Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 46761

Summary:

There are three elementary schools serving zip code 46761, catering to different grade levels: Prairie Heights Elementary School (Grades KG-4), Lakeland Intermediate School (Grades 3-6), and Lakeland Primary School (Grades KG-2). These schools are part of two different school districts: Prairie Heights Community School Corp and Lakeland School Corporation. When comparing the schools, Prairie Heights Elementary School appears to be a standout performer. It holds a higher statewide ranking and generally demonstrates stronger test scores in English Language Arts, Math, and particularly Science, compared to Lakeland Intermediate School. This is further supported by its district's higher ranking and star rating. In contrast, both Lakeland Intermediate School and Lakeland Primary School serve a higher percentage of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a greater concentration of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Within the Lakeland School Corporation, Lakeland Primary School has the highest spending per student and the lowest student-teacher ratio, likely due to its focus on younger learners. A notable observation across all three schools is the identical chronic absenteeism rate of 17.8% for the 2023-2024 school year, suggesting a potential issue that may extend beyond individual schools. While Lakeland Intermediate School serves older elementary grades, its overall test scores are lower than Prairie Heights Elementary School. However, there are internal variations within Lakeland Intermediate School, with 4th-grade Math proficiency being notably higher than the school's average. Lakeland Primary School, serving the youngest students, does not have statewide ranking or test score data available in this dataset, which is typical for early elementary grades. Here are the key insights discovered about the elementary schools in zip code 46761: * All three schools in zip code 46761 reported the same chronic absenteeism rate of 17.8% for the 2023-2024 school year. This suggests a potential district-wide or community-level issue that warrants further investigation. * Prairie Heights Elementary School demonstrates a more favorable position in statewide rankings and generally higher proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Math, and especially Science, when compared to Lakeland Intermediate School. This is further supported by its district's higher ranking and star rating. * Both Lakeland Intermediate School and Lakeland Primary School have significantly higher free/reduced lunch rates (60.22% and 50.48%, respectively) compared to Prairie Heights Elementary School (41.38%). This indicates a higher concentration of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the Lakeland School Corporation. * Lakeland Primary School has the highest spending per student ($14,850) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (11.7). This could be attributed to its focus on younger grades (KG-2), which often require more individualized attention and smaller class sizes. * Lakeland Intermediate School, serving older elementary grades (3-6), has a higher student-teacher ratio (15.3) and lower spending per student ($11,599) compared to Lakeland Primary School. * While Lakeland Intermediate School serves grades 3-6, its overall proficiency rates are lower than Prairie Heights Elementary School. However, within Lakeland Intermediate School, there are notable variations by grade level. For instance, 4th-grade Math proficiency (51.72%) in 2024-2025 is significantly higher than the school's overall average and even surpasses Prairie Heights Elementary School's 4th-grade Math proficiency. Conversely, 6th-grade proficiency in both ELA and Math is considerably lower. * Lakeland Primary School, serving the youngest students (KG-2), does not have available statewide ranking history or test score data in this dataset. This is expected as standardized testing typically begins in later elementary grades. * The Prairie Heights Community School Corp is ranked 158 out of 380 districts in Indiana and holds a 3-star rating. The Lakeland School Corporation's district-level performance is not provided, making direct comparison difficult. However, the individual school data suggests Prairie Heights Elementary School is performing at a higher level than Lakeland Intermediate School.