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Indianapolis

Schools

The 2008-09 school year will be an important year for establishing Teach For America’s long-term impact in Indianapolis schools.

The achievement gap is starkly evident in the Indianapolis area. The Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) results for students in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), where 83 percent of students qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch, show a far different picture than the results of their peers just 30 minutes away in Hamilton Southeastern Schools, where only 8 percent of students are from low-income homes. While 87 percent of all Hamilton Southeastern students passed both the English and Math ISTEP, less than half that percentage (38 percent) of Indianapolis students met the same bar. Additionally, the gap in scores between IPS students and their wealthier counterparts at Hamilton Southeastern nearly doubles when looking at scores from the 10th grade tests versus third grade. Ultimately, this disparity reflects the graduation rates for these districts. While more than nine of 10 Hamilton Southeastern students graduate from high school, the same is true for only about one in two Indianapolis Public Schools students.

Indianapolis Public Schools have already taken steps to improve student achievement. In 2005, Indianapolis Public Schools unveiled 24 new “Small School” campuses to offer high school students to offer a more intimate learning environment to better address the needs of their students, parents, and staff. Indianapolis Public Schools have also implemented a full-day kindergarten initiative at each of their elementary schools to better prepare students for success in later grades. Additionally, Indianapolis Public Schools have incorporated reading, math, and science initiatives to further enhance instruction and learning in these subject areas.

At a Glance

School District
Indianapolis Public Schools

Ethnic Breakdown-Student Population
58% African-American
25% Caucasian
12% Latino/Hispanic
0% Asian-American
1% Native American
5% Other

Ethnic Breakdown - Indianapolis
26% African-American
68% Caucasian
4% Latino/Hispanic
<1% Asian-American
<1% Native American
2% Other

Percentage of Students Qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
82%