Summary:
ZIP code 46235 in Indianapolis contains just one middle school option serving grades 7–8: James & Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy Middle School, part of the James & Rosemary Phalen Leadership Academy Middle School district, with 296 students enrolled. Because it is the only middle school in the area, families here have no within-ZIP comparison — so the most useful context comes from comparing the school to Indiana averages and to its own past performance.
The school's clearest strength is attendance. Chronic absenteeism was 9.6% in 2024-2025, well below Indiana's 16.7% and equal to the district average — a notable bright spot given that 73.31% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch. Academically, the picture is mixed but improving: all-grades ILEARN proficiency rose from 15.33% to 18.44% in ELA and from 12.41% to 14.34% in math year over year, and its statewide rank percentile climbed from 12th to 15th to 18th over three years. Per-student spending was $15,353 in 2023-2024, and the student-teacher ratio was 12.8.
Even so, the school remains rated 1 star and sits in the bottom fifth of ranked Indiana schools. Proficiency trails the state in every grade and subject: 7th grade ELA 21.6% vs. 41.7%, 8th grade ELA 15.92% vs. 44%, 7th grade math 22.58% vs. 35.9%, and 8th grade math just 7.74% vs. 34.2%. The 8th grade math gap is the most severe weakness, and 7th graders outperformed 8th graders in both subjects, pointing to a drop-off by 8th grade. In short: strong attendance relative to the state, real but small academic gains, and significant room to grow.
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