Best Public Schools in Zip Code 46405

Zip code 46405 has four public schools—three K–5 elementary schools and one junior-senior high school serving grades 6–12—in a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch ranges from 71.76% to 86.38% and both local districts rank near the bottom of Indiana. The schools are Thomas A Edison Junior-Senior High School, Henry S Evans Elementary School, Virgil I Bailey Elementary School, and Alexander Hamilton Elementary School, split between Lake Station Community Schools and River Forest Community School Corp. Enrollment totals 1,430. Hamilton is the academic standout: the only 2-star school, the only one in the 32nd percentile, and the leader in all-grade ELA (29.47%), math (37.89%), and science (34.21%). It improved its rank and posted year-over-year gains, though it remains below state averages in every comparison.

Attendance and outcomes vary sharply. Evans has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 17.8%, close to the state’s 16.7%, and the best 5th grade ELA score at 34%. It also beats its district in all-grade ELA and math, but its science score is low at 17.31%. Bailey has the highest elementary absenteeism at 31.3% and the lowest all-grade ELA at 14.93%; its 4th grade ELA is 4.35%, and science fell from 31.11% to 15.22%. Edison is the largest school, with 595 students, but has the lowest overall outcomes: graduation rate 84.4%, chronic absenteeism 34.4%, SAT Math 3.53%, SAT EBRW 24.71%, all-grade math 8.42%, and all-grade ELA 13.86%. Its 6th–8th grade ILEARN results are also low, suggesting struggles begin before high school.

For parents, poverty is universal, but results differ. Average chronic absenteeism is 26.5%, well above the state, and every reported grade/subject comparison falls below the state. Hamilton is the local bright spot, yet its “standout” status is relative. Spending alone does not explain outcomes: Hamilton has the highest spending at $12,913 and the highest scores, while Bailey has the second-highest spending at $12,192 but the lowest ELA. Evans spends the least at $10,180 but has the best attendance. Edison remains the biggest concern for graduation and SAT readiness. Overall, this is a high-poverty area with one improving academic outlier, one attendance standout, and two schools facing significant challenges.