Indianapolis
Overview
Some people are surprised to learn that Indianapolis is the 13th largest city in the United States, with nearly 800,000 residents living within city limits. Residents are attracted to Indianapolis for the cosmopolitan lifestyle it offers in a distinctly Midwestern setting.
Life
Indianapolis offers the convenience and vibrancy of a large city and the feel of a small town. Corps members have access to the world’s largest Children’s Museum, an urban greenway, performances by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and a variety of athletic events including NCAA Basketball Tournaments, NFL and NBA games, and the Indy 500. Indianapolis is second in the nation only to Washington D.C. in number of historical monuments.
Indianapolis corps members have diverse neighborhood options. Downtown Indianapolis is the juxtaposition of military monuments with nightclubs, and Broad Ripple Village near Butler University has more of a trendy, vibrant atmosphere. The Canal area offers some of the city’s most popular attractions with museums and memorials. Mass Ave, referred to as “Indy’s answer to SoHo”, provides an array of art galleries, theaters, restaurants, and nightlife.
Corps Culture
Indianapolis corps members are very proud of their network, support, and culture. As one 2008 Indianapolis corps member puts it, “We are all committed to setting the bar high for future corps. I know that I could call anyone in the corps to ask for advice about my classroom or to hang out on the weekend.”
Corps members collaborate with each other and the Indianapolis program team to provide an excellent education to the children of Indianapolis. In addition, local professionals from Eli Lilly & Company are matched with individual corps members through the Lilly Advocate program to provide mentorship, community networking, and classroom support. Outside of programmed activities, corps members often get together to plan, share ideas, embark on a night on the town, or for a game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Teaching
Teach For America places corps members in the highest need schools in Indianapolis including Indianapolis Public Schools, local charter schools, and township schools. Indianapolis Public Schools has the lowest graduation rate among our nation’s 50 largest cities’ school districts. Only 26 percent of Indianapolis Public School 10th graders, 84 percent who live in low-income communities, passed the Indiana state mathematics test. Their peers in Zionsville Community Schools, fifteen miles away, passed at a 91 percent rate.
Corps members and alumni work relentlessly to address these disparities. In 2008-2009, 100 percent of Indianapolis principals reported that corps members at their schools made a positive difference in the school environment.
View a map of our placement areas.
Certification and Testing
To teach in Indianapolis, Teach For America corps members must pass two national teaching exams - the PRAXIS I and the PRAXIS II – and submit fingerprinting and criminal background checks before teaching. In addition, they must complete university coursework while teaching.
Teach For America • Indianapolis has partnered with Marian College to create a program leading to an Indiana initial teaching license and a master’s of arts in teaching. This program is unique in that it is designed specifically for, and in conjunction with, Teach For America to meet district and state requirements and the specific needs of corps members. Throughout the year, corps members attend classes that build on their training, undergo bi-weekly observations, and receive feedback from faculty observers. In addition, Marian College has agreed to grant corps members 12 credit hours for their Teach For America requirements and has drastically reduced the cost of a master’s degree. The costs of the required university coursework can be covered entirely by the AmeriCorps education awards corps members currently receive at the end of each of their two years.
Placements
| Elementary |
16% |
| Special Education |
11% |
Living and Education Expenses
Salary and Taxes
| Salary |
$26,000 - $35,000 |
| Taxes |
16.91% - 17.51% |
Cost of Living
| Housing Single |
$500 - $800 |
| Housing Shared |
$350 - $500 |
| Health Insurance |
$40 |
| Utilities |
$60 |
| Daycare |
$800 / month |
| Monthly Tranist Pass |
N/A |
| Car Insurance |
$90 |
| Car Required |
Access to car is essential |
Start-up Costs
| Testing Costs |
$180 |
| Up-front Certification Costs |
$35 |
| How do you pay start-up costs? |
Out-of-pocket |
Ongoing Costs through the Two-year Commitment
| Ongoing Certification Costs |
$6,500 |
| Use AmeriCorps award for testing/certification costs? |
Yes |
| How is teaching certification structured in this state/region? |
2 year - Through university |
| Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years? |
Yes |
| Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment? |
No |
| Extra Master's Degree Costs |
$1,000 |
| Partner Universities |
Marian College |
Notes and Clarifications
- Beginning teacher salary: If you have a master's degree in education, are placed in a bilingual classroom, or in a math/science classroom you may receive additional compensation.
- Avg. health insurance: In some placement districts, health insurance premiums are pre-tax deductions.
- Total tax rate: Federal + state + city. Only applies to starting salaries.
- Up-front certification: Expenses that must be paid before your first day of teaching.
- Paying start-up costs: Can you pay for testing and up-front certification costs with transitional grants and loans or do you have to pay out-of-pocket?
- Ongoing certification: Total certification costs over two-year teaching commitment.
- AmeriCorps award for certification: Can you use your AmeriCorps award to pay testing/certification costs?
- Master's in two years: Is it possible to complete a master's degree at the end of two years?
- Master's required: Is the completion of a master's degree required as part of the two-year commitment?
- Extra master's degree costs: Additional total cost to obtain a master's degree (on top of ongoing certification costs); does not include AmeriCorps award.
- Partner university(ies): These universities partner with Teach For America for ongoing certification requirements, and in some cases, the fulfillment of a master's degree in education.
