Indianapolis is best known for having the largest children's museum in the world. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis sits on 472,900 square feet of floor space, with over 130,000 exhibit items and artifacts. Indianapolis is also home to many top-rated schools, with over 1,312 private and public learning institutions serving K-12 students.
Researching the different schooling options for your kids can be daunting, with the definition of the ideal school differing from one family to the next. Ultimately, though, the right school should serve your child’s unique gifts and interests.
Understanding parents' struggles, we’ve created a comprehensive guide on the ten top-rated schools in Indianapolis. We considered the school’s academic performance, teacher experience, class size, GreatSchools.org test score rankings, diversity, and many more factors.
Here are the 10 best schools in Indianapolis today, ranked in ascending order.
Best Elementary Schools
Southport Elementary School
261 E Anniston Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46227
Southport Elementary is a public elementary school serving kids in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. It’s part of the Perry Township Memorial School District and has a total student population of 693. The school got an 8/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
Students at Southport Elementary participate in a range of curricular and extracurricular programs. Under the common core subjects, 66% gain proficiency in English, 59% in math, 60% in social studies, and 85% in reading. The children can also enroll in art classes such as drawing or music courses like the choir.
Southport Elementary places great emphasis on the health and safety of its students. In fact, the school has a part-time nurse, psychologist, and law enforcement officer on its payroll. Its website also provides contact to a social worker attached to the school.
The classes are relatively large, with one teacher for every 20 students. However, all full-time instructors are certified, and 89% of the teachers have over three years of experience. Also, the qualified staff ensures the kids receive proper instruction within their grade level.
The school’s academic performance, paired with caring and competent staff, makes it a top choice for families in Southport, IN.
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Glenns Valley Elementary School
8239 Morgantown Road, Indianapolis, IN 46217
Glenns Valley Elementary is a public school within the Perry Township Metropolitan School District that serves pre-kindergarten to fifth-graders. It has a student population of 826 and has the eagle as the school’s mascot. GreatSchools.org indicates that students at the school are making far more significant academic progress than their peers across the state. Glenns Valley received an 8/10 rating from GreatSchools.org.
The school’s performance on standardized test scores is a testament to the quality of education the institution provides. Specifically, 86% of students attain proficiency in reading, 64% in math, 56% in social studies, and 54% in science.
Besides the core academic programs, the school offers numerous extracurricular activities to nurture the kid’s interests and talents. Your child may join the art club, choir, Just Say No club, or spell bowl.
The class sizes are relatively large, with a student ratio of 19:1. However, the faculty has experienced and qualified teachers. All full-time teachers at Glenns Valley Elementary are certified, and 98% of instructors have more than three years of teaching experience.
The school also has a full-time psychologist and a part-time nurse. Parents speak highly of the school, with one noting that the school provided a loving environment for her son.
South Creek Elementary School
9010 East Southport Road, Indianapolis, IN 46259
South Creek Elementary School is a Target Assisted Title 1 school within the Franklin Township Community School Corporation district. It serves approximately 554 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
The school offers a standard elementary curriculum, with several additional special programs to enrich the student’s experiences. South Creek Elementary’s students excel in state standardized tests. In fact, 94% attain proficiency in reading, 78% in math, 68% in science, and 63% in social studies.
The school boasts of having a diverse community. Approximately 60% of the student body is white, 18% Black, 9% Hispanic, 6% Asian, and 6% multiracial. The classes are relatively large, with 18 students for every teacher. However, all teachers are certified and have over three years of teaching experience.
Kids can participate in numerous extracurricular activities, including the cub scouts, girl scouts, student council, and the technology club. Further, parents at the school appreciate the strong parental involvement.
The school’s call to support diversity and stellar performance in standardized tests make it one of the top choices for families in Indianapolis.
Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary School
7525 Wellingshire Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46217
Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary School is a top-rated elementary school in the Perry Township Metropolitan school district. The school serves grades 1 through 5 and has approximately 694 students. Rosa Parks-Edison indicates that it offers a “world-class” education that creates many opportunities for kids to become successful and responsible citizens. GreatSchools.org gave the school a 9/10 overall rating.
Rosa Parks-Edison uses a powerful curricular approach that features leveraging technology in the classroom. The school excels in standardized test scores, with students doing far better than their peers in the state. 91% attain proficiency in reading, 75% in math, and 61% in social studies.
