Best Public Schools in Zip Code 47243

ZIP code 47243, covering Hanover, Indiana, has three public schools — Southwestern Elementary School (PK–5), Southwestern Middle School (6–8), and Southwestern High School (9–12) — all in the Southwestern-Jefferson County Con district, serving about 1,263 students combined. The elementary school is the largest at 633 students, roughly half the ZIP's enrollment, and it is the clear academic standout: in 2025–2026 its proficiency rates were 42.96% in ELA and 45.23% in math, both above the district, while its chronic absenteeism rate of 7.7% is less than half the state's 16.7%. It does, however, still earn 3 stars while its statewide rank percentile slipped from 62 to 50 over three years.

Southwestern Middle School is the smallest at 280 students and posts the weakest scores — 31.71% in ELA and 26.72% in math, both below the district, with 8th-grade results well below state levels. Its brightest sign is improvement: its rank percentile rose from 32 to 41 over three years, and math and science gained year over year. Southwestern High School, with 350 students, has a 98.7% graduation rate, about 9 points above the state, but its SAT results are concerning: 42.47% in reading and writing and 9.59% in math, far below state. It also spends $13,707 per student, roughly 41% more than the other two schools.

Three patterns stand out for families. Math weakens as students move up: 5th-grade math is 33.72% against a state rate of 42%, 8th-grade math 15.84% against 34.2%, and SAT math 9.59% against 25.6%. Attendance also declines by level, from 7.7% chronically absent in elementary school to 15.5% in high school. Science and graduation are strengths, but reading and writing momentum does not carry cleanly from elementary through high school.