Summary:
ZIP code 47523 serves Dale, Indiana, and contains exactly one public school: David Turnham Education Center, an elementary school serving grades PK–6 with 299 students in North Spencer County School Corp; there are no middle, high, or alternative schools listed in this ZIP. Because it is the only school here, parents should compare it with its district and the state rather than with another local school.
The school is strong overall but sits in an unusually high-performing district. In 2025–2026, it ranked 176th of 1,015 Indiana schools, the 83rd percentile with 4 stars, up from 251st of 1,005 (75th percentile) in 2024–2025 and 226th of 1,011 (78th percentile) in 2023–2024. The district is rated 11th of 374 districts, the 97th percentile with 5 stars. In every reported 2025–2026 grade-level comparison, the school exceeded state proficiency. Examples include 3rd-grade ELA 62.86 vs. 40.80 state, 4th-grade ELA 73.68 vs. 42.20, 4th-grade math 73.68 vs. 52.00, and 4th-grade science 63.16 vs. 43.80. The school trails district averages in most subjects, except 4th-grade ELA, where it scored 73.68 vs. the district’s 71.43.
Year over year, core subjects improved: all-grade ELA rose from 51.81 to 59.38, math from 56.02 to 61.25, and science from 43.37 to 55.13, the largest gain. Fifth-grade social studies fell from 64.10 to 48.94, though it remained above the state’s 47.20. Chronic absenteeism is exceptionally low at 5.9%, compared with 7.0% in the district and 16.7% statewide. About 52.17% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, per-student spending is $10,048, and the student-teacher ratio is 16:1. Fourth grade is a relative peak; fifth grade is comparatively weaker. Overall, this is a strong elementary school with above-state achievement and excellent attendance, even though it trails its exceptionally high-performing district in many areas.
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