Best Public Schools in Zip Code 46573

ZIP code 46573 covers Wakarusa, Indiana, and contains three public schools — two elementary schools and one middle school — serving roughly 1,304 students, with no high school listed in the data. The ZIP splits between two districts: Wa-Nee Community Schools, which serves North Wood Middle School (grades 6–8, 653 students) and Wakarusa Elementary School (K–5, 534 students), and Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp, which serves Madison Elementary School (PK–5, 117 students). Both districts rank in the top 10% of Indiana districts, and all three schools earned 5 stars in 2025–2026.

Wakarusa Elementary School is the academic standout, ranking 35th of 1,015 elementary schools (97th percentile) with all-grade proficiency of 71.96% in ELA, 78.68% in Math and 66.27% in Science, plus the lowest chronic absenteeism in the group at 5.1%. North Wood Middle School ranks 34th of 486 middle schools (93rd percentile) and remains a top-decile school, though its all-grade ELA, Math and Science rates sit slightly below the Wa-Nee district averages. Madison Elementary School is the biggest improver, rising from 4 stars and the 73rd percentile in 2023–2024 to 5 stars and the 92nd percentile in 2025–2026, with ELA up 14.91 points and Math up 16.91 points year over year.

Every reported grade-level ILEARN result at all three schools beats the corresponding state average, and chronic absenteeism is below the state's 16.7% everywhere. Standout individual results include 3rd grade Math at 90.48% and 5th grade Social Studies at 81.25% at Madison Elementary School. Spending and staffing do not track simply with outcomes: Wakarusa Elementary School spends the least per pupil ($9,885) with the highest student/teacher ratio (16.6) yet posts the strongest proficiency, while Madison Elementary School spends the most ($12,871) with the lowest ratio (10.6).