Summary:
ZIP code 47978 has one public middle school, Rensselaer Central Middle School, serving grades 6–8 in Rensselaer, Indiana, as part of Rensselaer Central School Corp. Because it is the only middle school in this ZIP code, parents should read the information below as a detailed profile of that single school rather than a comparison among local options.
Academically, the school is high-performing and improving. Its state rank rose from 102nd of 491 (79th percentile) in 2023–2024 to 75th of 480 (84th percentile) in 2024–2025 and 55th of 486 (89th percentile) in 2025–2026, while earning a 4-star rating each year. Its district ranks 63rd of 374 districts in Indiana (83rd percentile, 4 stars). ELA is consistently strong: in 2025–2026, 6th grade was 60.95% vs. state 41.3%, 7th grade 62.18% vs. 41.7%, and 8th grade 52.63% vs. 44%; all-grade ELA rose from 48.83% in 2024–2025 to 58.58% in 2025–2026. Science all-grade was 57.69%, above the district’s 45.58%, and 6th-grade science was 57.69% vs. state 41.2%. Biology End-of-Course was 75% in both years, well above district and state comparisons in 2024–2025. Math is mixed: all-grade math was 50.89%, slightly below the district’s 51.75%; 7th-grade math stood out at 65.25% vs. state 35.9%, while 8th-grade math was 36.28%, only modestly above state 34.2%. Science all-grade declined from 71.3% in 2024–2025 to 57.69% in 2025–2026.
Other context: chronic absenteeism 12.9% vs. district 10.8% and state 16.7%; free/reduced lunch 42.15%; per-student spending $10,798; student-teacher ratio 15.7. Main areas to monitor are 8th-grade math, the science decline, and absenteeism relative to the district. Overall, this is a high-performing middle school by Indiana standards.
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