	$12,538	$1,241	$11,296
Eastbrook Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	7625 New Augusta Rd	Indianapolis	46268	Marion County	MSD Pike Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 298-2784	575	40	14.3	56.3%	35 (6.1%)	322 (56.0%)	181 (31.5%)	10 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (4.7%)	12.2	889^th of 1005 public elementary schools	11.5%		15.5	862^nd of 1011 public elementary schools	14.7%	27	18.4	17.4	19.8	18.5	16.3	17.4	8.3	14.0	14.1	14.1	21.9	$14,813	$1,391	$13,422
New Augusta Public Academy - South	Public	K-5	6250 Rodebaugh Rd	Indianapolis	46268	Marion County	MSD Pike Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 387-4325	437	31	14.0	53.1%	20 (4.6%)	305 (69.8%)	80 (18.3%)	5 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (6.2%)	20	814^th of 1005 public elementary schools	19.0%		23.2	781^st of 1011 public elementary schools	22.7%	33	26.0	27.5	13.2	22.0	20.8	39.1	18.4	25.8	24.6	24.6	17.1	$14,307	$1,471	$12,836
Crooked Creek Elementary School	Public	K-5	2150 Kessler Blvd W Dr	Indianapolis	46228	Marion County	MSD Washington Township	No	No	No	Yes	(317) 259-5478	460	28	16.4	49.1%	88 (19.1%)	222 (48.3%)	95 (20.7%)	25 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (6.5%)	41.6	604^th of 1005 public elementary schools	39.9%		52.8	496^th of 1011 public elementary schools	50.9%	108	29.6	28.8	32.4	30.2	42.0	42.5	49.3	44.4	30.1	30.1	36.6	$15,189	$1,383	$13,807
Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Center for Inquiry	Public	K-5	440 E 57th St	Indianapolis	46220	Marion County	Indianapolis Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(317) 226-4284	360	27	13.3	11.9%	263 (73.1%)	31 (8.6%)	21 (5.8%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	37 (10.3%)	92.1	55^th of 1005 public elementary schools	94.5%		94.3	36^th of 1011 public elementary schools	96.4%	19	69.1	60.4	60.4	63.5	87.3	72.9	64.2	75.0	70.8	70.8	58.5	$18,179	$2,885	$15,295

Frequently Asked Questions about Willow Lake Elementary School

Is Willow Lake Elementary School a good school?

Willow Lake Elementary School ranks in the bottom 21.1% of Indiana elementary schools.

How many students attend Willow Lake Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 739 students attended Willow Lake Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Willow Lake Elementary School?

Students at Willow Lake Elementary School are 44% African American, 34% Hispanic, 13% White, 4% Two or more races, 4% Asian.

What district is Willow Lake Elementary School in?

MSD Washington Township

What schools do graduates of Willow Lake Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Willow Lake Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : North Central High School

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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.