Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 46224

Middle schools in zip code 46224 include two schools—Northwest Middle School - an IB World School, serving grades 6–8 in Indianapolis Public Schools, and Speedway Junior High School, serving grades 7–8 in School Town of Speedway—with sharply different results. Northwest enrolls 623 students; Speedway enrolls 264.

Speedway Junior High School is the clear standout: it ranks 29th of 486 middle schools in 2025–26 (94th percentile, 5 stars), while its district, School Town of Speedway, ranks 16th of 374 (96th percentile, 5 stars). Chronic absenteeism is just 5.1%, below the state’s 16.7%, and its grade-level proficiency beats Indiana in every reported comparison, including ELA Grade 7 67.02% vs. 41.7% and Math Grade 7 61.70% vs. 35.9%. By contrast, Northwest Middle School - an IB World School ranks 466th of 486 (4th percentile, 0 stars). Its chronic absenteeism is 25.8%—above the state’s 16.7% but below Indianapolis Public Schools’ 32.2%. Northwest’s ELA All Grades proficiency is 10.71%, Math All Grades is 4.34%, and Science All Grades is 4.42%. Its Biology End-of-Course result was 50% in 2025–26, but only 17.65% in 2024–25, so it may reflect a small or selective test-taking group.

Despite nearly identical free/reduced-price lunch rates—63.72% at Northwest Middle School - an IB World School and 64.02% at Speedway Junior High School—the outcomes differ radically. Northwest Middle School - an IB World School spends $28,033 per student, more than double Speedway Junior High School’s $12,713, and has a lower student–teacher ratio (12.2 vs. 14.1), yet it remains near the bottom statewide. Both schools are improving: Speedway Junior High School rose from 75th to 29th in rank over three years, while Northwest Middle School - an IB World School moved from 480th to 466th. The grade spans differ, but on shared grades the gap is still enormous—for example, ELA Grade 7 is 7.05% at Northwest Middle School - an IB World School vs. 67.02% at Speedway Junior High School, and Math Grade 7 is 3.85% vs. 61.70%. In short, Speedway Junior High School is a top-performing, improving school with strong attendance and above-state proficiency, while Northwest Middle School - an IB World School faces serious challenges despite higher spending and smaller classes.