The school also promotes Spanish instruction, provided to all students in rotation with the arts, music, and health/fitness programs. Additionally, kids can enroll in various clubs, including drama club, Singing Rockets, Spell Bowl, or the WRPE Broadcast Team.
The school has small classes with a teacher for every 15 students, marginally better than the state average. 91% of the instructors have over three years of experience, and all full-time teachers are certified. Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary also has a full-time social worker, a part-time nurse, a part-time psychologist, and a part-time law enforcement officer.
Best Middle Schools
Paramount School of Excellence — Brookside
3020 Nowland Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46201
Paramount Brookside is part of the Paramount Charter Schools scattered across the city. The school serves roughly 801 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Paramount Brookside has received numerous accolades over the years, most recently as a National Green Ribbon School in 2021. The award was due to the school’s efforts in sustainability.
Paramount Brookside uses an innovative academic approach toward instruction, with a curriculum that infuses Indiana’s state standards into rigorous, relevant, and culturally responsive programs. This teaching approach is highly effective. In fact, 94% of students attain proficiency in reading, 69% in math, and 65% in English.
The school offers numerous specialized programs, including arts, foreign languages, music, and performance arts courses. Additionally, Paramount Brookside regularly participates in community fairs, neighborhood cleanups, and farm activities to develop the kids into well-rounded individuals.
Kids at the school can also enlist in various sports teams, including basketball, cross-country, soccer, track, and volleyball.
Parental reviews of the school are also overwhelmingly positive. One parent indicates that their son receives all the help he needs despite his learning disability.
The Indiana Department of Education included the school among its list of 200 Promising Practices for Accessibility in STEM education. Paramount is a top pick for students seeking a solid STEM foundation.
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Sidener Academy For High Ability Students
2424 Kessler Boulevard East Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Sidener Academy For High Ability Students is a highly-rated public school within the Indianapolis Public Schools district serving grades two through eight. It has a student population of approximately 351 students. The school has received many accolades for its academic performance, notably being named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2014. GreatSchools.org gave the school a 9/10 overall rating.
Sidener Academy is designed to meet the needs of academically gifted kids who require a qualitatively different curriculum from the traditional setting. The teaching instructions are more complex, abstract, and in-depth. This is also reflected in the students’ performance in standardized tests, where 100% attain proficiency in reading, 84% in science, and 78% in math and social studies.
The school has small classes that allow teachers to provide personalized attention to the students, with an average of 14 students per teacher. Additionally, all full-time teachers at Sidener Academy are certified. Further, the school’s full-time nurse, social worker, and psychologist help support the gifted learners' health, emotional, and social needs.
Parental reviews on GreatSchools.org are majorly positive. One parent appreciates the administration, terming it as wonderful and caring. Another loves the fact that the school meets the needs of their academically gifted son.
Center For Inquiry School 84
440 East 57th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Center For Inquiry School 84 is a public magnet school within the Indianapolis Public Schools district serving grades K-8. The school has a student population of 438 students. The school uses a structured, guided, or open student inquiry as a foundation for its pedagogy. The school’s excellent test scores and a perfect 10/10 rating from GreatSchools.org speak highly of its unique approach to education.
Center For Inquiry School 84 was named an International Baccalaureate school in 2009 and currently implements the Middle Years program in grades 7 and 8. The school’s quest for excellence is notable from the students' performance in standardized tests. 100% attain proficiency in reading, 84% in science, 79% in English, and 77% in math.
Students can also undertake special programs such as Mandarin or Spanish classes, music courses such as orchestra, and art courses in painting and drawing. Your child may also have an opportunity to join different clubs of their interests, such as art club, boy scouts, dance club, drama club, martial arts, and robotics club, among others.
The school has relatively small classes, with one teacher for every 14 students. Additionally, the school has a full-time nurse and security officer. Center for Inquiry School 84 is an excellent choice for academically gifted students interested in an IB program.
Center for Inquiry School 84 in the News
On May 18, 2023, Chalkbeat Indiana announced that Brandon Denning, a teacher at the Center for Inquiry School 84, had been named a Teacher of the Year by Indianapolis Public Schools. Denning teaches math at this school, and is also a member of the school's equity team.
In an interview with Chalkbeat Indiana, Denning discussed his efforts to bring high-quality educators on board his school's staff. He expressed that he feels all students deserve the best education they can get, which requires the best staff the school can get. He said that to him, teaching is about guiding students to their greatest potential. Denning will have the chance to compete in a state competition for Indiana Teacher of the Year.
Best High Schools
Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School
3960 Meadows Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School is a public charter school in the Meadows neighborhood. The school opened its doors in 2004 as an open-enrollment charter school serving grades 8-9. It has since expanded to three schools, serving 232 students in grades K-12.
The school’s mission is to ensure 100% of its students gain acceptance to fully accredited four-year colleges. According to GreatSchools.org, its high school graduation rate is 80%. 95% of the students sit for SATs, with Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School having an average score of 1043.
Furthermore, 18% of the students undertake the ACT, with the school recording an average score of 18. Students can earn college credit while still in high school through the dual enrollment program, with 45% participating. Away from the classroom, Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School fields ten varsity sports teams, including baseball, basketball, softball, and volleyball.
The school has relatively smaller classes, with a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, better than the state average. The school also has a full-time nurse and law enforcement officer among its support staff.
Charles A. Tindley in the News
On June 5, 2023, Inside Indiana Business reported that Charles A. Tindley had named a new president: Dr. Jonathan Harris. Harris worked as vice president of Indianapolis Classical Schools prior to this new job, and also has experience working at Herron High as an instructor, dean of students, and assistant head of school.
Harris will be working closely with other school officials to further develop Charles A. Tindley's academic programs. He holds a bachelor's in Music Education, a master's in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a doctorate in Educational Administration.
Franklin Central High School
6215 South Franklin Road, Indianapolis, IN 46259
Franklin Central High School is a public school within the Franklin Township Community School Corporation district. It serves approximately 2,819 students in grades 9-12. The school ranks high in college preparedness, boasting a 4-year high school graduation rate of 95%. GreatSchools.org gave the school an overall 7/10 rating.
The school does an excellent job of preparing students for college and life beyond. In fact, 56% of the students sit for the SAT, averaging a score of 1118. An additional 43% sit for ACT, with the Franklin Central recording an average score of 23.
Students at the school have an opportunity to earn college credits through dual enrollment programs and advanced placement courses. Franklin Central High offers 25 AP courses, in which 25% of the students participate. 16% of the students are in dual enrollment programs.
Franklin Central High provides numerous extracurricular opportunities for the students to grow their talents, including 48 different sports teams. The schools also offer special programs and organizations such as the band, orchestra, WRFT, and FCTV.
Parents’ reviews at GreatSchools.org are full of praise for the school. The parents appreciate the staff for keeping them informed about the kids. Despite the huge student population, Franklin Central is an excellent choice for families in Indianapolis.
Franklin Central High in the News
Indianapolis Star reported that Franklin Central High honored a student who died from cancer at their graduation ceremony on May 30, 2023. Destini Fuqua died from clear cell sarcoma, an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, just shy of her high school graduation and only nine months after her diagnosis.
Fuqua's mother is hopeful that her daughter's death will raise awareness about this terrible disease. She established the Destini Strong Foundation to raise money and awareness for clear cell sarcoma.
Herron High School
110 East 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Heron High School is a top-rated, National Blue Ribbon School located right at the heart of Indianapolis. The school serves 889 students across grades 9-12, with a student-teacher ratio of 16:1. GreatSchools.org gave the school a perfect 10/10 overall rating.
Heron High School uses a classical liberal arts approach in its curriculum, with a college-preparatory focus appreciated by colleges and universities across the U.S. The school has a graduation rate of 94%, with 53% proceeding to an in-state college.
The students excel in college entrance exams, with the school recording an average SAT score of 1142 and 24 in ACT exams. 13% of students participate in dual enrollment programs, allowing them to earn college credits. Besides that, Heron High School offers 17 advanced placement courses with an average participation rate of 57%.
Heron High School, through its website, says it practices diversity by design, celebrating all students and their unique backgrounds. 60% of the student population is white, 24% black, 9% Hispanic, and 6% multiracial.
Parents laud the school for its inclusivity and diversity, saying it allowed their children to thrive. Another parent says that the faculty does an excellent job of educating the students while creating a strong bond between them.
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Finding the Right School for Your Child
Indianapolis has many top-rated schools that offer quality education and unique opportunities for kids to grow and develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Our comprehensive list showcases a diverse range of options that can fit each family’s unique learning needs.
Whether you are searching for a small, closely-knit elementary school, a specialized program, or a traditional curriculum, these ten schools can provide the right fit for your child.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Stuart Monk/Shutterstock.com.